Going down the Top N Tilt path

[GlueGuy]

Hayden,

Here's the thread with the photos of my Gearmore setup.

The GlueGuy

 

[hayden]

Picks of first cylinder

Here's a pic of the top link cylinder with the new ends welded on. I ended up getting a $16 top link assembly and cutting off the ends. This allowed be to make them the desired length without having to weld in spacers of any kind. Welding was with a 120V MIG welder usign flux core wire (no gas). It was quite easy, even though this was the first time I've done electric welding (I have some minor experience with gas welding)

I've also got the control valve assemble put together and decided on a mounting position. I'm going for next to the operator's seat rather than below the loader control based on feedback in this thread. It will be mounted to the rops frame. Pics on that later.

Peter

 

[hayden]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

Here's the other end of the top link cylinder. This cyinder has cost be about $140 as compared to $270 for the exact same thing from Gearmore. (P.S. We don't talk about the $450 welder I bought to do the job. Remember, I'm having fun!)

Peter

 

[RobS]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

Nice looking work Peter! I didn't think the 110V welders would weld that much metal. What welder do you have? I'll have to bump that up on my want list /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Rch]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

hayden, what did you do so the heat of welding won't compromise the seals ?

RCH

 

[hayden]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

It's a Hobart Handler 135 and was recommended by folks on this board.

 

[hayden]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

Bird described taking his top link cylinder to a hydraulic shop to have it shortened, fearing doing it himself for exactly the reason you mentioned (heat damage to the seals). He then watched then fully extend the rod, cut the end to shortend it, then reweld with no other handling other than extending the rod. His conclusion what "I coudl have done that myself". (Did I get it right, Bird?)

I just jumped straight to that conslusion. It's the benefit of others going before you. When you think about it, when fully extended both seals are in the center of the rod/cyl assembly and the welding is at either extreem end. After welding I could hand hold the cylinder in the middle where the seals are. Don't try this with gas welding where you really heat up the whole part, just Arc welding where the heating is more concentrated and localized.

 

[RobertN]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

When we did my cylinders, we extended them fully. when we welded the rod end, we wrapped the rod with damp toweling, about 4" down from the weld. The metal directly around the weld heated nicely for proper penetration, while the rest of the rod, and seal, stayed cool. We did the same with the Cylinder end.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[Bird]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

<font color=blue>(Did I get it right, Bird?)</font color=blue>

Yep, that's about all there was to it. And like you said, I don't think I'd try it with a gas welder though.

Bird

 

[Rowski]

Re: Picks of first cylinder

Great job!!

Where did you buy your cylinder?

What are the compresed and extened lenghts?

Thanks


Derek