Leakdown

woodlandfarms · Nov 5, 2007

I was yacking with Pony a few minutes ago. Discussing sprayers. One thing that I reminded myself was that I have an issue with leakdown on the PT. The arm will lower, even when driving. It is not quick but not slow. In a space of 5 minutes or so it will drop a few inches. The reason this is a big concern is that if I front mount a sprayer I want it to stay at a particular height...

Any thoughts? I was planning on replacing the cylinders this winter if money is not too tight.

Carl

SnowRidge · Nov 5, 2007

This is clearly an opportunity for yet another mod. Three point hitches have position control, which keeps the lower arms from leaking down. I think your PT needs this too, but for the lift arms.

I think you should automate it. Use the joystick to set the arms and implement at the right height, then push a button and have something under software control take over and keep it at that same exact height. It wouldn't take much processing power. You could probably do it with a Pic microcontroller.

I'm really enthused about this. Please keep us apprised of how the project is coming.

MossRoad · Nov 5, 2007

Put wheels on the bottom of your sprayer in case it drops.

woodlandfarms · Nov 5, 2007

SnowRidge said:
I think you should automate it. Use the joystick to set the arms and implement at the right height, then push a button and have something under software control take over and keep it at that same exact height. It wouldn't take much processing power. You could probably do it with a Pic microcontroller.

I'm really enthused about this. Please keep us apprised of how the project is coming.

It is moments like these that make me realize how wonderful TBN is... in a private email Snowridge has invited me to his neck of the woods, and on his nickle no less. As he is an expert in electronics and the PT he has offered to build the system for me while I am there, and test it on his system, and then fly me back so I can install it on mine... With friends like this I can't wait to discuss my Stump Grinder idea.

ps... all in fun... Actually not a bad idea if it wasn't for the fact I have no mechanical or electronic skill whatsoever. And now with the writers strike my pocket book is on permanenet tractor hiatus. Also, I would have thrown in Lasers to keep it all level and then keep me on track for multiple passes...

Gravy · Nov 5, 2007

Going to the other extreme, for an application like a sprayer you could use Hillbilly High Tech - a sturdy stick wedged between the body and the lift arms to support it all for a while.

Gravy

marrt · Nov 5, 2007

woodlandfarms,

Have you tried fiddling with the draft control? I was playing with mine over the weekend and found I could make the bucket move (up) be changing the draft control and increasing the rpms. It could be hard to fine tune though. I also wish the arms would stay in one place. I have a garage to build and would like to use the PT bucket for a platform and to stabilize ladders and such. With the arm leak down issue, this is difficult.

MossRoad · Nov 5, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
... Also, I would have thrown in Lasers to keep it all level and then keep me on track for multiple passes...

Don't laugh. It has already been done. I think it was Blackwell that mentioned they have a laser controlled depth thingy on one of his PT's for when they level areas.

MossRoad · Nov 5, 2007

Yep, it was Balckwell. Here's a link to the post where he mentions it.

And here's another mention of it where he mentions a power rake and laser level.

SnowRidge · Nov 5, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
It is moments like these that make me realize how wonderful TBN is... in a private email Snowridge has invited me to his neck of the woods, and on his nickle no less. As he is an expert in electronics and the PT he has offered to build the system for me while I am there, and test it on his system, and then fly me back so I can install it on mine... With friends like this I can't wait to discuss my Stump Grinder idea.

--ROFL--

J_J · Nov 5, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
I was yacking with Pony a few minutes ago. Discussing sprayers. One thing that I reminded myself was that I have an issue with leakdown on the PT. The arm will lower, even when driving. It is not quick but not slow. In a space of 5 minutes or so it will drop a few inches. The reason this is a big concern is that if I front mount a sprayer I want it to stay at a particular height...

Any thoughts? I was planning on replacing the cylinders this winter if money is not too tight.

Carl

Carl, That leak down is probably caused by your joystick valve. Some valves are made to tight specification, and others are not. I took my valve out and had it checked by a hydraulic shop. There are pilot operated check valves that you could add to the cylinders, that are activated by you moving the valves. What that does is to allow say a pressure of 600 psi to open the valve so fluid can flow to the cylinder. The purpose of the pilot operated check valve is to hold a cylinder in place. That is assuming that the cylinders are good. A lot of valves have internal checks in the valves, but that is to prevent a load from dumping when you shift the valve. You might consider a newer model valve. I think all of us have a leak down on the lift arms. My lift arms will drop over night. Some say they can watch them drop in a matter of hours. Hope this info helps. Good luck.