automatic upper link arm?

cchoate · Jul 8, 2002

I 've read there are auto upper links available for tractors with hydraulic outlets. My b7500 has a front outlet, has anybody installed a auto link on a simular machine. How hard? Cost much? The only other possibility I thought of is a arm from a satallite dish. I work in this field and could try it.

Ozarker · Jul 8, 2002

I think that arm from the dish is a great idea. Assuming the motor could take the weight of whatever you were moving with it.

Darn, and I gave away an 8' dish a couple of years ago just to get it out of my yard.

cchoate · Jul 9, 2002

I have installed dish arms that will move 1500lbs no problem. The real problem is finding one that is 12 volts - most are 18 to 24 volts. I'm still working on it and I WILL find a way. I've also got a great alternative to position control that is not a chain limit. I think it's better than any pc out there. When I am done I'll post all the details.

Ozarker · Jul 9, 2002

Use the 24v units. They should have more torque and it is just a simple matter of adding another battery to the tractor. The tractor electrical system would still run off the original battery for 12v and the second would be hooked to the first in series to get 24v for the other.

kyoders · Sep 8, 2002

Cchoate,

If you find 12V actuators, please post the source. One thing to think about is the direction of force applied to the actuator. I've done some extensive looking for actuators (not just for satellite dishes) and most of them are only supposed to be loaded in line with the direction of travel. Top links can be subjected to significant side loads, which might break something. The ball ends would help distribute the load in the proper direction (assuming the top link swung in the direction of the side load), but I still think you might end up bending or breaking the screw in the actuator. Also, most of the satellite dish actuators I've seen relied on limit switches to keep from over/under running the screw. They may not like the dirt often found in the vicinity of a tractor.

Just some thoughts. If you find one that would work, I'd love to know where you got it. You might want to look at the Motion Systems web site (http://www.actuator.com/). I actually have one of their actuators that works great for what it was designed for, and they have come up with a way to eliminate limit switches and just have the screw turn in place at the limits of travel.

Kevin