Don Campbell's Workshop

[Don Campbell]

Todays picture shows my brand new JD 4x4 758 Diesel with the 54 inch 2 stage snowblower I bought 8 weeks ago. We have received over 50 inches of snow since I got the tractor . But it still sits in the corner in the garage brand spanking new. We have still not gotten the perfect storm I am waiting for . We have had 5 and 6 inches snow storms but my Walk behind plow and the Steiner 4x4 articulating tractor and my Waldon Mini Loader have handled that just fine. I guess this is really sitting for backup if all the other machines fail. So for now it stays brand new . It has been over 17 years since I bought a brand new tractor so i guess I am in no hurry to turn it into a used John Deere, ha,ha. I do start it every couple weeks and drive it around the driveway hoping not to get snow on the tires, lol Wouldn't that be crazy not to use it at all this winter ????

 

[JoniH]

I think the driveline and hydraulic parts could be the most expensive bits. Here you can get the full set of used tracks, sprockets and bogies for about 600 dollars.

 

[flopdrop]

Don been subscribed to this thread for a year and it's my favorite. I tell all my friends of your accomplishments and they rush home to google your thread. Garage Journal should be pleased also. Most of them became regular members after reading your thread.

I have a 54" snow blower and definitely want to add a linear actuator to the chute. What brand did you use and what cost would I be looking at.

 

[lucky.expert]

Awesome you are in the Farm Show magazine. There is always some interesting stuff in there.

I actually just bought an old craftsman riding mower on craigslist the other day for $80, has a 20HP B&S engine, fired right up! I tore it down and am flipping the seat & steering to face the back, and am going to turn it into a forklift. I need a machine to get heavy stuff out of my truck bed, just move stuff around the yard etc. I am tired of using my back/wheelbarrows/dollys for heavy stuff. I am going to try to do this project for less than $500, so we will see. Maybe i'll start a thread on here to share my progress and get ideas. Anyways, you and your tractor conversions were my inspiration!

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Awesome you are in the Farm Show magazine. There is always some interesting stuff in there.

I actually just bought an old craftsman riding mower on craigslist the other day for $80, has a 20HP B&S engine, fired right up! I tore it down and am flipping the seat & steering to face the back, and am going to turn it into a forklift. I need a machine to get heavy stuff out of my truck bed, just move stuff around the yard etc. I am tired of using my back/wheelbarrows/dollys for heavy stuff. I am going to try to do this project for less than $500, so we will see. Maybe i'll start a thread on here to share my progress and get ideas. Anyways, you and your tractor conversions were my inspiration!

You should start a separate thread for that and I would like to see how you would do that.

 

[lucky.expert]

You should start a separate thread for that and I would like to see how you would do that.

I think I will now that I know at least 1 person is interested in my crazy project

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks very much for all the kind words and interest in my thread ,
I have shared many of my projects hoping to give some of you ideas for your own small workshop projects. I would have never believed I could build so many projects in such a small workshop.
Todays pics show a project that I never built but almost did. I had bought the tires and rims 33 inches tall. I had already started the early steps to the design. Then the bottom fell out of the economy and my collector friend changed his mind. I almost still built it and I was going to put a garden tractor engine and rear axle in it with hydraulics . I would control it with RC Controls. I still sometimes think I should build it for me. It would be very cool and I could plow my driveway looking out my living room window, ha,ha

 

[Bighead38]

YES! You need to build that Don.

 

[56vette461]

Don

"We have received over 50 inches of snow since I got the tractor".

What is Snow?? Where I live in Northern California we would kill for 50 inches of snow right now. The ground is too hard for a pick and shovel. I need a jackhammer to dig holes for new fence posts. However, that Yellow Cat in the picture would make a good start. Great machine.

 

[Don Campbell]

The snow is good for stopping frozen pipes.
Here is some of our snow in the backyard. Here are pics of my Grader, rear engine jd , my hot rod jd, my Frame Steer Bolens, my jd 730 narrow front and my four small lawn trailers. I will not see these again until the snow melts in April. They are all covered with canvas tarps but I do not like anything sitting outside in the winter . This is why I have to sell several of them before I ever buy another one.

