It's time; either get started or....

[NormL]

But you have to consider the alternative.



It's time; either get started or ....

...or take the day off?

I took the day off.:laughing::laughing:

Wow! Reading about what you gentlemen are dealing with has me counting my blessings!:thumbsup: Stay safe, all of you!

 

[mjncad]

But you have to consider the alternative.

Yet, I'm drawn to the shop. Can I trust myself not to make it worse? My mom is 95 and thinking the alternative is looking better. I'm 64 and figure I'll get over this setback.

My Mom was 2-months shy of 91 when she died, and 18-months ago I would have bet good money she would have made it to 100. She told me she didn't want to see 100. The age number didn't bug her; but what pissed her off was not being able to do the things she could when she was younger.

He said he wanted to take an xray. But then I would assume he would have just prescribed me some pain killers after the xray was done.

I'd go to the doctor but I assume there's not much they could do so I figure I'll just take pain killers and live with it.

Chad

I hate going to doctors too; but those industrial strength pain killers help a bad back feel tolerable. At least my doctor usually has a dirty joke or something politically incorrect to tell me, which makes the long drive and crappy parking easier to bear.

 

[2LateIWon]

wow great job so far

 

[NormL]

I have put in some shop time in short bursts when I can find the energy. It has been hot by our northern standards: into the nineties, sometimes 97 -99. And dry, too! I know; you good folks would like to cool down to temps like that but keep in mind our blood is thinner. Right now my weather station tells me it is 89 and the system responsible for this is moving out of the area. Maybe I can start doing stuff outside without getting drenched in perspiration for a change.:thumbsup:

I finally have most of the bits together for the pivot box and am verifying clearances everywhere along the travel before tacking it up. Some Photos to give you a visual image of the project so far. I'm showing one of two cylinders available to me If I can use them. They are more cylinder than I need, I know. 16" reach is a bit much but 12" might not be enough. I guess I'll have to get one and compare them. I don't think I need more than 2" bore either, and that big Bertha I have there is 3". Before I tack those 1/2"x4" plates to the pivot box I need to be sure which cylinder I'm using and that I have the holes for the pins in the right places. If anyone sees a problem in there anywhere please let me know. I'm treading on unfamiliar ground here!:confused2:

 

[NormL]

I've decided the cylinders will be the 12" stroke variety!:thumbsup: That will eliminate a couple of issues where the cylinder mounts to the pivot and the boom. I need the cylinder to fit between the same flange that encloses the end of the boom and the outside dimensions of the 3" is too large to fit in there. The other issue would have been where the cylinder rod attaches to the boom. That would have been a monster of a bracket and even I would not have been happy with that.

 

[NormL]

I finally found some time to play in the shop. Here are some photos of the bucket so far. I took a page out of Iplayfarmer's script and obtained some pipe material. The welding shop guy didn't feel like cutting off what I needed and just sold me the whole thing. It's about 20" in diameter by 32" long. I can use it to build a lot of buckets!:laughing::laughing: For now I'm building one that's 12" wide.

First photo shows it tacked together; the rest after welding and grinding. I have some grader blade that I'm thinking of using for the cutting edge. It's pretty heavy stuff so it might not work but I'm sure it would make great teeth if I cut 1.5" pieces off and welded them onto whatever I wind up using for a cutting edge.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I remember thinking I was pretty clever when I thought up the idea of using a section of pipe for the bucket. I'm flattered that someone is copying the idea. It looks like you're going to have yours up and running before mine. Be sure to let me know how it works.

 

[mjncad]

Using pipe is a good way to go to solve a tough fabrication matter for us mere mortals without access to serious metal fabrication tools.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Norm, I also meant to mention that I love seeing how you are using (recycling) old materials for your build. That makes it even more interesting to follow this thread.

 

[NormL]

I remember thinking I was pretty clever when I thought up the idea of using a section of pipe for the bucket.

More like genius if you ask me!:thumbsup: