Linear Actuator for ct120 grapple

[ticolawnllc]

I falsely read 200 pounds for 2000 pounds. I think it's severely underpowered now. My grapple doesn't bite hard enough to suit me and assuming it had 2" bore cylinders at 2600 psi that's about 8100 pounds of push. I could calculate it fairly accurately by taking some measurements, but just taking a guess the closing pressure at the tip is about 1/4 that much. I want to build a grapple with about a 4" bore cylinder, but it's not practical because of the strength it would have to be not to self destruct. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=495991"/>

I'm not at that level. The tractor can lift 400 lbs if I can hold the brush I place so it doesn't fall off on the way to chipper it's a win. Also I get your point about the lose of power. I'm getting that form 200 lbs of power I might get 50 lbs at the bucket.

 

[4570Man]

I think a brush fork would be better than a bucket with a very weak grapple. I've moved quite a bit of brush with with just pallet forks, but a wider platform would be a lot better. IMO the pallet forks work much better than a bucket for moving brush. I think even something cheesy like 2x4s strapped on the bucket would be a better solution.

 

[Fallon]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321704 I've messed with $60 & $160 linear actuators for power SSQA & an automated chicken coop door... Both worked fine for those low torque applications. However for a grapple generally you'll be on the wrong side of leverage getting a fraction of that power. The better actuator I ended up using for my SSQA project wasn't that robust or fast. It was good enough for my SSQA where it could take 10 seconds to latch or unlatch as I drove up or away. But it would be annoyingly slow for a grapple. The mounts are either pot metal or aluminum & would Crack in a few uses. And that was the good 10-15@ actuator. The cheap ones only pull an amp or so.

 

[ticolawnllc]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321704 I've messed with $60 & $160 linear actuators for power SSQA & an automated chicken coop door... Both worked fine for those low torque applications. However for a grapple generally you'll be on the wrong side of leverage getting a fraction of that power. The better actuator I ended up using for my SSQA project wasn't that robust or fast. It was good enough for my SSQA where it could take 10 seconds to latch or unlatch as I drove up or away. But it would be annoyingly slow for a grapple. The mounts are either pot metal or aluminum & would Crack in a few uses. And that was the good 10-15@ actuator. The cheap ones only pull an amp or so.

Great Idea. Once I screw the pooch I can use it for the SSQA

 

[Fallon]

Great Idea. Once I screw the pooch I can use it for the SSQA

As long as you don't break the mounting brackets or burn out the motors on the light actuators. On the final version I put a circuit breaker smaller than the linear actuators max draw in the mix. That way the breaker would pop before the actuator & pins jammed to hard if things weren't lined up.

I really liked that power SSQA setup. I'll probably do it hydraulically on my new L4060 as I have a 3rd function up there now. Will just leave the 3rd function plugged into the SSQA unless I need to hook up an implement, in which case I'll be up there to connect hoses already.

 

[BelarusBulldog]

If you have rear ports, why not run two hoses up along the side of tractor and loader, to the grapple? That is how I run mine, works good.

 

[ticolawnllc]

If you have rear ports, why not run two hoses up along the side of tractor and loader, to the grapple? That is how I run mine, works good.

I don't have any ports in the back.

 

[BelarusBulldog]

An electric diverter valve plumbed at your loader hookups, maybe?

 

[BelarusBulldog]

Maybe an electric winch could be used to close the grapple and a couple of heavy springs could open it?

 

[roadhunter]

I don't have any ports in the back.

It's a worthwhile investment in your equipment if you are doing this professionally. Either add a rear port and run a hose to the front or put a diverter valve on the curl function.