A horse and a Billy goat.

[Stormin 4,458]

  Last year on my annual trip down south, one of the things I returned with was this Billy Goat. There is a thread on it in Pedestrian machines.

 

 

  As you can see I'd been having a bit of a play with it. Today I dug it out of it's hiding place had more of a play with it.

 

  First I amputated it's back legs wheels. I then found these two pieces of scrap, plus the jaw plates removed from my Saxon trailer.

 

 

They became this towing attachment for the front of the Billy Goat.

 

 

 

  Next job was a rear towing attachment. A length of 1"x1". Another of 1"x2". A couple of U bolts. Tow ball plus a spare spacer and I had this.

 

 

 

  At end of play this is how things look.

 

 

  There's still more to do and one or two alterations but so far so good. All made from scrap lying around, so zero cost.

 

  No Billy Goats were harmed and if needs be can be put back as was.

 

 To be continued.........

 

 

 

 

[Chris 642]

Interesting Norm

 

Can you reverse this

[Stormin 4,458]

 Not even pulled it forward yet, Chris.

[Stormin 4,458]

  Number 3 grandson and I had a bit of a trial run yesterday. Proved one thing. It wont pick up hay as is. Builds up and blocks the front intake. One good thing we found out, was that it doesn't have to be run at full revs to suck a rag up and sling it out the shute.

  With the rear wheels removed, all the weight of the engine is at the rear. I wasn't happy with that so today I refitted the rear wheels and removed the front ones. That puts all the weight on the drawbar. Much better. When the trailer is attached and filling, the balance should be improved. Also the wheels can be raised or lowered. This may give some adjustment on uneven ground.

  If I get chance I may try this set up out tomorrow. Oh! And I'll take a photo or two, Chris.

[Cub Cadet 613]

Pretty cool setup Norm, them billy goats look handy!

[Stormin 4,458]

   Just a photo of the wheel change.

 

 

  Been working/thinking of a hitch arrangement. It won't be going on the C-125 as shown, but on the C-121 (Black Horse) with electric lift. That will allow ground clearance to be adjusted on the move. The wheels will most likely stay in the raised position, as shown.

[Stormin 4,458]

  Rigged up a temporary hitch today and had a trial run.

 

  Turned the tool bar upside down to lower the ball height And packed up the coupling. When at lowest point front of Billy Goat one inch from the ground.

 

 

  Had a trial run but was not very successful. The main problem was the grass I was trying to pick up had been lying for two days and we'd had some rain.

  So I'm having a re-think. The ground I mow is a little on the lumpy side and not flat. The front of the BG can catch if I don't raise it fast enough. Also I think something to loosen the lying grass would be handy.

  I'm thinking of towing it reverse, with a rubber strip along the bottom of the scoop to loosen the grass, which should then be sucked up. I'm going to try turning the body round on the chassis so the outlet still points rearwards. Also turn the engine round on the body so it stays aligned with the handle.

  This is going to be a long term project methinks.

[the showman 4,074]

Didn't i give you a rake thingy, you could hang it under the tractor a mid ships ?

[Stormin 4,458]

  I've been thinking of utilising that in some way. But modded and mounted someway just in front of the intake. The only problem with the rake, grass could build up in front of it.

  I've several ideas floating around in my head. There's plenty of room. I may even end up building another chassis.

[the showman 4,074]

Why don't you just buy a sweeper with a collector . 

 

[Stormin 4,458]

 I've got one.  But that's not ideal for uneven ground either.

[Stormin 4,458]

 Today I decided to remove blower housing body and engine from the chassis. Body and engine taken of with to much of a problem though rather fiddly. Pleased to say the all the nuts came undone easily. Next split engine from blower housing. Again all nuts and bolts undid freely.

 This was when I realised that the blower fan wouldn't come out of the housing while attached to the engine. Again luck smiled down and the bolt securing fan to engine came loose with no trouble. 

To get fan off the shaft was another thing. Had to tip the assembly nearly on it's side. Just enough to get a puller on the fan and not to much that engine oil leaked out. Holding the puller onto the head of a long bolt that fitted down the bolt hole in the shaft, steadying the whole assembly and using a ratchet and socket, was a bit of a juggling job. Thankfully the fan came away trouble free.

  Below is how things look now.

 

  The reason I've taken everything apart, is my idea of turning the housing round on the chassis and engine round on the blower housing., as mentioned earlier.

 Two snags now reared their heads.

 First a rubber vibration absorbing gasket is fitted 'tween engine and housing. This was perished and came away in bits.

