Members home made attachments / improvements

[Barryh]

Barry, Nice work. Very nice alternative to a hydraulic grapple.

Can you give us an estimate of the cost for all the parts, and how much time you have invested.

Thanks J.J. Cost lets see, the steel was a log rack 1/8 inch thick steel tubing / angle iron. Seemed more than strong enough, some one gave it to me. I did not notice any flex under load even when biting down on rock. Bushings came from other scrap parts I had laying around.

Rough estimate for cost, Log rack free, for Actuator, wiring harness, mounts, and pin's before shipping, and not including bolts or washers, 318.00. Time evolved for me, I like to take my time measure twice cut once. I would say around 32 hours give or take. Keep in mind, this is with basic equipment. Tools hack saw, slow speed grinder, drill press. No cutting torch or welding equipment. So about three weekends.

 

[SnowRidge]

Dead slow?

Not hardly, eye balling it in comparison, the actuator looks to be slightly slower than the hydraulic movement.. This is all my opinion of course. Let's just say for home use it is more than fast enough.

Different actuator models have different rates of speed depending on what you are looking for. I wouldn't want it to be any faster. I like to watch what and how I pick things up. I want to be able to make the right approach on extra hard or heavy objects. There are twisting forces evolved. If you wanted to use it commercially than hydraulics are the only way to go. One good thing about it is the built in clutch will stop and click when it has reached its peak cycle.

If I'm being honest here. I choose to try this setup. I wouldn't want to talk anyone else into doing the same. Try at your own risk.

I feel the only down side I can see to this setup might be over time, the twisting forces evolved. Time will tell as to how the actuator will hold up with continued use. I think as long as you have it lined up properly so there is no binding, it should last a long long time. If you have to go with one. Bear is the only way to go for rugged constant use.

Arrrrgghh! Typo on my part! My post should have read, "and I suspect that is not the case."

Sorry bout that.

 

[TRUKFXR]

Barryh,
Just an observation. Looking at your pictures, I noticed that you have a tooth bar installed. I just bought mine from Markham and was not sure on which side of the bucket to mount the square plate they supplied with the bolt mount. I called and asked. The girl that answered said that was the first time she had ever been asked that question, and didn't have the answer. She put me on hold while she went into the shop to get the answer. According to her it goes inside the bucket. Well, I have mounted mine now, but I haven't tightened the bolt yet, because I just cant decide if I will do as she says or put it on the outside like you have. Either way it is no big deal, I am sure.

 

[SnowRidge]

Barryh,
Just an observation. Looking at your pictures, I noticed that you have a tooth bar installed. I just bought mine from Markham and was not sure on which side of the bucket to mount the square plate they supplied with the bolt mount. I called and asked. The girl that answered said that was the first time she had ever been asked that question, and didn't have the answer. She put me on hold while she went into the shop to get the answer. According to her it goes inside the bucket. Well, I have mounted mine now, but I haven't tightened the bolt yet, because I just cant decide if I will do as she says or put it on the outside like you have. Either way it is no big deal, I am sure.

Well, that might explain why my toothbar seemed to be too narrow. I had to use washers between the bar and bucket to get it to fit. I will have to go and look and see if the plates could possibly fit where I now have washers.

 

[Barryh]

Barryh,
Just an observation. Looking at your pictures, I noticed that you have a tooth bar installed. I just bought mine from Markham and was not sure on which side of the bucket to mount the square plate they supplied with the bolt mount. I called and asked. The girl that answered said that was the first time she had ever been asked that question, and didn't have the answer. She put me on hold while she went into the shop to get the answer. According to her it goes inside the bucket. Well, I have mounted mine now, but I haven't tightened the bolt yet, because I just cant decide if I will do as she says or put it on the outside like you have. Either way it is no big deal, I am sure.

You know I never really thought about it, other than I didn't want to torque the bolt heads down on the outside of the bucket without having some sort of steel support. I just figured they were there to keep me from over torqueing and denting the steel sides of the bucket.

When I ordered mine they wanted a measurement. So I left a little wiggle room / space on the inside to give me a little leeway just in case my measurements were off a tad. I figured better to have a little washer space on the inside, rather then to tight and having to send the whole tooth bar back.

 

[SnowRidge]

Well, that might explain why my toothbar seemed to be too narrow. I had to use washers between the bar and bucket to get it to fit. I will have to go and look and see if the plates could possibly fit where I now have washers.

Nope. The plates will not fit inside the bucket. So they either made the toothbar too wide or too narrow, depending on where the plates really go.

I did measure carefully, following their instructions to the letter.

 

[Barryh]

Well, that might explain why my toothbar seemed to be too narrow. I had to use washers between the bar and bucket to get it to fit. I will have to go and look and see if the plates could possibly fit where I now have washers.

They very well may be intended for the inside of the bar / bucket, but each one is 1/4 inch thick if you measured anywhere close to the inside width of your bucket they wouldn't have fit anyway. Just my just my 2 cents of course.

 

[Barryh]

Guess we were posting at the same time.

 

[Rivco]

Barry, great job on the grapple !!. Keep us posted on how the grapple works out. I think you have sparked a lot of interest in using a 12V actuator as an alternative to plumbing an extra hydraulic circuit.....great use of on hand materials too!

 

[Barryh]

Barry, great job on the grapple !!. Keep us posted on how the grapple works out. I think you have sparked a lot of interest in using a 12V actuator as an alternative to plumbing an extra hydraulic circuit.....great use of on hand materials too!

Thanks Richard,

It was a lot of fun finally getting the time to try the actuator idea out. I've also wanted to wire in the 12 Volt accessory plug from day one.

My goal here wasn't to turn this into my own personal thread. I was really hoping to see more people post their home made projects / ideas past or present on here.

We have a very talented group of people on this forum, and I love to see modifications.
I think it speaks volumes about the type of person who has the confidence to buy a PT, without the promise of dealer support.

I have a few more ideas in the works of course, I know you do.