Another pin on to SSQA Conversion

[GPintheMitten]

I got one 3x3 cut up. Looks like it will work. The other one will be a mirror image of this. I've got about 3 hours in so far.

 

[GPintheMitten]

No plasma here so all cuts are angle grinder assisted by a drill press.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Been following this...

Nice work. Second 3x3 will go faster.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Yah. I hope so. Most of the time was thinking and scratching my head.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I got the other 3x3 cut. Took 1.25 hours.

 

[Xfaxman]

I suppose you know the latch levers need to go down far enough to put the linkage "over center", so they will stay latched: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...version-kit-need-post3189098.html#post3189098

 

[LD1]

Just what is the purpose of the springs on everything?

If I was going to build one from scratch, I cannot see why I would use springs, The one on the pivot bolt I assume is to keep it tight, but not too tight to rotate. (For something like that I would probably just use a shoulder bolt). But cannot for the life of me see what the spring on the connecting link is used for.

 

[DT86]

Just what is the purpose of the springs on everything? If I was going to build one from scratch, I cannot see why I would use springs, The one on the pivot bolt I assume is to keep it tight, but not too tight to rotate. (For something like that I would probably just use a shoulder bolt). But cannot for the life of me see what the spring on the connecting link is used for.

From memory, when the lever latches the spring is pushing up opposite the handle. Forcing the handle to stay in place (down).

 

[k0ua]

From memory, when the lever latches the spring is pushing up opposite the handle. Forcing the handle to stay in place (down).

Thats what I remember also.

 

[jmc]

Just what is the purpose of the springs on everything?

If I was going to build one from scratch, I cannot see why I would use springs, The one on the pivot bolt I assume is to keep it tight, but not too tight to rotate. (For something like that I would probably just use a shoulder bolt). But cannot for the life of me see what the spring on the connecting link is used for.

My guess is that toggle mechanisms* are very sensitive to where they meet resistance. With all the variations in implement QA dimensions out there, the industry traded rigidity for "forgiveness" by adding the springs.

*visegrips are a similar toggle mechanism and the slightest adjustment of the thumbscrew makes a difference in whether they lock in the closed position, or even close at all.

 

[Xfaxman]

Just what is the purpose of the springs on everything?

If I was going to build one from scratch, I cannot see why I would use springs, The one on the pivot bolt I assume is to keep it tight, but not too tight to rotate. (For something like that I would probably just use a shoulder bolt). But cannot for the life of me see what the spring on the connecting link is used for.

The spring on the latch pin compensates for the gap at the bottom of the QA plate and wear in the slot where the pin touches it.

 

[JLwoodworks]

The handle loads pressure on the spring. The spring pushes the pin down. That allows the mechanism to adjust to different attachments.

 

[newbury]

No plasma here so all cuts are angle grinder assisted by a drill press.

Good work, keep the pics coming please.

Can't you use this to justify a plasma?
Not a Powermax 85 but maybe a Powerplasma 50?
Just roll it into your cost savings

 

[GPintheMitten]

I suppose you know the latch levers need to go down far enough to put the linkage "over center", so they will stay latched: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...version-kit-need-post3189098.html#post3189098

View attachment 451979

Yep. I understand the need to go just over center so it locks.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Sorry, can't justify a plasma cutter for the amount of cutting I do. But it would have made this easier and quicker.

Today I cut the other 3x3 and cut the loader ears off. Cutting the ears off took about an hour, the another half hour to clean them up.

I figured out it is easier and cleaner straighter cut to cut from the inside of the bucket for the longitudinal cuts.

If someone does this, I recommend drilling a hole in the fourcorners of the ears to mark it. Then draw lines on the inside of the bucket then cut. This avoids the the bushings getting in the way of the angle grinder. The horizontal cuts could be made from inside or outside, whichever seems easier.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for all the interest guys. It looks like the spring questions have been answered.

In the last picture above, the mockup demonstrates that I need to overhang each of the ears to the outside of the 3x3's by about 3/4". Tomorrow I'll prep the steel for welding and start welding it up. I'm not going to remove the bucket steel from the ears. That approx 1/8" steel will remain. It is welded very well to the ears and it would be a pain to remove for very little benefit (in my opinion).

I'll start by welding the cross piece to each of the 3x3's to keep that spacing correct. This will form an H. Then reattach the ears to the loader arms and then clamp the H to the bucket ears and weld them. then I'll clamp the latch plates to the H, test the curl, then weld that.

At least that's the plan for now.

 

[k0ua]

It is welded very well to the ears and it would be a pain to remove for very little benefit (in my opinion).

Yes it is and was..

 

[newbury]

I got one 3x3 cut up. Looks like it will work. The other one will be a mirror image of this. I've got about 3 hours in so far.
<snip>

I got the other 3x3 cut. Took 1.25 hours.

<snp>

Today I cut the other 3x3 and cut the loader ears off. Cutting the ears off took about an hour, the another half hour to clean them up.
<snip>

Adding that up it comes to about 5.75 hours so far.

I appreciate the effort you are putting into documenting the process. I just got the go ahead from SWMBO on getting a grapple. Pretty soon I'll have $11,000 in attachments for my $11,000 tractor.

 

[jmc]

I just got the go ahead from SWMBO on getting a grapple. Pretty soon I'll have $11,000 in attachments for my $11,000 tractor.

Do her tractor related projects first!

 

[GPintheMitten]

Newbury, are you going to convert to SSQA before you get the grapple?