Members home made attachments / improvements

[cqaigy2]

The soil is the issue. Some trees pop right up, others are like in concrete. I have buried the nose about halfway up. I think when it starts to rain this fall things will really change in its use. I will really give it a good workout then...

I think your right about getting a little moisture in the soil. I think we probably similar soil in that it's pretty high clay content so hardens up during the summer.

 

[Barryh]

Well it was such a nice day out today. I found some time to start working on my light duty grapple bucket. Since I have no welding equipment at this time, I'll just have to be a little creative.

I’ve been Itching for a while now to try an electric Linear Actuator, so I figured this would be a good time. I bought a new 600 pound rated Bear, with a 6 inch stroke. Worst case scenario if things don't line up. I can use it to make a dump cart for around my yard.

A customer had this log rack in his back yard, made of steel tubing. I spotted it and asked if he wanted to get rid of it .He said sure, you can have it. So in the first picture is half of the rack after I unbolted it, and took it apart. Then you can see as I go what I have in mind. As I proceeded to hack saw it up and put it together.

I will work on this every chance I get and post the progress. Not sure how well it will hold up but hopefully it will do what I need it to do.

 

[Barryh]

Number 5 the grapple is starting to take shape. I had some steel brackets lying around and used them in the front as the two outer teeth. Picture 6 and 7 are the start of drilling holes inserting some flange bushings I found in someone’s old gym equipment that was being thrown away.

As J.J. would say, I use what I have on hand. 8 is one end finished with the flange bushings, the pins and brackets I bought with my actuator from Johnny bucket.

 

[Barryh]

Number 10 is the Linear Actuator I will be using. To be continued.

 

[bbabineau]

Number 10 is the Linear Actuator I will be using. To be continued.

I had never thought of a linear actuator as something that could be used in this way. What is the length of stroke and the force of the cylinder? I really like the idea of avoiding the plumbing and will be interested to see how it works.

 

[Barryh]

If you scroll up to the first pictures I posted. As I said it is rated at 600 Lbs., and has a 6 inch stroke. From what I've seen, that's about what most people use in a hydraulic cylinder grapple. At least the home made ones I've seen. Hoping It be will right for mine. We will see.

 

[J_J]

If you scroll up to the first pictures I posted. As I said it is rated at 600 Lbs., and has a 6 inch stroke. From what I've seen, that's about what most people use in a hydraulic cylinder grapple. At least the home made ones I've seen. Hoping It be will right for mine. We will see.

You are coming along nicely with your linear grapple. Linear actuators will work in some situations. Whether it will work in your situation will depend on the geometry that you choose. It will take some trial and error. I figured out the length of the cylinder that I needed by attaching one end and raising and lowering the grapple to see if the stroke was right. 600 lbs is not a lot of force, but it should hold in brush , small logs, etc. How thick is that tubing?

 

[Barryh]

Thanks,

the tubing is only about 1/8 thick. That’s why I put flange bushings on the frame arms. I went with what I had laying around, and collected. I need to get rid of some of this stuff it’s cluttering up my garage.

I do plan on reinforcing it with cross stips of angle iron, and will look for a piece of steel to put down the middle. I just want to use it for small trees, logs, bushes etc.

I'm banking on the curvature of the claws to hold any heavy logs, rocks more than the 600 pound jaw power. Warner Electric does make actuators that handle 2,000, 3,000 Lb loads.

This should be enough for my intended purposes. I guess time will tell. If it ends up being a bust I can always use the cylinder for a nice dump trailer.

 

[ldabe]

Great job Barry!

Keep the pics coming, I can't wait to see it in action.

 

[Barryh]

Great job Barry!

Keep the pics coming, I can't wait to see it in action.

Well thanks Abe. If it works nearly as well, as I think it might. That gives me one more reason to be lazy and not get off of the PT.