The Home Machinist!

In November, I purchased a Toro TX-427 WT Dingo to do our railroad work. The Dingo is like a large "Multi-purpose tool", you can put all kinds of useful attachments on it, but these attachments usually start at over $600 each. In order to save $$$, I decided to fabricate my own attachments. For less than $100 each in materials, and with material that I had laying around, I fabricated and welded up the attachments shown below.

The first is a Lifting Boom ( Snorkel), the second a Snow Plow made out of an old 44" snow plow blade a neighbor gave me, and third, a just completed Leveler. I have an extra large bucket to fabricate, and if I can find the right hydraulic motor, I will make a Post Hole Digger.

Doing these kinds of welding projects is great fun for me, and I also saved several hundred dollars.

Very ingenious.

Back in April I made this post of some Toro Dingo attachments I had welded up.

You may have wondered, of what use is that "Snorkel" attachment, well, here is one way we are using it:

The sheet metal building kit that my brother recently purchased is a sort of a large "A.C.Gilbert Erector Set." We almost reached the limit of what two guys can do, it's very labor intensive. There are 157 5/16ths bolts for each of the 13 sections. All the bolts have to be put in first without being tightened, and then when they are all in for that section, we then go back and tighten; double the work and time.

As you can see in the photo, the "Snorkel" saved lots of effort, we have been able to lift and place those sections in place with ease. So far in ten days, the two of us have put up 9/13 sections, with most of that time spent in bolting the sections together.

Ronald, nice work !

I have a curiosity question: I don't have a small tractor like yours so it's unlikely that I'll build a boom for one, LOL. What is your estimate of the capability of your boom? The lifting capability, I mean (or is the stability more important?).

Many thanks,
Randy C

The Toro Dingo Bucket Attachment is conservatively rated at 500 lbs by Toro, but it will actually lift almost 1000. The Dingo is a "walk behind machine" unless you add a Standing Platform. I added the platform, so that I have an extra 200+ pounds for torque on the rear, but it still could tip foreword with a too heavy load. (The Dingo weighs about 2200 pounds itself)

That "Snorkel" (Boom) Attachment is made out of 2" Black Pipe and is 17' - 8" s from the pivot point, the Bucket Attachment is 5' - 6" from the pivot point. The pivot point is were the lifting arms rotate.

A simplified calculation of the torque around that point gives: 2750 pound*feet of torque for the 500 pound bucket load. Therefore, knowing that the torque must remain the same, dividing the torque by 17' - 8", we get a load of 156 lbs.

Conservatively we should be able to lift that amount, those building sections are about 110 pounds each.

The real limiting factor is when the 2" black pipe permanently bends, I hope it is more than 156 pounds, but I won't experiment.

Many thanks, Ronald. I've been toying with the idea of making a 1000# jib hoist in the shop from black pipe. That Dingo is a neat little machine and the photo of that long, long boom lifting the large cross sectional structure is very cool !

Cheers,
Randy C

Here is another attachment for my Toro Dingo that I just completed fabricating in December. I rented the the large Auger Attachment that is made by Toro from my local rental place in October. It was way too large for the holes I needed, but it was all they had. Toro attachments are not cheap they run several grand. As a challenge, I decided to see if I could design and make my own smaller auger attachment.

First I went on eBay and found a new Sauer Danfoss Hydraulic motor that seemed like it would work. Then, just using a few sketches, I fabricated a universal gimbal and other parts to weld into what is shown in the photos. The gimbal is needed to keep the auger vertical.

The auger itself is off an old two man auger we have, I bought the hoses and attachment mounting plate, the rest is out of scrap I had laying around. I have about $375 into this attachment + a good deal of work, but that is the fun part!

At what the Dingo TX 427 auxiliary system puts out: 11.5 gallons/minute at 3000psi, that little hydraulic motor is rated at several horsepower.

The ground is frozen right now, so I will have to wait until spring to see how/if it works.

Very nice, Ronald. In keeping with the balance of things you have created thus far.

Harold

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Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

Did you put a wide saddle bycycle seat on it yet? They are for 3 wheel bikes, about the size of the old farmers implement seat. It is much handier than clinging to controls as you sway around with this thing. Trust me. A monopole is just the thing.

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

After using my Dingo for over a year, I do not think the use of any kind of seat would be a good idea. I found the best and safest way is just to walk behind it. When you are standing behind it you can quickly get out of the way, if for any reason it starts to tip.

I did buy and install a Toro Platform to stand on, but I use it only for moving longer distances. Nowhere does Toro offer or mention the use of a seat, and I have never seen any contractor who uses one. Of course, this thing rides like a tank, and you feel every bump when standing on the platform; sitting would be worse.

The motion control is done with just one "joy stick" like handle, it allows you to move back and forth and turn, and one other to control the bucket or attachment motion. Much simpler than other brands of mini-skidsteer.

Ron,

Your doing a very nice job with your baby track.. Very creative indeed.
You might want to build a monster snow blower like Mercedes puts on
the front of there UniMog..

Ken.

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One must remember.
The best learning experiences come from
working with the older Masters.
Ken.