 

[Don Campbell]

My love for garden tractors started very young, but Pasquali made a compact 4x4 articulating tractor and there was a dealer I used to love stopping at . The model with the duel wheels was always the ones I used to drool over. I did find a used one a few years ago and I went and looked at it . The price was right but it had shifting problems and the owner said parts were almost impossible to find. To this day when I see one of these tractors it brings back fun memories . My mini 4x4 articulating is on the same idea.

 

[Don Campbell]

Cold Start ! Not today , this tractor has run perfect for three years since I got it , It has not run right since we got all this below zero temps. I just got a new fuel filter for it as I'm sure the water in the line is froze solid. I'm waiting for a warm day of 40 degrees but none in sight. Then I will change the filter and bleed the lines. Can't sell it if it doesn't run perfect.

 

[Don Campbell]

I have had so much fun in my little workshop but sometimes I wonder if I would have had a real full sized shop . My real love was always for full sized 4x4 articulating tractors. I may have bought and restored them as my business and maybe a big old wheel loader or two also .

 

[burleyfarm]

Let's see some video of that X758 blowing snow today Don. [emoji3]


Sent from my tractor seat.

 

[Don Campbell]

I was tempted today but it didn't happen , ha,ha.
6 inches of fresh snow this morning and I went to my two favorite machines. One day these will quit on me in the middle of a 20 inch snowstorm and I will just smile and turn the key on my brand new JD 4x4 with that awesome 54" snowblower and finish the job
My whole life I have always tried to have a backup machine , maybe if I didn't have John Deeres I would only need one
Here are the two old machines I saved from the junk and worked great this morning. They don't owe me nothing so if you ever see them on Craigslist for $1 they will probably be mine
Deb is downloading a new Waldon snowplowing video in the next hour .

 

[Don Campbell]

My workshop is still closed as temps continue around zero and highs around 10 or 15 degrees. I have been thinking more about a cab for my new tractor. By next fall I will be over spending all that money on the tractor and should be able to justify 5 grand for a nice fancy cab with heat .

 

[rpenterics]

Congrats on the Farm Show article Don - you showed up on my Facebook news feed this morning via Bangshift.com - http://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/gu...ure-john-deere-9630-dual-tires-perfect-looks/

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks , it showed up on my facebook too , always cool to see my projects being shared and giving others ideas for their future projects.
Does anyone have a jd x series with a cab like the above ones ?? I'm curious what you paid for yours if so.

 

[PAToyota]

Simply amazing work you’re doing here, Don - both the models as well as the modified tractors. As you’ve said, it just goes to show what you can do with some simple tools and a lot of motivation!

I’d love to see more pictures of how you go about fabricating the parts and pieces. Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re a bit like the wood carver I once talked to who explained his carving process this way: “Carving is easy! You take a block of wood and just cut away everything that doesn’t look like a horse (or whatever else you’re working on).”

 

[Don Campbell]

ha,ha,ha.
Thanks for the kind words.
I actually tried a on line class to build a project. It took hours an hours to get ready.
I had a couple dozen people do it and it was free. But even with everything there for them to see I spent so much time trying to explain things. It was fun to do one time though . I just cut, hammer , drill , bolt , hammer, weld, grind,hammer bondo , sand ,hammer primer , paint ,hammer wet sand , apply decals , stand back and hammer hope it looks like something .

 

[Don Campbell]

Deb just uploaded a second video of me today plowing snow with my mini articulating 4x4 tractor. I am trying to record it by just putting the camera in the snowbanks.
Any of you who might like snowplowing videos , you might like this. The other one did not show as much me cutting the snow and pushing it and this one does.
If you go to you-tube and type in doncampbellmodels 192 you can see it.

 

[PAToyota]

So, any basic recommendations for starting a project like one of your construction models? I see from some of your photos that you’ve been able to obtain line drawings - and obviously lots of photographs.

