Towable manlift

fabricator01 · Nov 13, 2020

Hello all, I am building a towable manlift to make servicing my tracking solar array easier. I have two cylinders, one on a lower boom and one on an upper boom, and two short single-acting cylinders to give about 45 degrees of rotation. I have it hooked up to an international 544 tractor. The tractor has one manifold with two sets of quick couplers, one set is hooked up to a loader on the front. The other two I have hooked up to the manifold these three valves are on and my cylinders are attached to them. My problem is everything operates to jerky, all or nothing. It's more like a trebuchet than a manlift, what could I do with what I have here to make things operate more smoothly?
I tried to upload an image of my vickers valves but I can't for some reason.

bcp · Nov 13, 2020

Welcome to TBN

Maybe a flow control valve.

Flow Control Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Bruce

MossRoad · Nov 13, 2020

fabricator01 said:
Hello all, I am building a towable manlift to make servicing my tracking solar array easier. I have two cylinders, one on a lower boom and one on an upper boom, and two short single-acting cylinders to give about 45 degrees of rotation. I have it hooked up to an international 544 tractor. The tractor has one manifold with two sets of quick couplers, one set is hooked up to a loader on the front. The other two I have hooked up to the manifold these three valves are on and my cylinders are attached to them. My problem is everything operates to jerky, all or nothing. It's more like a trebuchet than a manlift, what could I do with what I have here to make things operate more smoothly?
I tried to upload an image of my vickers valves but I can't for some reason.

Welcome to TBN.

You can't post pictures until you make I think 5 posts.

Smokeydog · Nov 14, 2020

Some 5000# hard seat 1/2” needle valves. About $25 on eBay. Be able to throttle your flow. Also if placed right able to be lock valves to take in use pressure off hoses and be safer?

4570Man · Nov 14, 2020

Are you using electric controlled valves? Manual valves of decent quality should be able to control the flow.

oldnslo · Nov 14, 2020

I suspect 4570man is correct in the use of Vickers D03 solenoid operated valves so could have toggle switch in basket and valves on frame.

For remote control of electric operated valves with feathering or metering you need to proportional control.

LouNY · Nov 14, 2020

I would recommend that you also use some pilot operated check valves,
they will not allow a cylinder to float or drift down,or just blow a line and drop.

Smokeydog · Nov 15, 2020

Smokeydog said:
Some 5000# hard seat 1/2” needle valves. About $25 on eBay. Be able to throttle your flow. Also if placed right able to be lock valves to take in use pressure off hoses and be safer?

I should have been clearer. The needle valve acts as a flow control device like an orifice or snubber to control the speed. An adjustable orifice. Adjust your speed but still use your current control valve. Not real clear what type of control valve you are using. Pictures of what your doing will be appreciated. Many of us have thought about the same thing.

4570Man · Nov 15, 2020

oldnslo said:
I suspect 4570man is correct in the use of Vickers D03 solenoid operated valves so could have toggle switch in basket and valves on frame.

For remote control of electric operated valves with feathering or metering you need to proportional control.

I’ve used commercial man lifts that worked that way and they really suck. Trying to steer using a switch is about impossible and like the op is experiencing there’s no control. The swing is especially bad. The pistol grip hydraulic controller in my bucket truck was far superior. Also the bucket truck had massive cylinders like an 8” bore which couldn’t have been necessary for the load. The best reason I can think of is they’d keep the hose pressure low which would reduce the chance of failure and with the large volume they’d move more precise. Also every bucket truck, boom lift, crane, designed for lifting has check valves that won’t let it drop in a hydraulic failure.