Project Mini Hägglund

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Big change of plans today:

Engine/Drivetrain:
I wan`t happy with the engine position all the time. The center of gravity is way to much up front, the aperture angle is incredible bad for a tracked vehicle. And the drivers view is really obstructed by the big engine...
So i decided to put the engine all the way back in the front car and built a chain setup to the drive sprockets. I think this is a lot better...

Suspension:
It`s not a really good idea to built a vehicle without any type of suspension. The real Hägglund uses two leaf springs to hold the track assemblies and the chassis together:

Not much to say, i`ll do it the same way...

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Almost finished one track assembly today:

Just had to take a seat....

So much better than before...

 

[Toyotero]

I saw an ad for Solid Works in a recent issue of Machine Design.com's magazine, referencing their series www.letsgodesign.tv in which they design a vehicle similar to yours.


The vehicle is coming along nicely.... I noticed the 'joy stick' in your hand; I'm eager to see the control system you build.

Cheers,

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Hi,
the joystick will control throttle, brakes and steering...

First i finished both track assemblies today:

Then i started with the main chassis beam:

This is how it`ll be mounted:

Placed all the stuff. Space is tight, but everything will fit...

 

[Dgurley2000]

Great progress. Looks like you'll be finished this weekend?

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Yes, shouldn`t take too long to do a test drive...

Here`s another pic of the track assembly:

Also started with the second track:

 

[Riptide]

This is so cool. I'm loving how you just dive in and do it. Me, I'd still be stuck in "thinking about it " stage...

That baby is going to be some kind of loud, though, with the engine behind you, and the track bolts slapping the drive sprocket. Just like the original!

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Yes, i think it`ll sound awesome too... The 3cyl. sounds really good, exactly what you would except in such a vehicle...

 

[roving]

how are you going to get that track tight? i looks like its going to fall off as soon as you turn.

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

The track is still way too long, i need to shorten it to the right size...

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Tied the subframe into the main chassis beam today:

Still thinking about how i`m going to tie the upper mounts into the frame. Maybe you guys have some suggestions?

Also got the bearings for the cv shafts:

Got the small one painted on sunday:

 

[chilliwak]

Wow:Wow1:Steinez, what excellent:Wow1: progress. But I have 2 questions for you. Why not make the rear sprockets the drive sprockets? There are numerous tracked vehicles that have the rear sprockets in this configuration. It would remove the necessity for long chains from the rear of your vehicle. Also, I am concerned that the bolts that you have on your rubber tracks will puncture that wheels on the vehicle. Perhaps solid wheels as opposed to inflated wheels would be the way to go? Are the wheels you have chosen strong enough to take the weight of the vehicle? Anyways, I think you are doing an super good job and I can hardly wait to see the rig out tearing up the slopes of Germany. Keep up the good work as we all love to follow your progress. Cheers, Chilli.

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Thanks man, nice to hear from you. How are you doing?

I can't place the drive sprockets in the rear, because then the engine would have to sit way too low because of the cv-shaft angles. Also the sprockets have nothing on them to guide the tracks sideways, so they wouldn't work as an idler wheel...

I have the same concerns about the bolts puncturing my tires, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. But i think if the track tension is enough, it'll work...
Those wheels are rated for about one ton, i think this is enough...

 

[chilliwak]

Hello Steinez, and thanks for your reply. Things are looking better here on the home front. Perhaps it will soon be time to visit you and your cool:Wow1: project. You mentioned something about a 4by4 meet in Germany in May?:ylsmoke:

 

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Nice to hear that. There`s an offroad event at the end of may, i`m trying to get the front car ready for some testing there. But still not sure if i`ll be there...

We still couldn`t figure out how the articulated joint between both cars works. Because of this we took a ride to a ski resort where i know there`s a Hägglund in use. We looked at it and tried to figure out how it works but we still couldn`t. I looked for the owner and asked him how this think works. He tried to explain it, but couldn`t figure it out himself. So he drove it right over the next ditch, so it would articulate. Then we had a look and finally saw how this works:

Looks like the bearings of the rear joint are some sort of rubber bushings:

But the joint itself takes the most movement, you can see it here:

Kind of hard to figure this out if the car isn`t articulated...