 Secondly the engine mounting holes are not drilled equally on the p.c.d.

 

 To be continued.........

 

 

 

[Stormin 4,458]

  Today I thought I'd better do something about the Billy Goat. So I dragged it out from it's hiding place and placed it behind the C-125. After much thinking, swapping and general trying to work something out, the C-125 was fitted with a slot hitch. The front wheels removed from the Billy Goat and a coupling knocked up.

  Tried various things, none of which I was happy with. Suddenly I had a flash of inspiration. How would a hinged coupling work out. So with no more todo, I knocked one up using a cut down butt hinge. See below.

 

 

 

  Up!

 

Down!

 

  The principle works and I can adjust the Billy Goats intake height with the lift levers adjuster. I think this could be a suck it and see project. I already have some alterations in mind.

 

  I'll post some photo's of it coupled up tomorrow all being well.

 

  

[Stormin 4,458]

Raised and 2-1/2" ground clearance.

 

 

Lowered.

 

 

To be continued...….

[Stormin 4,458]

  Hooked things up this morning to see how things looked.

 

 

 

   Fired up the Goat and threw a latex glove under it. Shot it nicely in to the back of the trailer. Also blew it out again.  By 'eck it's got some waft.

   So what next. Need something along the lines of a silage trailer, methinks. So what's next?

 

To be continued...…..

 

 

 

[Alan 1,273]

Looking good Norm.  The Goat could do with some paint though. 

[Stormin 4,458]

13 hours ago, Alan said:

Looking good Norm.  The Goat could do with some paint though. 

 

  All good things in time, Alan. Don't start rushing me now.

[Alan 1,273]

12 hours ago, Stormin said:

 

  All good things in time, Richard. Don't start rushing me now.

Richard.   Always thought my name was Alan. Now I'm 

[Stormin 4,458]

32 minutes ago, Alan said:

Richard.   Always thought my name was Alan. Now I'm 

 

 I'd just been reading a post by Richard and didn't notice who had posted that comment.  You know what it's like when you are of a mature age. Corrected now. ALAN! 

[squonk 71]

Heck of a rig there Norm! 

[Stormin 4,458]

  Had another play with the suck it and see project.

 

  Modified the hitch, Billy Goat to tractor. Made it offset so the Goat is about 3" to the left of the tractor. This is so the tractor exhaust is clear of any hedge or tree low branches.

 

 

Even threw some paint at it.

 

 

   Last week I did some work on sides and top for the Saxon trailer. All made out of scrap material I had lying about and also some of a neighbours. Everything can be dismantled in a few minutes.

 

 

  Yes! The sides are a bit short, but that is because the scrap ply was that length.

 

  At the rear, the back is held by the clips you see. The chamfers at the bottom allow the tailboard to open.

 

 

To stop, (hopefully) grass/leaves being blown out, but let air through, a wire mesh covers the gap with hessian behind it. The hessian is a cut up shopping bag, that Carol was going to put in the rubbish bin.  The vertical edges being trapped twixt end panel and side

 

 

 

  Next I'm going to have to spend some cash  and buy a flexible hose 4" pipe.  Still, shouldn't complain as expense so far has been zilch.

[expeatfarmer 591]

I have a length of flexible stainless chimney liner if that is any good to you FREE.

[Stormin 4,458]

  Thanks for the offer, Jonathan.  Depends on the flexibility. I'll pop up over the weekend and see.  

[Stormin 4,458]

   Been a little while, but I thought it was time I knocked the dust of this little project. Towing the Billy Goat and trailer, due to the nature of the ground I mow, was always going to be rather awkward. So I've been thinking of a slightly different idea.

 

  Made a start yesterday and the Billy Goat ended up like this.

 

 

   Now I don't want to make any alterations to the Billy Goat. If this idea doesn't work, I want to put it back as was.  Some head scratching and ratching about to see what was lying around, I've ended up with this.

 

 

  The side bars are the second pair. The first ones I made I decided were too short.

 

   To  be continued...….

 

 

[Stormin 4,458]

 Bit more done this afternoon.

 

 Trailer towing attachment done. Just needs tow ball fitted.

 

 Frame work for the drawbar. Lucky I found the U clamps. The bar had to go there to clear the casting. Couldn't bolt it on as no room to get a nut on underneath. Only just managed to get the U clamp nuts on.

 

 

 Might not look much, but much  putting on and taking off done.

 

  I need it off the bench now and behind a tractor. Then I can work out draw bar position, height etc. I'll have to wait till one of the grandsons visit to give me a hand.