O
Old Operator
Well-known member
yes that is the actual machine, thanks Craig. It was before the Twose slewing gear was bodged on because the original slew post failed (I built another).
I bought it off a Mr John Cooper of Oxford (he pops up in the prog) It had been standing 11 years in a garage & was going to be scrapped. There had been some plan to convert it to pulling a single furrow plough on an allotment - but he never did it after he retired.
The Micron has a more sensible dipper length, but the above would be ideal for ditch cleaning? Each front leg can swing through an arc to be pinned as the job in hand needs. The brackets to take a centre axle can be seen between the front & back wheels
Bit of info on the project here in case you have not seen it
www.planttalk.co.uk
I bought it off a Mr John Cooper of Oxford (he pops up in the prog) It had been standing 11 years in a garage & was going to be scrapped. There had been some plan to convert it to pulling a single furrow plough on an allotment - but he never did it after he retired.
The Micron has a more sensible dipper length, but the above would be ideal for ditch cleaning? Each front leg can swing through an arc to be pinned as the job in hand needs. The brackets to take a centre axle can be seen between the front & back wheels
Bit of info on the project here in case you have not seen it
Gopher 5 Star Digger Restoration
I am restoring this, the slew system had failed, & an old Twose backhoe slew system was added by past owner. This moved the Kingpost 21'' forward & added much weight putting it off balance, so could hardly keep rear wheels on the ground. I have built a new slew post & built up the fixed slew...
www.planttalk.co.uk
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V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
will see if I can find you some more pix O.O. .. must have some somewhere
Mine is labelled Fleming Manor Micron I'm sure
craig
Well-known member
It looks bigger than I imagined, I remember your thread on restoring it, have you had much of a chance to progress any with it?yes that is the actual machine, thanks Craig. It was before the Twose slewing gear was bodged on because the original slew post failed (I built another).
I bought it off a Mr John Cooper of Oxford (he pops up in the prog) It had been standing 11 years in a garage & was going to be scrapped. There had been some plan to convert it to pulling a single furrow plough on an allotment - but he never did it after he retired.
The Micron has a more sensible dipper length, but the above would be ideal for ditch cleaning? Each front leg can swing through an arc to be pinned as the job in hand needs. The brackets to take a centre axle can be seen between the front & back wheels
Bit of info on the project here in case you have not seen it
Gopher 5 Star Digger Restoration
I am restoring this, the slew system had failed, & an old Twose backhoe slew system was added by past owner. This moved the Kingpost 21'' forward & added much weight putting it off balance, so could hardly keep rear wheels on the ground. I have built a new slew post & built up the fixed slew...
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
It is in I think working order & I have made various strap links to hold up the boom & front legs during transit & lock the rear arm in position for towing (worried about hydraulics creeping but no evidence they do) Made a straight plug in tow bar because the cranked one it came with was meant for a lorry tow pin height. Made this so the ball socket was horizontal at 16'' ball height - after looking at many vehicle tow ball installations. Ended up making an alternative towing eye because my mate's van had a combined pin & eye set up, the pin being the 16'' off the ground! - but will come in handy because many dumpers have a pin & eye arrangement. Never got to try it in anger because of my dad' illness / passing & saga over estate https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/think-i-was-born-unlucky.5388/page-2#post-195962
Could have taken it up very narrow lane to dig but if it broke down too narrow for anyone to come up & tow me back so bottled out. I had too much otherwise going on & all my luck used up. We may get to try it at my mate's come the warmer weather - has been so cold here
Mr Druid do you find the lack of a front blade to dig against with the Micron a hindrance? sometimes called 'dustpan ability' My former apprentice was somewhat scathing about my idea of ever hiring it out - saying more of a collector's piece - admittidley things have moved on.
Could have taken it up very narrow lane to dig but if it broke down too narrow for anyone to come up & tow me back so bottled out. I had too much otherwise going on & all my luck used up. We may get to try it at my mate's come the warmer weather - has been so cold here
Mr Druid do you find the lack of a front blade to dig against with the Micron a hindrance? sometimes called 'dustpan ability' My former apprentice was somewhat scathing about my idea of ever hiring it out - saying more of a collector's piece - admittidley things have moved on.
