C Channel for Bracing FEL in Up Position?

[Smokeydog]

Want to make something similar for a B26 more for safety more than storage. These will become more common like ROPS on ag tractors eventually. Cleaning the radiators is a frequent job during mowing season.

The M59 prop is well designed. Not under the loader to deploy or store. Takes <10 seconds to use and always with the tractor. My home, shop and tractor shed are 0.5 mile apart so staying with the machine is important.

Kubota used 5 pieces of steel just for the prop.

Rubber bumper protects the cylinder rod chrome from nicks.

The top hinges on a special longer loader pin. For the B26 I’ll probably hinge on the loader pin bearing bosses instead.

Agree, use steel pins to secure. I like ball release pins for their simplicity and professional flare.

Accidents are usually a combination of failures. A Simple step can prevent a major catastrophe. Is failure an option?

 

[TractorGuy]

View attachment 620063View attachment 620064

Want to make something similar for a B26 more for safety more than storage. These will become more common like ROPS on ag tractors eventually. Cleaning the radiators is a frequent job during mowing season.

The M59 prop is well designed. Not under the loader to deploy or store. Takes <10 seconds to use and always with the tractor. My home, shop and tractor shed are 0.5 mile apart so staying with the machine is important.

Kubota used 5 pieces of steel just for the prop.

Rubber bumper protects the cylinder rod chrome from nicks.

The top hinges on a special longer loader pin. For the B26 I値l probably hinge on the loader pin bearing bosses instead.

Agree, use steel pins to secure. I like ball release pins for their simplicity and professional flare.

Accidents are usually a combination of failures. A Simple step can prevent a major catastrophe. Is failure an option?

Same design my backhoe has. I have to pull a hitch pin to remove the retaining pin though. Still pretty simple and safe.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I thought about building one, but found that the one that came with my Kubota fits my Deere. I was worried about doing anything that might damage the cylinder end. That part of the cylinder is (I'm guessing) NOT meant to take load!

 

[Fallon]

My loader will stay put for weeks on end. My TnT barely for minutes on end. Any leakdown is going to be because of an external leak or the valve, not the cylinder seals. The cylinder is full of oil & you cant cram more rod in there without putting that oil somewhere. An air leak & bad seals could let a cylinder extend though.

If the valve is leaking, you need a new valve. It's a super precision bore & spool with metal on metal sealing surfaces. You can't realistically (cheaper several times over to replace the whole valve) re-machine them & there are no seals to replace.

The rated compressive strength of a 2x4 is around 600lbs. So 1 or 2 under the loader is likely enough, depending on your needs. Not super stable though. I used em as a safety before working on an impliment hanging from my loader before. Made sure they would hold with the loader in float first. If I was going to rely on anything often I'd use the angle iron over the rod though. If you strap it to the rod you eliminate buckling possibilities & a 2x4 can even cary the load there as well.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Where is the valve located? Do you mean the control valves under the lever, or is it something I have to cut the tractor in half to get to?

I made a shield for the end of the brace today. I'm going to try to find an old tire I can cut up so I can put rubber on the ends of the brace. I considered using wood, but I don't think it would stand up to the pressure over and over.

 

[Fallon]

Where is the valve located? Do you mean the control valves under the lever, or is it something I have to cut the tractor in half to get to?

I made a shield for the end of the brace today. I'm going to try to find an old tire I can cut up so I can put rubber on the ends of the brace. I considered using wood, but I don't think it would stand up to the pressure over and over.

View attachment 620147

It's generally at the end of the joystick or levers. In some cabbed machines the joystick is connected to the valves by linkages or cables. They usually arent hard to get to except in cabbed machines.

 

[rScotty]

...SNIP... Any leakdown is going to be because of an external leak or the valve, not the cylinder seals. The cylinder is full of oil & you cant cram more rod in there without putting that oil somewhere.

Here's an interesting thought experiment: What would happen if you were to remove the cylinder piston seal?

Suppose we take a standard hydraulic cylinder with its tube end, rod end, and a piston on the end of the rod. That piston normally has a rubber seal , but for the purpose of this experiment we are going to remove the piston's seal so that it no longer fits tightly against the inner wall of the cylinder tube.

After removing the piston seal, we filll both sides of the cylinder with oil ... and while it is full of oil we put pipe plugs to seal the inlet and outlet ports.

What we end up with is a standard hydraulic cylinder full of oil, no internal seals, and no way any oil can escape - all the oil has to stay within the cylinder.

Now the question is.... Can you move the rod?

rScotty

 

[Deere Dude]

I built these u channels with a tang for a pin or bolt. I use a plastic sump pump hose to cover cylinder under the steel. Works great an is secure/

 

[Smokeydog]

Nice ideas and work.

Since the Kubota loader prop is hinged it needs only a small rubber plug bumper. If you were to pull the pin and let the prop fall it would make first contact. You rounding all edges is good craftsmanship.

The hydraulic components of tractors are crude, but crude works just fine. I have had several tractor loaders when parked and loader buckets resting over other equipment were cocked after storage. Internal cylinder seal leakage. No external leaks. No loss of performance and would quickly level when used. Also have a dual lid grapple and one side will relax a bit during transport of big knarly loads. No worries just recrimp. Not worth rebuilding cylinder seals for yet.

Given the crude hydraulic system, cheap hoses, rough service life of wrestling trees, rocks and whatever, and potential for damage from use/abuse the need for a loader prop is apparent.

Stay frosty my friends and work safe.

 

[bcp]

Now the question is.... Can you move the rod?

rScotty

Yes, full stroke.

Bruce