Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Thomas]

I gave my crane a field test yesterday. I picked up wood in 3 spots. Each spot had bigger wood, getting a feel for things as I went. I knew that the boom hinge post needed to be plumb. If it is at an angle the boom will seek the lowest point and rotating it from there is like pushing up hill. When released it will rotate back down on it's own. I use this to my advantage when traveling. By tilting the post back the boom will drop to the back and follow behind the tractor. I use the tractor TnT hydraulics to plumb the post. I was surprised how quickly the cylinders drifted and I needed to continually readjust to plumb. I see some check valves in my future. Other than that there were no nasty surprises. I picked up a strong half cord.


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I made a video. Half hour. It has two parts. The first spot, just starting out, with small wood and the third spot after a little practice. I work slow and try to keep my mind on what I am doing. Even so, I push the hydraulic lever to hard relative to the weight involved once in a while.

I hope to use this set up in a section that is isolated above a vertical rock ledge. The narrow trail up to it slabs the ledge and make a sharp hair-pin turn at the top. I can't skid any thing longer than 8 or 10 feet down thru there. Plus it is almost a mile away from my wood pile. But, there is a ton of beech with BBD up there. Perfect firewood.

gg

The video.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Is it check valves needed or is it the cylinder packing bypassing?

That's a very good question. I'm going to pull the QD's and put a load on and see what happens. Another thing I was wondering was if could I be pulling a vacuum make it spongy and drift as the load changes ? I have one restrictor on each cylinder to slow them down. I put them on the welded end (which may wrong) so when I push the down lever with all that weight hanging down maybe the ram drops faster than the welded end can fill because of the restrictor. I'm not sure how to test for that other than put the restrictor on the ram end or put a restrictor on both ends ??

gg

 

[Gordon Gould]

The video.

Thanks Thomas. I just show it like it is. Bungles and all.

gg

 

[Skeans1]

That's a very good question. I'm going to pull the QD's and put a load on and see what happens. Another thing I was wondering was if could I be pulling a vacuum make it spongy and drift as the load changes ? I have one restrictor on each cylinder to slow them down. I put them on the welded end (which may wrong) so when I push the down lever with all that weight hanging down maybe the ram drops faster than the welded end can fill because of the restrictor. I'm not sure how to test for that other than put the restrictor on the ram end or put a restrictor on both ends ??

gg

How old are the cylinders? You normally put a restrictor in on the lower/close side of a circuit. What I normally do is put a gauge in line to make sure you’re getting full line pressure if so the packings are shot.

 

[Gordon Gould]

How old are the cylinders? You normally put a restrictor in on the lower/close side of a circuit. What I normally do is put a gauge in line to make sure you’re getting full line pressure if so the packings are shot.

OK thanks. Cylinders are 13 years old.

gg

 

[WinterDeere]

I use the tractor TnT hydraulics to plumb the post. I was surprised how quickly the cylinders drifted and I needed to continually readjust to plumb. I see some check valves in my future.

First off, nice rig! Nicely thought-out, with using the TnT to level it off.

As to bleed-down, a lot of TnT cylinders have built in check valves for this reason. If you can cut tubing and rig up some compression fittings, you could definitely replicate on the cylinders you already have. Zero bleed-down with those rigs.

 

[Gregster613]

I gave my crane a field test yesterday. I picked up wood in 3 spots. Each spot had bigger wood, getting a feel for things as I went. I knew that the boom hinge post needed to be plumb. If it is at an angle the boom will seek the lowest point and rotating it from there is like pushing up hill. When released it will rotate back down on it's own. I use this to my advantage when traveling. By tilting the post back the boom will drop to the back and follow behind the tractor. I use the tractor TnT hydraulics to plumb the post. I was surprised how quickly the cylinders drifted and I needed to continually readjust to plumb. I see some check valves in my future. Other than that there were no nasty surprises. I picked up a strong half cord.


View attachment 1153060


View attachment 1153061


View attachment 1153063


I made a video. Half hour. It has two parts. The first spot, just starting out, with small wood and the third spot after a little practice. I work slow and try to keep my mind on what I am doing. Even so, I push the hydraulic lever to hard relative to the weight involved once in a while.

I hope to use this set up in a section that is isolated above a vertical rock ledge. The narrow trail up to it slabs the ledge and make a sharp hair-pin turn at the top. I can't skid any thing longer than 8 or 10 feet down thru there. Plus it is almost a mile away from my wood pile. But, there is a ton of beech with BBD up there. Perfect firewood.

gg

Gordon, What a great, professional build attachment!! It looks just like a "built for sale" attachment and it seems to work exactly as you planned. A job "very well" done I say!! If it eases your hobby play at all, it's well worth it. As you note, some small tweaks yet to make it the ultimate item but I'm sure you'll get there.
If you fabricated some hydraulic swing arms it would eliminate your having to muscle the log where you want to place it - but I can see where it helps tremendously as it is! I hope you enjoy your new item and it serves you well. Keep up the progress reports, your wood adventures sure bring back memories for me from my youth on a farm in Minnesota. We harvested a lot of poplar trees for side cash. I well remember the hard chore that was! Stay safe out there!

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, What a great, professional build attachment!! It looks just like a "built for sale" attachment and it seems to work exactly as you planned. A job "very well" done I say!! If it eases your hobby play at all, it's well worth it. As you note, some small tweaks yet to make it the ultimate item but I'm sure you'll get there.
If you fabricated some hydraulic swing arms it would eliminate your having to muscle the log where you want to place it - but I can see where it helps tremendously as it is! I hope you enjoy your new item and it serves you well. Keep up the progress reports, your wood adventures sure bring back memories for me from my youth on a farm in Minnesota. We harvested a lot of poplar trees for side cash. I well remember the hard chore that was! Stay safe out there!

Thanks Gregster !!

gg

 

[BackRoad]

Any benefit from a level attached to the vertical, even if it's just tie wrapped on temporary?

I run into that same effect when I'm pivoting my back blade at the 3PH end. Deviate from level and it's a fight against gravity pushing the blade and arm.

Brian at FitRite built my TnT. I had an issue with the Top link lowering while mowing - which is a time when you want to maintain a stable position.

As a test, disconnected the QCs for the top link and it stayed solid as a rock, so it wasn't the cylinder. He sent an in line shutoff which solved the drift. He indicated from experience, many Kubota factory valves leak...even new ones.


Nice video also!

Check out the video where you are on the second pick...look at about the 11:50 to 12:05 minute mark...

I'm pretty sure that's a Yeti in the far back ground slipping through the woods behind you moving right to left...

He looks tall and I'm sure he's walking upright too!!!

 

[Gordon Gould]

Any benefit from a level attached to the vertical, even if it's just tie wrapped on temporary?

I run into that same effect when I'm pivoting my back blade at the 3PH end. Deviate from level and it's a fight against gravity pushing the blade and arm.

Brian at FitRite built my TnT. I had an issue with the Top link lowering while mowing - which is a time when you want to maintain a stable position.

As a test, disconnected the QCs for the top link and it stayed solid as a rock, so it wasn't the cylinder. He sent an in line shutoff which solved the drift. He indicated from experience, many Kubota factory valves leak...even new ones.


Nice video also!

Check out the video where you are on the second pick...look at about the 11:50 to 12:05 minute mark...

I'm pretty sure that's a Yeti in the far back ground slipping through the woods behind you moving right to left...

He looks tall and I'm sure he's walking upright too!!!

That's a yetti for sure. I've seen it before. It's a female and walks the woods trails a lot. Feels like she is keeping track of me but stays out of the way. You have some sharp eyes !!!

Good idea - A small shut off would work good. Thanks.

gg