Articulated yoke for hydraulic ram

[Aussiebushman]

A centrally mounted ram is designed to raise and lower a front blade BUT a standard yoke does not allow for any lateral movement. That is a problem if the ground is uneven and/or sloping because the blade tilts sideways to follow the contour, putting stress onto the piston. It doesn't take much to bend that piston and to straighten it it is rarely successful so the entire ram has to be replaced. At $340 a time, that is not my idea of fun!

I tried all kinds of devices to restrain the blade, including chains and steel struts. A really strong double-ended fitting with a yoke on one end and a tongue on the other was the only answer and there were a couple shown in a Google search, but I just could not find one locally - certainly not in a large enough size.The only answer was to fabricate one.

The solution was staring me in the face in the form of the steel yoke welded to the top of the old damaged cylinder. (The other removable end is a casting). From the left-over bits of steel in the workshop I found piece of 1" thick flat bar already bored with holes near enough to the right size for the pins. I cut off the yoke just above the oil fitting, then drilled for a bolt. also welded the tongue and reinforced it with extra plates on the top.

Total cost - under $10 for cutting disks, welding rod and a used HT bolt

 

[Xfaxman]

Gooder-un :thumbsup:

 

[Aussiebushman]

One improvement needed is steel or nylon (etc) packing between the "hinges" (the black and grey parts in the picture) to allow smooth movement but no twisting motion

 

[chim]

Doesn't that added link get a bit wobbly when down pressure is applied? It looks like the bottom of the cylinder would want to walk in different directions.

 

[davedj1]

You could use one of these and maybe have less chance of it to want to kink?
Lower Link Ball End Cat 1 | Agri Supply 12

 

[LouNY]

Or one these,
normally used on toplinks or any tension setup.
Category 2 Clevis Knuckle | AGRISTORE USA

 

[Aussiebushman]

Or one these,
normally used on toplinks or any tension setup.
Category 2 Clevis Knuckle | AGRISTORE USA

Actually YES! The cat 2 clevis knuckle is exactly what I looked for before making up my own unit. I have looked everywhere in Australia for one and amazingly cannot find one. Ex US is possible but mail or DHL costs to get it here have been prohibitive in the past. I'll contact the seller to see what they could arrange

Thanks

Alan