Homemade loader for Branson tractor

ptsg · Sep 3, 2018

Yeah, I agree with both of you. It should hold just fine.

That's is not the factory loader on those pictures. It's an aftermarket one. I don't think Branson offers a loader option for tractors with mid mounted ROPS. Only on tractors with rear ROPS.

That loader in the picture, in my opinion, has a somewhat major flaw, which is the need to remove the loader so you can remove the ROPS pins if you want to fold it. They didn't leave much space between the loader brackets and the ROPS. I've spaced the loader I'm building so I don't have to remove it whenever I need to fold the ROPS.

ptsg · Jun 4, 2019

It's been over a year already? Wow!

About time I finally update this thread.

So, last week I went and go the honed tube and chrome rod to make the cylinders. The tube is 60 mm (2" 23/64) inside diameter and the rod is 30 mm (1" 3/16").

I still need to get the seal kits, the fine thread lock nut and the gland. I will be making the pistons myself. I can't make the gland also because I don't have the tooling or measuring equipment to deal with grooves for the seals.

Here is the material all cut to length. The ports and eng plugs that I had already machined.

The hydraulic top link on my tractor uses the same bore and rod diameter as I'll be using. I made the top link out of an old cylinder I got from the junkyard. It's live an hard life on the previous aplication as you'll see in the gland. Since it's all standard parts, I can use the gland of that cylinder to check the thread fitment on the new tubes. That being said, I started machining the tubes.

After the machining, I could start welding the end plugs and the work ports. First pass with a 3/32" rod and the last pass with 1/8" rod.

That's everything so far. I'll be machining the rods next and maybe the pistons.

Here is a time-lapse on the machining of one of the tubes: Cylinder machining - YouTube

GeneD14 · Jun 5, 2019

PTSG,

You do some impressive work! Your machining and welding looks top notch.

Keep the updates coming.

ptsg · Jun 6, 2019

Thanks GeneD14.

Yesterday I machined one of the rods so I could at least test one cylinder. Here are a couple of pictures:

I tested on my backhoe and everything worked perfectly with absolutely no leaks at all. I was very happy with it.

After all, I'll be machining the glands my self. I just got about a foot of ductile cast iron round stock today.

Here is a video of the test: Cylinder testing - YouTube

More to come.

BFreaky · Jun 6, 2019

Looks great. Can't wait to see how it will look when it's done. Keep up the good work

ptsg · Jun 7, 2019

Thanks BFreaky!

I machined the rest of the rods today and got one piston made. Came out really nice and hit every dimension it needed.

BFreaky · Jun 8, 2019

When making cylinders it's very important to make it precise. Then you can reach factory quality

ptsg · Jun 8, 2019

Yes indeed. However, I took some factory made cylinders apart to get an idea on various methods of doing it and some of them, were not that precise.

So far, I'm hitting every dimension just spot on, which is nice, since my lathe is not new and has quite a bit of wear. Although most of the parts have quite a bit of tolerance, specially when it comes to groove dimensions for the seals.

I've repaired a couple of cylinders before, but this being my first cylinders made by me from scratch is a pleasant experience. It's something I've always wanted to do, was to make hydraulic cylinders myself.

ptsg · Jun 23, 2019

Let's update this thread again.

Finally got around to finish all the cylinders. The only thing missing is the threaded holes for the grease fittings but I'll do that later on after I figure out the best place for it.

I've now started on the second arm and I'm also modeling the quick hitch for the bucket on the CAD program. I'll be using the Euro 8 style, instead of the SSQA since it's more common over here.

Here are the pictures of the glands being machines, then finish with all the seals in. Also the finished cylinders. If you look closely, on the shorter (curl) cylinders, I've put two pins in so show that the cylinders matched perfectly in length with each other. Both on the retracted and extended positions.

Those cylinders are marked because the ports are rotated 45ｺ in relation to the pins. To make sure I have clearance for the hoses between the loader arms and the ROPS when folded. And if I swap them around, the fittings would be facing towards the outside of the tractor which would make it really exposed.

Glands and pistons: