Linear actuator for power SSQA?

aeblank · Mar 27, 2015

Yeah, this is a Kubota-only SSQA mod. What can I say, it's what I have, and what I care about...
I think a detailed how-to would interest quite a few people. Or maybe not and it'll just be for me. Whatever.....

I'm looking at shoulder-bolts or studs threaded into the levers, and that's the only mounting, one at each end. We'll see if that works when I get farther along with the details. $250 for a drop in actuator vs. $150 actuator plus 1?,2?,3? custom "machined" pieces seems (on the surface) to be a no-brainer, at least to me. To each their own.

k0ua · Mar 28, 2015

Yes our DK series (and probably the NX series too) Just have one Handle. Hopefully this will show up in these pictures. I can't tell much from the "thumbnail" pictures.

Fallon · Mar 28, 2015

Wow. I had the 400lbs one in my Amazon cart just waiting to go on my next Amazon order. I ended up actually using the tractor a bit today moving a few things around & can't believe how handy this mod is. The really surprising thing to me is the fact the cycle speed isn't that relevant to using the thing. I flip the switch 30 seconds before I go to dump the implement & it's ready to go when I get there. Latch time is similarly irelevant. Grab the impliment, tilt the SSQA carrier back so it tightens up a bit, hit the switch & go. By the time I'm barely even turned around, much less where I'm going it's latched (or at least as latched as 4" is going to get).

Really happy with how this mod is working out.

Also the 4" while clearly not enough actually gets me 90% of the way latched every time so far. Safe enough for puttering around for now until I get the 6".

I need to put some more thought into what actuator I'm going to get now. I had more or less decided to upgrade, but am not so sure now. The $60 Ebay special seems like it might very well be up to the task (6", not my current 4").

Xfaxman · Mar 28, 2015

Glad it is working so well. :thumbsup:

But I thought you needed 7.5 inches to get over center?

Fallon · Mar 29, 2015

Xfaxman said:
Glad it is working so well. :thumbsup:

But I thought you needed 7.5 inches to get over center?

7.5" of travel from levers (not pins) fully up to levers fully down, including them going way over center.
There is a little over 5" of travel between pins fully up & pins fully down, the remaining couple of inches is things throwing over center to latch. As the actuator takes care of preventing the pins from coming loose, the extra distance is moot for my purposes.

At any rate I think I'll have to modify my current brackets (or make new ones) so the bracket will hit the loader arm & bottom out (say 1/2" of free play before both brackets bottom out). That way the actuator will be forced to push both pins down rather than one down & one half way. It doesn't seem to be an issue with the 4" actuator, so I doubt it would be an issue with a 6", but better to be safe than sorry.

ovrszd · Mar 29, 2015

k0ua said:
Yes our DK series (and probably the NX series too) Just have one Handle. Hopefully this will show up in these pictures. I can't tell much from the "thumbnail" pictures.

View attachment 418630 View attachment 418631 View attachment 418632 View attachment 418633

James, I love looking at pictures posted on here. I usually get side tracked and forget the purpose of the picture because of some detail I see that has nothing to do with the subject. Happened with yours. I like the bungee cord holding your hoses up out of the way!!!! When I'm running flat on the ground my Grapple hoses are lightly dragging the ground. Goin to town today to find a cord to hang mine with!!!

ovrszd · Mar 29, 2015

Fallon said:
Wow. I had the 400lbs one in my Amazon cart just waiting to go on my next Amazon order. I ended up actually using the tractor a bit today moving a few things around & can't believe how handy this mod is. The really surprising thing to me is the fact the cycle speed isn't that relevant to using the thing. I flip the switch 30 seconds before I go to dump the implement & it's ready to go when I get there. Latch time is similarly irelevant. Grab the impliment, tilt the SSQA carrier back so it tightens up a bit, hit the switch & go. By the time I'm barely even turned around, much less where I'm going it's latched (or at least as latched as 4" is going to get).

Really happy with how this mod is working out.

Also the 4" while clearly not enough actually gets me 90% of the way latched every time so far. Safe enough for puttering around for now until I get the 6".

I need to put some more thought into what actuator I'm going to get now. I had more or less decided to upgrade, but am not so sure now. The $60 Ebay special seems like it might very well be up to the task (6", not my current 4").

Sounds great!!! I wasn't worried about the speed of it all because of what you just described.

Still not sure I heard yet how the actuator is protected if it can't complete the stroke?? Is it thermal protected or in some way kept from just sitting there burning up the motor trying to move??

k0ua · Mar 29, 2015

ovrszd said:
James, I love looking at pictures posted on here. I usually get side tracked and forget the purpose of the picture because of some detail I see that has nothing to do with the subject. Happened with yours. I like the bungee cord holding your hoses up out of the way!!!! When I'm running flat on the ground my Grapple hoses are lightly dragging the ground. Goin to town today to find a cord to hang mine with!!!

Yep, in mid span of the hoses, I put a couple of black tie-wraps, and hooked one end of a cheap bungie cord in the tie-wrap, and closed the eye of the bungie with a pair of pliers so it stays with the grapple hoses. Then hook the other bungie hook over a fitting and you are all set. When the grapple comes off, the free end of the bungie hooks to the grapple, and helps keep the hoses up off of the ground too! I like it better than the expensive spring idea. Cost about .50 cents

CDN Farm Boy · Mar 29, 2015

ovrszd said:
Still not sure I heard yet how the actuator is protected if it can't complete the stroke?? Is it thermal protected or in some way kept from just sitting there burning up the motor trying to move??

Is there any reason why it has to run a full stroke? I have zero experience with them but I can't imagine that they are built in such a way they can't stop mid stoke when the power is cut, nor is it designed to have constant power. Switch it with a spring loaded on-off-on then it only runs when you say so.

ovrszd · Mar 29, 2015

k0ua said:
Yep, in mid span of the hoses, I put a couple of black tie-wraps, and hooked one end of a cheap bungie cord in the tie-wrap, and closed the eye of the bungie with a pair of pliers so it stays with the grapple hoses. Then hook the other bungie hook over a fitting and you are all set. When the grapple comes off, the free end of the bungie hooks to the grapple, and helps keep the hoses up off of the ground too! I like it better than the expensive spring idea. Cost about .50 cents

Great idea. And would probably simply break without any hose damage when you forget to unhook it from the tractor when dropping the Grapple. Not that I'd ever do that.....