Here’s a new frame I built for my pickup awhile back. I used the diagram in the service manual and some measuring from my own truck. So the idea of measuring, cutting, fitting, and welding isn’t new to me.

Despite my experience with welding and fabricating, somehow the idea of building something like your D11 just gives me analysis paralysis about where to even start such a project.

 

[Don Campbell]

Wow , that is AMAZING !!!!
Most equipment brochures have a section in the back page showing the specs. Usually they show two line drawings , one side view and one front view. Each drawing has all the needed measurements to use to scale up the overall size and shape. If the project has tires the first thing is to decide the dia. tires that are available and then you scale the rest of the project to the tires so everything is to scale. If it is 1/16th scale or 1/2 scale I want things to look the right proportion.
If the project has tracks then it doesn't matter and whatever scale you decide just scale from the drawing knowing you make the tracks yourself.
Because my models were just static non working models things inside did not matter. Even though I could make my models actually work , my first priority was to get them to look correct from the outside . With only two drawings that leaves a lot of areas unknown so any other photos I could locate on the internet really helped.
Once I saw what a hidden area looked like I guessed at the measurements. So there is a lot of guessing on every model. It is a crude way to build something but trying to get detailed drawings of 10 or 15 different views is impossible. So I look at my models more as metal art projects and not as mini machines. I always tell everyone I am the first to admit my stuff is far from perfect and I am not a great welder and not a great body man or painter . So I am always happy when I get done and stand back and it looks kinda like the pictures

 

[PAToyota]

Wow , that is AMAZING !!!!

Considering your work, I can only laugh at that reaction.

I understand the “art” aspect. Still, the results are nothing short of amazing (there’s that word again…).

I guess I’m going to have to pick a subject and give it a try.

 

[Don Campbell]

I have told people in the past to get some white posterboard and make some patterns with it , then tape some of the patterns together to get a good idea of the shape of the first frame parts. Then use plastic and glue at first to make the first model . If you like working with metal or wood it won't be long and you will be on your way .
Even something easy like a front blade for a toy tractor . I made several of those . I made several front blades and then went to rear blades , then to front end loaders , etc. Once you get the basic idea with cardboard and tape then you trace the patterns on metal, plastic or wood. I still have the very first toy tractor I tried to make and it is a piece of junk, so don't get frustrated , plan on the first one to be a little off.

 

[PAToyota]

Yep. Flattened out cardboard boxes and fiberboard are well known around here.

Thanks for sharing tips!

 

[Don Campbell]

These pics show my basic tools , I never had a lathe or milling machine , just a lot of imagination. I use 18 ga. sheet metal , it is easy to cut and once welded strong enough for me to stand on one of my toys. Everything is tack welded with my small wire welder with .030 flux cored wire. I notch and fill the small welds and then sand it all smooth . I buy full 8x4 sheets of sheet metal and have them shear it up in sizes from 15 in wide to 1/4 in wide. That gives me a nice variety of sizes to work with . I have a 5 inch hand shear and a nibbler to cut those strips down.
I drill and bolt the windows in to avoid using glue.

 

[Don Campbell]

Although I am not buying anymore tractors as i feel 15 is plenty I still have several tires left over and i may build a couple more small lawn trailers. Then I can Bundle each tractor deal with a trailer when it
comes time to sell.

 

[Don Campbell]

4 or 5 inches of new snow this morning at our house . Just enough to get some exercise .
Would you believe I have already wore off a 1/4 inch of the cutting edge on this push scoop . Even with 15 tractors , a mini loader and a truck and plow this is very relaxing to me and a good little workout
I'm counting the days til spring and getting back to the shop

 

[Don Campbell]

Even 40 years ago and just working out of one corner of my garage I managed to keep busy. Vw's were easy to pick up cheap so I bought over 30 of them . I would buff the nice ones , repaint the rims , plugs and points and sell them for a nice profit . The rougher ones I would lift the body off and get the goodies . Then I actually made a hand operated home made bender and i bent tubing for my own rail dunebuggy frames. I had a blast making the buggies. Once again I had little to no fancy tools and just a old Lincoln 225 buzz box welder. Never had much money but always had a good imagination. Here are a few buggies

 

[Techie1961]

Don, do you do any contract work for large companies building models and such? if not, you should. I am constantly impressed with the work that you do; and on your own. I have always said that I can make almost anything out of metal but it will take me some time to do it. That being said, it might take me a week to make a link for a track but man, you make the whole damn crawler. Unbelievable that one guy (I know you have occasional help) can do this many amazing things.

