Log arch

[ticolawnllc]

Tarted my log arch last week and I'm almost done. Please point out any flaws you see I know I have to support the square frame and maybe brace the frame to the lever

 

[Rio_Grande]

Were it I, then I would put support where you have the axle welded to the frame. I see you have what appears to be a rod there, but. I would put a triangle piece on each side.. I am known to overbuild things though.

 

[square1]

Does your design have adjustable length of the top tube / back bone / spine (whatever it's called)? Agree with Rio about beefing up the stub axle to frame points. Also think you're going to want some long diagonal bracing in addition to or in place of the gussets in the top outside corners and from where those diagonals meet the legs back up to the forward section of the spine.

 

[JerryG]

I like the way you did the top part, with the bracing and the receiver design.

 

[ticolawnllc]

Took it out this morning for a test run. I did add more angle to the frame and hub. Looks good to me. One thing is the hight of the tongs. It's a bit to high so I couldn't get the log up. I later used a drop hitch and the leverage worked out just fine.

 

[ticolawnllc]

I put a hand winch at the end. If it works good if not I can still use the tongs. I had some two year old primer. It was all clumpy so I slapped it on with a brush.

This thing was done on the cheep. The axle was one I took off my trailer because it was bent. I put some new bearings and seals just incase I need the hubs agin for my trailer. The tires and rims ruined after hopping a curb. They came off of a minivan. "Free" The only thing purchased was the square tube and the hand winch.

 

[George2615]

Just my opinion but should you have additional bracing as shown in your pic I copied. One on each side. It seems to me there would be a lot of stress on the 2 vertical legs dragging the arch through the woods. If the wheels caught on a stump or something the top horizontal bar welds would be stressed. Just a thought.

 

[ticolawnllc]

I thought about it but when I tried it out it looked ok. At this point I'll try it out first chance I get and I'll keep an eye on the welds. If I get a big tree to take down I'll add the support. I do need to move on to other more pressing things. That and I'm out of angle iron. Maybe in the winter I'll revisit the project. This thing is not going to get a lot of use. Maybe once a month or so on logs like in the pic.

I'm more worried about the hubs and axle. Under load they flex a lot. As it should.

Thanks for pointer.

 

[grnspot110]

I use a winch on mine, then chain the log for towing: ~~ Lowell

 

[ticolawnllc]

I use a winch on mine, then chain the log for towing: <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/393419-log-arch-garden-tractors-491-small-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/393420-log-arch-hpim0765-custom-jpg"/> ~~ Lowell

I was going to do that back set of wheels and tow the log with my 3 point hitch. My bobcat ct120 can lift one end of a 24" x 8' log. I didn't want to drag the log