Using old boat trim/tilt hydraulics on a tractor.

[4570Man]

It is 1900 pounds of force on the ram, but the grapple bite strength would be much less. The combined force of the cylinders on my FEL would be in the tens of thousands pounds, but it can only lift 1800 pounds to full height. The cylinders suffer a huge loss due to leverage against them. I think this is a complete waste of time&money. The cylinders required to do this right aren't expensive. Why would you want a grapple that you have to baby and treat with extreme care to avoid breaking.

 

[ishiboo]

It is 1900 pounds of force on the ram, but the grapple bite strength would be much less. The combined force of the cylinders on my FEL would be in the tens of thousands pounds, but it can only lift 1800 pounds to full height. The cylinders suffer a huge loss due to leverage against them. I think this is a complete waste of time&money. The cylinders required to do this right aren't expensive. Why would you want a grapple that you have to baby and treat with extreme care to avoid breaking.

Of course.

I think I had pretty much the same conclusion...

 

[muddstopper]

I would like to know the flow rate of one of those pumps. The ones I looked at had tank to hold oil. The fact that you could always add a larger tank would mean you are not stuck using ity bity cylinders. Only down side I see to using such a pump would be lack of flow. You can add any size cylinder you want. While I certainly wouldnt go looking for or pay big money for a boat hydraulic system, if the flow and pressure rating was large enough to do what I needed, and I had one laying around, I certainly wouldnt hesitate to use it. My 12v hydraulic pump for my dump trailer only pumps 1.5gpm and it fills a 4inx24in cylinder to raise the 6x10 dump bed with 5 tons of rock. Pressure is power, flow is speed, if the pump will build the pressure, it can produce enough power to squees your tractor in two. Flow only determines how fast it can do it.

 

[mikes1165]

Flow rate is the big problem as the hoses are only 1/8 inch id. They are however steel braided hyd hoses, not plastic. Tank oil capacity isn't a big problem as it is an exchange system.(as up side goes out fluid from down side goes in. Only difference is fluid displaced by cylinder ram. 2001 model Oildyne pump specs are Up side 2200 to 2600 PSI. Down 400 to 600 PSI. Pump will withstand a lot of abuse as far as pressure surges are concerned ( Built to withstand sudden impact with submerged object. Another problem is amp draw. At full up amp draw is 115 amps. Just food for thought.

 

[Qapla]

We were thinking of using a trim/lift cylinder with the tractor system remote for a quick release system for the front bucket ..... thoughts?

 

[4570Man]

We were thinking of using a trim/lift cylinder with the tractor system remote for a quick release system for the front bucket ..... thoughts?

I think you will have to have some kind of linkage to get the cylinder down out of harms way. I think it is a waste of time. How long does it take to get off and unlatch it?

 

[arkydog]

i think that would be a good idea iff you have access to the used boat. good idea
rob

 

[Qapla]

I think you will have to have some kind of linkage to get the cylinder down out of harms way. I think it is a waste of time. How long does it take to get off and unlatch it?

You must be a young fella. As you get older, you really don't want to keep getting off to do things the machine is capable of doing.

i think that would be a good idea if you have access to the used boat. good idea
rob

We have a couple of old ones we are salvaging metal and other parts before we trash them.

 

[Leejohn]

You must be a young fella. As you get older, you really don't want to keep getting off to do things the machine is capable of doing.



We have a couple of old ones we are salvaging metal and other parts before we trash them.

Just make sure you can push and pull the rod in and out with hoses unhooked. Some of the older cyls had aluminum pistons and would get smashed. If you can't then the repair kit well cost to much to fix.

 

[MossRoad]

I think you will have to have some kind of linkage to get the cylinder down out of harms way. I think it is a waste of time. How long does it take to get off and unlatch it?

I've got a hydraulically operated quick attach on my FEL arms. You can change implements in 15 seconds without getting off the tractor. It actually makes it a pleasure to change implements. :thumbsup:

The linkage is behind the quick attach, out of harms way.

Learning something isn't a waste of time if your goal is just to see how stuff works. Consider it a lesson in mechanics and enjoy it.


Personally, though, on this project, I'd do like other say and just get a diverter valve, a couple hoses and us the existing joystick to operate the grapple.