The stuff that you do should be coming out of a full blown modelling factory, not a guy's garage.

 

[Don Campbell]

No, I just build for myself the things I like and I have a following of collectors who like my choices. I do all the design and building and painting myself. I have never had helpers. Years ago I did build for some private collectors.
4 below zero this morning and 4 inches of snow . My old mini loader fired up and I cleaned up some old snow in the front and stacked it in the backyard. It is almost MARCH !! and warmer weather can't be far off. Our average temp for this month of Feb 2015 is only TWO DEGREES !!! That is dang cold to be in the workshop.

 

[Strouty]

I hear you there. Cold and snow *****.

I look at what you make and wish that I was doing the same thing. Your models are definitely a work of art, you should start a museum.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks , actually a collector in Florida has bought around 50 of my larger models and has them in his private collection. He bought many of them from other collectors that bought them from me.

 

[Don Campbell]

Coldest Feb in History for Gaylord, Michigan. Hopefully the worst is done for this winter , next week our first 30-35 degree days may be here and that is going to seem so nice. Mark from Farm Show Magazine had me proof read another upcoming article he chose for this months issue. He said he really liked the grader project and thought readers might like that too. So that is very exciting!!!! I am looking forward to selling at least 5 of my tractors in the spring to get more room for future projects.

 

[Don Campbell]

less is more , I have used my old walk behind snowplow 25 times this winter . Most days we would get 3 or four inches of snow, not enough to start a tractor but enough to fire up the walk behind. Not as easy as sitting on a tractor seat , but just perfect for a little extra exercise. I even plowed my whole backyard a few times with the walk behind plow. It was a two day project in the workshop and little did I know how handy it would be to even store it in the garage being so small. Then building the little sulky and getting enjoyment out of it year round even made the crazy project more useuable. We still probably have 10 more snow storms yet and I'll probably use it 7 or 8 times yet.

 

[Don Campbell]

Spring Decision - I live in town and have a tiny backyard. I have 16 tractors , a mini loader, 6 trailers , two cars a pickup and a motorhome. I want to build more projects so I got to sell five of my little tractors to get more room. I will put them on craigslist in April and see if they will go or not. If not, I will just have to build some racks and start stacking them 2 or three high with the mini loaders front forks.

 

[PAToyota]

Spring Decision - I live in town and have a tiny backyard. I have 16 tractors , a mini loader, 6 trailers , two cars a pickup and a motorhome.

People tell me that I’ve gone overboard - quarter acre lot in town with a motorcycle, two cars, three trucks, equipment trailer, skidloader, and mini excavator. I’ll just show them pictures of your collection the next time they get on me.

 

[Don Campbell]

ha,ha,ha. Funny and sick too , lol
Our first 40 degree weather I just had to fire up a few machines. I pulled my truck out of storage, pulled out the jd zero turn and put it in the workshop , pulled the Cat out , and pulled out the new jd 4x4 for some sunshine. Cold air and more winter coming back next week but this few days in the 40's sure feels great. Can't wait to get back in the shop.

 

[Don Campbell]

Stopped today at a area John Deere Dealer and they had a Curtis cab on a tractor similar to mine. It was very nice but it sure looks all cab . I like the non cab look of the sporty hood and lines. So now I am undecided if I will want a cab or won't want a cab.
On the real cold days I can always just hop in my nice warm pickup and plow my driveway with that. Tech-tite out of Canada makes the deluxe all glass doors I like even better than these doors.
Next week I open the workshop and get to work again , Oh Yea !!!