Members home made attachments / improvements

[Barryh]

Thanks. I am going to build a mini-hoe soon. Just now acquiring the steel. If it looks good, and I can find enough paint to cover my ugly welds, I'll post some pictures.

I'm sure you'll beat me to it. Will be looking forward to the pictures..

 

[woodlandfarms]

Here is a link to my failed landscape / blackberry rake...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...omemade-blackberry-rake.html?referrerid=29013

 

[MossRoad]

My humble apologies for mentioning another Power Trac forum on this Power Trac forum... please forgive my wicked ways.

O.K.

 

[Barryh]

Here is a link to my failed landscape / blackberry rake...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...omemade-blackberry-rake.html?referrerid=29013

Carl,

You may want to think about using the setup I did. I had a hitch receiver welded on extra strong. Then I bought tubing from Northern

Buyers 48in. Long 2in. Standard Receiver Tube | Hitch Receivers | Northern Tool + Equipment

They sell it up to 48 inch lengths. This is the 2-1/2 inch tube. You can then buy the inner tubing which can plug into this for extra length if you like. I had the receiver welded with fins to reinforce the tube.

It's plenty strong. I can lift my tractor up off of the ground without any problem.Your larger attachment plate would offer more support than mine. You could weld on even wider fin's along with maybe a 3 or 4 foot top strap, using flat steel for more reinforcement.

Just a suggestion. I went with this setup so I can also make a rake plus other attachments, winch etc. When I get er done. I should have added another 10 plug in attachments to my list. Here is the plate once again and the outer tubing just in case you're interested. By the way nice job on the rake.

 

[Barryh]

If you need more metal / steel in small quantities for your existing project. Here is a good source I just bought 4x4 and 5x5 square tubing from them. Fast delivery great service.

Speedy Metals

 

[Barryh]

Carl,

You may want to think about using the setup I did. I had a hitch receiver welded on extra strong. Then I bought tubing from Northern

Buyers 48in. Long 2in. Standard Receiver Tube | Hitch Receivers | Northern Tool + Equipment

They sell it up to 48 inch lengths. This is the 2-1/2 inch tube. You can then buy the inner tubing which can plug into this for extra length if you like. I had the receiver welded with fins to reinforce the tube.

It's plenty strong. I can lift my tractor up off of the ground without any problem.Your larger attachment plate would offer more support than mine. You could weld on even wider fin's along with maybe a 3 or 4 foot top strap, using flat steel for more reinforcement.

Just a suggestion. I went with this setup so I can also make a rake plus other attachments, winch etc. When I get er done. I should have added another 10 plug in attachments to my list. Here is the plate once again and the outer tubing just in case you're interested. By the way nice job on the rake.

On second thought. I can see with your cylinder action you get more height plus length for those blackberry bushes. So your setup is better suited to your needs. Any pictures of the bushes and the pond you almost drove into or did I miss it?

 

[J_J]

If you need more metal / steel in small quantities for your existing project. Here is a good source I just bought 4x4 and 5x5 square tubing from them. Fast delivery great service.

Speedy Metals

Barry. Did you think their prices were reasonable. After looking at Speedy Metal site, I got a rude shock as far as the prices, and that did not include shipping. What I compared from local to Speedy Metals was, 1 in X 3 in, 20 ft.

Local was $92.70 plus tax

Speedy Metals was $245.00 without shipping .

Between two metals distributors in town, there was a $35.00 difference.

I have a large stock of metal, and picking up more all the time.

I believe our country is shipping most of our scrap metal to China, and buying back finished steel at highly inflated prices. Shame on someone for closing down our steel mills.

 

[Barryh]

Barry. Did you think their prices were reasonable. After looking at Speedy Metal site, I got a rude shock as far as the prices, and that did not include shipping. What I compared from local to Speedy Metals was, 1 in X 3 in, 20 ft.

Local was $92.70 plus tax

Speedy Metals was $245.00 without shipping .

Between two metals distributors in town, there was a $35.00 difference.

I have a large stock of metal, and picking up more all the time.

I believe our country is shipping most of our scrap metal to China, and buying back finished steel at highly inflated prices. Shame on someone for closing down our steel mills.

J.J.

I didn't do a lot of shopping around. I figured they were on the pricey side. I didn't need to order a lot, so I went with it. I liked the idea I could buy in small quantities and the convenience. Shame on our country for doing a lot of things these days. Don't get me started on that. Thanks for the comparison. I'll take the time to look around a little more next time.

 

[J_J]

Carl,

You may want to think about using the setup I did. I had a hitch receiver welded on extra strong. Then I bought tubing from Northern

Buyers 48in. Long 2in. Standard Receiver Tube | Hitch Receivers | Northern Tool + Equipment

They sell it up to 48 inch lengths. This is the 2-1/2 inch tube. You can then buy the inner tubing which can plug into this for extra length if you like. I had the receiver welded with fins to reinforce the tube.

It's plenty strong. I can lift my tractor up off of the ground without any problem.Your larger attachment plate would offer more support than mine. You could weld on even wider fin's along with maybe a 3 or 4 foot top strap, using flat steel for more reinforcement.

Just a suggestion. I went with this setup so I can also make a rake plus other attachments, winch etc. When I get er done. I should have added another 10 plug in attachments to my list. Here is the plate once again and the outer tubing just in case you're interested. By the way nice job on the rake.

Barry, Nice job on the hitch adapter. Looks tough and well made. Good welding also.

 

[Barryh]

Barry, Nice job on the hitch adapter. Looks tough and well made. Good welding also.

Thanks, it just opens up many other options down the road for new add on attachments. The way I see it, the hitch idea just carries on with the Power Trac tradition of quick and handy change over of implements and versatility.

I wish I could take credit for the welding. A friend of mine who works at Midas did the work. I'm looking forward to the 3 day weekend coming up. I get some time to myself to work on winterizing my PT, and working on my electric grapple.

I read this response by Island Tractor, he has me rethinking. I may change my design somewhat to a smaller upper grapple jaw. What do you think? According to him a wider upper grapple bite, does not center right when biting down on small trees etc.

Your comment about the electric cylinder not having that much force made me think a little more also. To my way of thinking there would be more concentrated force in a smaller area with smaller upper jaw. It may prove more useful that way with the 600 pounds of bite. Here's the link on the thread below scroll down a few, and here's a picture of my grapple as it stands now. Keep in mind I had planned on adding some sort of center tooth to it at the present config.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/106573-grapple.html#post1211332