A Tandem Cub

[sawdustdad]

I thought I'd start a thread on a new project, a tandem cub. I'm thinking it will eventually have a cargo bed behind the seat. It's intended to have two driving axles with a pair of hydro drives coupled together. At this point, I'm considering this a proof of concept effort. Below are my current ideas and thoughts.

It's a 109 with an additional axle out of a 147. Frame has been extended and reinforced. Something of a jerry-rigged frame made from the rear portion of the 147's frame plus some steel stock I had on hand.

The plan is to connect both sets of brakes so both rear axles have working brakes. The hydros will be linked with a rod from the front control plate to the rear plate, making them move in sync, or close to it.

The 109 was running when I bought it, albeit with fuel supply issues. The PTO had fallen off, bearing disintegrated. Engine did not smoke, so a carb rebuild will get it running enough to allow me to test the drive train. If it all works out, I will probably drop a newly rebuilt engine in it. I have one waiting on the shelf.

I intend to cover both sets of wheels with extended fenders, perhaps a combination of the 109's and the 147's fender assemblies, cut apart and welded back together in some fashion. I may put a wide seat on it so two people can sit side-by-side, like a golf cart seat perhaps. Not sure yet.

I did buy four new 23x8.50x12 Deestone ags and have cleaned and painted 4 wheels. So those will be going on shortly. Axles are 24 inches O.C. so that leaves about an inch between the tires.

The front hydro (the 109's) has been drained and refilled with a new filter. Rear (the 147's) hydro is awaiting a replacement suction tube then will get a fluid and filter change. The 109's trunnion is worn a little, and the 147's is in better shape. The jump shaft (from the front to the rear hydro) is just loosely sitting in place in these pictures.

Once I get it running, and have some confidence that it will work as intended, then I'll clean it up better and deal with the cosmetics. No sense getting all fussy about it if I wind up scrapping it in the end.

Open to any suggestions or ideas you might have. Have several other projects in progress around the house, so this may take all winter.

[john hall]

Looks interesting. Bound to be a lot of folks to tell you it won't work, that's just the way forums are. Are both rear ends geared the same? I'm asking here, because I have no idea if they all had the same gear setup. You mention brakes on both axles, I'm thinking individual turning brakes would be better, It's bound to be a little hard to turn.
So, is this for around the house, or are you going to haul firewood out of the woods, run around muddy pastures, etc.

Got my popcorn ready! Hope this build works well for you!

[olds45512]

Cool project. I would put a ported pump on it to make the bed hydraulic dump.

[sawdustdad]

Originally Posted by john hall

Looks interesting. Bound to be a lot of folks to tell you it won't work, that's just the way forums are. Are both rear ends geared the same? I'm asking here, because I have no idea if they all had the same gear setup. You mention brakes on both axles, I'm thinking individual turning brakes would be better, It's bound to be a little hard to turn.
So, is this for around the house, or are you going to haul firewood out of the woods, run around muddy pastures, etc.

Got my popcorn ready! Hope this build works well for you!

I assumed that hydros were all geared the same. No? Same output shaft... I know that the gear drives were not.

turning brakes is a good idea. I'll find out how difficult it is to turn then decide.

Planned use is around the house, taking gear/luggage/provisions down the hill to the dock and boat, and back up to the house, etc.

Really, it's just something to tinker with.

[sawdustdad]

Originally Posted by olds45512

Cool project. I would put a ported pump on it to make the bed hydraulic dump.

Yeah, I thought about that but don't have a spare ported pump. If this works, then I might consider buying and swapping out one of the hydrostats. I did look at a possible hydro pump running off the front PTO or even a Cub hydro pump, but that would likely be cost prohibitive...

[jaynjeep]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

I thought I'd start a thread on a new project, a tandem cub. I'm thinking it will eventually have a cargo bed behind the seat. It's intended to have two driving axles with a pair of hydro drives coupled together. At this point, I'm considering this a proof of concept effort. Below are my current ideas and thoughts.

It's a 109 with an additional axle out of a 147. Frame has been extended and reinforced. Something of a jerry-rigged frame made from the rear portion of the 147's frame plus some steel stock I had on hand.

The plan is to connect both sets of brakes so both rear axles have working brakes. The hydros will be linked with a rod from the front control plate to the rear plate, making them move in sync, or close to it.

The 109 was running when I bought it, albeit with fuel supply issues. The PTO had fallen off, bearing disintegrated. Engine did not smoke, so a carb rebuild will get it running enough to allow me to test the drive train. If it all works out, I will probably drop a newly rebuilt engine in it. I have one waiting on the shelf.

I intend to cover both sets of wheels with extended fenders, perhaps a combination of the 109's and the 147's fender assemblies, cut apart and welded back together in some fashion. I may put a wide seat on it so two people can sit side-by-side, like a golf cart seat perhaps. Not sure yet.

I did buy four new 23x8.50x12 Deestone ags and have cleaned and painted 4 wheels. So those will be going on shortly. Axles are 24 inches O.C. so that leaves about an inch between the tires.

The front hydro (the 109's) has been drained and refilled with a new filter. Rear (the 147's) hydro is awaiting a replacement suction tube then will get a fluid and filter change. The 109's trunnion is worn a little, and the 147's is in better shape. The jump shaft (from the front to the rear hydro) is just loosely sitting in place in these pictures.

Once I get it running, and have some confidence that it will work as intended, then I'll clean it up better and deal with the cosmetics. No sense getting all fussy about it if I wind up scrapping it in the end.

Open to any suggestions or ideas you might have. Have several other projects in progress around the house, so this may take all winter.

Looks great to me!! Sometimes the best way to figure out if something works or not is just to try it!!

I'm pretty sure all the hydro garden tractors had the same gearing.. the supers were different.. somebody correct me if I'm wrong!

Keep us posted!!

[john hall]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

I assumed that hydros were all geared the same. No? Same output shaft... I know that the gear drives were not.

turning brakes is a good idea. I'll find out how difficult it is to turn then decide.

I would think the rears were the same as well, but to be sure, I checked the parts book. Checked 3 gears/pinions and each machine list the same part numbers. I checked the part number for the pump itself and that is the same--for tractors without hydraulic lift. I would assume a ported pump is the same, other than the ports. Wouldn't hurt to verify that before you start thinking hydraulics---I think that is a fabulous idea of adding a dump bed. If hydraulics don't pan out, a lot of utility vehicles use electric lifts.

[DieselDoctor]

Pretty cool project. You are bound to have some problems as you go along but work thru them and you'll have a finished tandem dump you're proud of. Keep us posted with pics of your progress.

[twoton]

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this...

[finsruskw]

May as well put growser tracks on it while you are at it.