my grey 80

[Jon Wildsmith]

Ah - No worries, didn't appreciate that you'd passed the jigs on. If you (or he) can make me some I'd be interested.

I didn't think to update on this till now but the upshot was I got the jigs / design back from Greg. I will be trying out some ideas to change the design of the step part when I make my next set, hope Gary will be ok with them

 

[warrenpfo]

Silly question but how did you sleeve the LCA? I don't see you cutting and welding an end so assume you cut the tube in half with a band saw and thne a long weld and grind to get them to marry up again?

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

I would have just cut the arms in half and poked em down the tube with a few rosette welds but my original plan was to just put half a tube on the bottom so yes I slit the tube down the middle, decided I'd better make a proper job of it and put a top section on then seam welded the sides back together with a few rosette welds along top and bottom thrown in for good measure.

 

[Chas]

Please excuse my ignorance Jon, but what is a rosette weld?

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

probably also called a plug weld? Drill a hole in the outer piece then plug the hole with weld, so the inner and outer pieces are joined together at several points along the tube not just at the ends so should be stronger.

 

[Chas]

probably also called a plug weld? Drill a hole in the outer piece then plug the hole with weld, so the inner and outer pieces are joined together at several points along the tube not just at the ends so should be stronger.

Thank you Jon, that explains it perfectly.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

there's an album of pictures from the rear bumper swing outs build here: www.mudtoys.com/albums/grey80swing

 

[Doodle]

Those pivots look very substantial - off the shelf parts or from those renowned purveyors of automotive filth, Jay Dubbleyah Engineering?

I'm considering doing a single side carrier on the recently fitted TJM, but don't fancy a) trying to track down what scarce stock is left
and b) paying over twice as much as the bumper cost me if and when I do find one.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Those pivots look very substantial - off the shelf parts or from those renowned purveyors of automotive filth, Jay Dubbleyah Engineering?

Off the cheap lathe parts

 

[Doodle]

Interesting.

I think the TJM fitment is different - it looks to have a bearing surface on the bumper itself, with the spindle bolted in rather than welded. This is all an assumption though, I've not seen the wheel carrier in detail, nor a set of instructions for that bit.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Interesting.

I think the TJM fitment is different - it looks to have a bearing surface on the bumper itself, with the spindle bolted in rather than welded. This is all an assumption though, I've not seen the wheel carrier in detail, nor a set of instructions for that bit.

Bolted in would make sense for something that is optional.

Trawling old recent pictures - the 80 makes a good tow car for the 100ft trailer mast the radio club I am a member of uses at events. With all that weight up top it is a lively thing but not a problem for the 80.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

All the drawer, load guard etc pictures as an album here www.mudtoys.com/albums/grey80drawers nothing new I don't think just grouped together rather than spread throughout this thread.

 

[clivehorridge]

I have to say Jon, your truck is one of the best prepared I've ever seen. You've kept it looking stock but it's kitted out just right.

 

[Chris]

Jon, nothing you do is cheap - it's simply great value for the level of craftsmanship, remember? . All of this is handmade, bespoke, to order only. None of your mass produced rubbish here. I've got to make another spindle and I keep looking to see if I can buy one to save me the effort ha ha. Just turning down that stock blank to anything like the rough dimensions is an afternoon at the lathe. I'm only taking something like 0.015 per pass or so. To get 50mm down to 20mm at the thread end is a heck of a lot of passes as you know. I watch these clips of CNC machines ploughing off great chunks and I marvel at it. Masses of coolant and high quality tips I suppose.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

I'm managing to keep it pretty normal looking so far Clive glad you like it

I know you know this Chris but when you add up the time it can be surprising how long something would take to do again. Some things are simple in principle and spread out into hour or couple of hour sessions don't seem like they took too long but I think in fact each spindle + hub probably took 8 hours or so and then there was all the thinking time doing the arms ... yes quite a lot of time went into those swing outs! A CNC machine would be the ticket to be able to churn out spindles and other things for others here but there's the small problem of space and oh yes money for one of those

 

[stumog]

Please Jon
treat your self to a cnc machine you could always take the dinning room table out an put it in there. come on think about all the stuff you could make. you would save money in the long run I am sure.
Stu

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Please Jon
treat your self to a cnc machine you could always take the dinning room table out an put it in there. come on think about all the stuff you could make. you would save money in the long run I am sure.
Stu

if only all it needed was a good excuse The dimensions are not a secret if you have access to a lathe or know someone. They are only scribbled on a bit of note paper and might take a bit of interpretation mind, no fancy CAD stuff and I bet the monkey is too busy

 

[Gav Peter]

Feed the monkey & he will draw

(I thought there was a better monkey icon & now I need a wee...)

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

ok, let's see if I can give you what you need to do a drawing and then you never know someone might be able to get them made up at a sensible price. I'll PM you because it's likely to go back and forth a bit.

 

[number76]

What a fantastic read!, hats off to you Jon, very impressed a real credit to you.