Bobcat 225G Plus On The Move

admin

I can't believe it's been over a year since acquiring it and almost a year since getting it back together and operational but a couple months ago I decided it was time to get started on a new running gear for "My Basket Case Bobcat" http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35223.  Up until now it's been moved around the shop with either the engine hoist or on roller pipes and that wasn't the original intended purpose for the machine.  So even though it's still a work in progress, here's where we are so far.Base from the donor engine unit (hard to make out) was used as fixture for fabricating the frame to get it square and straight.  Rear tire axles were turned from surplus golfcart front spindles and welded to short sections of 1" schedule 40 pipe for the required standoff from the frame.  Rear tires/wheels are the "shipping" units from the same golfcarts the axle spindles came from.  Large front casters were donated by one of two parts Dixon ZTR mowers.  All other materials salvaged from the scrap bin.Beginnings of the towbar for towing behind lawn tractor, 4 wheeler or ??.  More on that when I get it done.  Cage is built from 3/4" and 1" square tubing from golfcart cabin and bag rack framing.  Cage is removable but side panels and top can be removed for access to inards without removing cage.Cable hooks made from golfcart cabin frame corners to hold 100' each of 1/0 work and electrode leads.Tee frame for suitcase feeder comes off in seconds to drop side panel for service by removing one bolt.  Front and top are pinned into cage and one bolt screws in from the back to hold it in place.  Pins are 3/8" bolts welded into ends of 3/4" square tubing and then cut off at base of threads leaving smooth pin to insert into holes in cage frame.  Top cage rail is slotted for easy insertion/removal of pin when lifting tee frame into place to secure.  Bold goes thre 1" cage rear upright and threads into 3/8" nut welded into end of tubing.Homemade Miller compatible "MUTT" suitcase feeder http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=42217 powered off the Bobcat's new 14-pin receptacle http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=44369 mounts to the removable side tee frame above and allows unit to be used as mounted or removed for remote use up to its 50' control cable length.As I stated, it's a work in progress and additions are planned such as a 20"W x 24"L X 5-1/2"D accessory/tool tray on top and two tank mounts - behind the rear tires - for a 120cuft C-25 cylinder for the MUTT and 80cuft argon cylinder for the the WC-1S/Spoolmatic 1 and a future HF-251D-1.Thanks for looking and I'll update as I get to move forward with the project.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:That looks like a nice functional piece of work. A lot of thought put into it and executed.Nice.You get what you put in and people get what they deserve...
Reply:Nifty wheels. It ought to tread well over the rough stuff. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:I like your rear axle setup. The spindles look good and strong. With the pneumatic tires it should go anywhere. Is the machine bolted to the running gear so you can still lift it from the eye if needed?
Reply:Looking really good and practical and the same goes for the photos and inserts."One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375
Reply:looks great!!  I like the front bumper.   A  fire extinguisher might be coolDaye.
Reply:That is a really nice cart. Well thought out and practical. It looks like it will handle a lot of weight and I think I would create some sort of fab table / work surface that can fold down or whatever,,,, so you have a small area to work on stuff with a small vice and small tool box or tool storage area. Fire extinguisher is a good idea as well.The tow behind the tractor / truck idea is extremely practical for 1000's of purposes but if / when I build one I think I would make it road legal but I do not live in your world and face your same challenges.I love the wirefeeder on the side, great ideaLast edited by feetfats; 12-15-2010 at 03:18 AM.
Reply:Nice job. Your projects always have some great ideas Duane. I especially like the rack for the wire feeder and the bumpers for the front tires. So when are the umbrella holder and cup rack going on? .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for all the comments guys.  Forgot to figure in the fire extinguisher so thanks for the reminder.The rig does roll very well across the yard from the shop to the house where it would get hooked up to the breaker panel and natural gas line in the event of a long term power outage.No need for a work table, vise or other such accessories feetfats as they're being handled in other ways.The umbrella holder and cup rack are good ideas DSW.  I'll have to work on those.   Wire feeder works right from where it is or remotely as needed.No real progress this weekend.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55The rig does roll very well across the yard from the shop to the house where it would get hooked up to the breaker panel and natural gas line in the event of a long term power outage.
Reply:Yes, it's propane powered and one of the reasons it caught my eye.The Impco CA55 fuel mixer on the Onan P216G handles NG as well as propane and simply needs the adjustable inlet orifice opened up and a different regulator used for NG.For NG I'm using a Generac unit that has an integral fuel lock, priming solenoid valve and control orifice.I have a 3/4" dedicated and isolated NG outlet off the house line downstream of the main regulator and meter to connect the rig to for nonstop operation (except for a once a day oil check).MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Now thats cool. That homemade suitcase welder you made is truly amazing! Very nice work duaneYa gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Nice job Duane. I like the removable aspects of the framing.You also did a very clever job on the suitcase.I've been looking for a basket case 225 as well for the dual usage you are putting yours to. We had one power outage last winter that went for 32 hours and having to stop the small generator and refill gasoline every 6 hours really sucked. That plus all the pipe fence I have necessitates something with it's own power.How did you come across your 225 with the blown engine?Cheers.GlennSign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Thanks guys.Stampeder - Try 2+ weeks after Rita and almost that after Ike!  Gets to be a real pain keep the gasoline versions going.Just happen to run across the unit on craigslist in San Antonio.  PO was frustrated in his efforts to repair the Onan or repower with a Kohler so . . . MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Thanks Duane. I feel your pain about the 2 weeks plus. I'd be hopping mad about the third day for sure. Good thing is that it gets the wife to agree with the portable welder priority.I'd like to know what a good price for a blown 225 or 250 should be? Can you PM me?GlennSign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Most important thing is, you can get to your battery!My setup on the skid requires that I lift the stupid machine at least 4" to clear the battery door"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Very true Samm.  The battery is definately very accessible on the unit - but hopefully it won't have to be very often.  Got the hitch on the end of the towbar the other day but no other progress on the running gear.  Been working on other things.How is that skid working out?  Meeting your expectations?Have a safe and Happy New Year!MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Took time off from the BBQ/Smoker project I've been working on to pick up where I lelf off on the Bobcat running gear upgrade - adding shielding gas cylinder mounts.  I also added the towbar storage bracket I didn't get to install earlier.Still need to add the cylinder restraint chainsFinished the towbar hitch and storage bracket.Figured I'd throw in a shot with everything back together and all the equipment laid out that include an HF-251D, WC-1 & Spoolmatic 1 and my homemade "Miller compatible" suitcase feeder.  Accessories for the HF-251D and suitcase feeder are stored in the Pelican cases.   Cylinders on the gear are a 80cu.ft. of argon and 120cu.ft. C25.  Small #4 cylinder is C25 for portable use at the suitcase feeder.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:That is awesome Duane! Man, do you have all the accessories for that machine!!! Are you putting that to work, or is it a "status" symbol, like my Commander, so far!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:all it needs now is a lawn mower motor, steering wheel and bucket seat at the rear!
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manAre you putting that to work, or is it a "status" symbol, like my Commander, so far!
Reply:Great job and well done!It's one of those machines that has too much to take in at a glance and I keep reading a bit and then going back to the pics for confirmation. Then you mentioned sitting on the propane cylinder and I thought "Oh, that's right I remeber it has one of those, now where is it if he sat on it?"You might have to list in in the "Show us your welding rigs" thread, it covers enough bases to earn its place there"One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375