Pumpkin Putter : 2001 Enhancements
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We built the Pumpkin Putter in 2000. After critical failure during last years 2000 punkin chunk we decided that the putter needed an upgrade for the 2001 punkin chunk. This page describes our upgrade path. Our longer term goal is to build Mista Ballista, using the putter as an interim machine. Big problems included a weak trigger mechanism, run out on the fulcrum and jack shaft, too much wind resistance, and deadness while pedaling. The upgrade plan was to fix these items.
Once a slot is broached in the shaft, a key is then added to lock the keyways in the fulcrum and side coupler to make them spin together. This also allows us to adjust the chain location by sliding the plug in and out along the key.
Here I'm using a Craftsman gassless MIG. It's the smallest and least expensive MIG at Sears. It has several limitations, but I haven't broken a weld yet.
See more of the putter in 2001 at the 2001 Butsi Hurl and the 2001 Punkin Chunk pages.
Here is a video of the the 'Putter in action.
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Contact: Team Tormentum Copyright © 2000-2022 Eric M. Ludlam All rights reserved. Twas' brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe... | Last Modified: 12/18/21 |
One of our big problems last year was too much runout. The connection
between our fulcrum and the extension we welded was apparently not
very straight. Using 
Next, we had to broach a slot inside our fulcrum and jack shaft. This
is done with a press, a broaching cutter, and a broaching arbor. In
this picture, the press is labeled, the fulcrum is the silver shaft at
the bottom. The arbor can be seen on top, with the cutter being
pressed down into the shaft. Cohort 
After fixing those shafts, and updating the attachment of the jack
shaft, we assembled the machine. Here is 
The jack shaft is now housed in a metal frame which is bolted to the
machine directly. 
Trevor decides he wants to help.
Our new pumpkin pouch is truly a work of art and overreaching
engineering enthusiasm. A basket ball was cut in half to provide a
stiff shell to hold the pumpkin. A spring from an old stove was
attached to the two angled cables which go toward the top of the image
from the sides of the pouch. On top of the pouch, is a bar-lock using
a similar technique to vice-grips. In this picture, a bit of pink
nylon line is tied to the bar-lock central hinge. Pulling this line
cause the bar-lock to open, and allowed the spring to pull the pouch
completely open with great rapidity. This pouch was designed to
overcome problems of the pumpkin getting tangled in the pouch which
was a problem last year.
A pumpkin toss without the bicycle lands us a few feet in from the
machine proving basic parts of the system were working. Later this
night, the bicycle was hooked up and water jugs were thrown out to the
center of the street.
In 2000 we decided to take a two prong attack to our siege craft. We
simultaneously started building both a gigantic Ballista, and
a centripetal human powered machine.
In 2000 we decided to take a two prong attack to our siege craft. We
simultaneously started building both the gigantic Mista Ballista, and
a centripetal human powered machine. The centripetal machine was used
in the 2000 punkin chunk and the ballista will be our long term
machine.
In 2004, Team Tormentum got a call from Don Young of the "Junkyard Spinner" team with
an interest in creating a "Human Powered Centripetal" division. Junkyard spinner was
lonely since we had retired the 'putter in preference to Mista Ballista. There was
a plan for a second spinning machine. All they needed was one more to make a new
division at the World Championship Punkin Chunk. (Notice the picture on the lower right
on the front page of that web site.)