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CPS
Well-known member
So this is my idea of a trailer and towing wagon.
CPS
Well-known member
Dont care.... looks good drive her on
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
the front legs have detachable 'rousters' on the feet - also considered making it some spiked feet too ... just have to be aware of their limitations, depending on the surface, but in grass/soft stuff, they hold fairly well .. the rear leg/blade also gives a decent hold too
Left hooker
Well-known member
Yeah still got the old girl MOT due Thursday hopefully makes another one
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
I also have the removable 'rousters' on the front feet, & the rear spud anchor - I was more thinking of earth being pulled to the front of the trench & under the machine - mind you no 3CX type machine ever had any blade to dig against - it is just what younger people say to me that are all mini digger. I do have the disadvantage of a fixed slew post. We might be able to give it a try once it gets towed to its new home, & once the madness of emptying dad's house & handing keys over is done.
Auctioneer offered me completion after 20, 30 or 40 working days post hammer falling - I chose 30 but unknown to me their back office staff put 20 days in the contract (not shown to me as family solicitor is executor) Suddenly I was to have 2 weeks less to clear house! Impossible - Luckily I had witnesses to the meeting when the 30 days was opted for - so they all had to back track - I had reminded them all it was 30 days on numerous occasions, Apparently 20 working days is the norm, usually for an already empty property, I was advised by agent to keep furniture in to make it look more salable!
Auctioneer offered me completion after 20, 30 or 40 working days post hammer falling - I chose 30 but unknown to me their back office staff put 20 days in the contract (not shown to me as family solicitor is executor) Suddenly I was to have 2 weeks less to clear house! Impossible - Luckily I had witnesses to the meeting when the 30 days was opted for - so they all had to back track - I had reminded them all it was 30 days on numerous occasions, Apparently 20 working days is the norm, usually for an already empty property, I was advised by agent to keep furniture in to make it look more salable!
O
Old Operator
Well-known member
Re visiting all this, Yeti still poss for a smaller machine as will tow 2t, Tiguan as Pettsy says up to 2.5t Another towing site not really plant related suggested the Mitsubishi Shogun SWB (will tow 3t) as a good option as against the Yeti. Many of these automatic (wet torque converter) I have no experience of driving automatics (unless you count a 3CX) & fear cost of it going wrong. Up side seems to be that a torque converter might pull a heavy load well. All of these are available in the used market - some low mileage. As to Defenders once they stopped making them used price just rocketed, & most high mileage. Anyone know what that INEOS 4wd is based on - has he bought some tooling from another maker - could never afford the thing though. Was looking to run a 1t digger but trying to get into small scale crushing needs a bigger machine really to carry the bucket.I never get this 85% rule caravanners go on about (is only advisory) Defender 90 about 1.7t empty yet will tow 3.5t. Granted there is much wind load on a caravan that is not on a digger - compact load lower C of G.
S
Smiffy
Well-known member
Plenty of more commercial vehicles will still tow at least 2.7t.
But car like options with good tow capacity would be
Kia Sorrento
Mitsubishi shogun sport
Most the jeep range
Hyundai Santa Fe
Land cruiser
Skoda Kodiak
Hyundai terracan
Toyota highlander
Should be something for any budget in that list
doobin
Well-known member
It would probably fit on 450s!
doobin
Well-known member
Just get a truck that will tow 3.5t and be done with it. Isuzu rodeo is a sensible motor for your kind of thing.
6
6feetdown
Well-known member
Ineos built from scratch but uses some parts already available
Lancs Lad
Well-known member
I think they may have possibly borrowed some ideas from another similar looking vehicle though...
B
Brendan
Well-known member
Zf gearbox, so pretty much a BMW engine and the gearboxes, according to their info they run a "heavy duty" torque converter and a low and high range box. The heavy duty torque converter is probably just a standard version off one of bmws more powerful diesels
Lancs Lad
Well-known member
A customer has "them" ...
I say them as he's had 3 now. Rejected the first two.
First one went spectacularly...large bang and lost power. Dealer blamed the TQ but was tight lipped and he got another vehicle asap
2nd one was eleccy gremlins..
The one he's got now is 10k more for than his first one...so a result...
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