Dual purpose mount plates (SSQA & 3ph)

[Aquamoose]

The angle of the top piece and the angle of the bottom piece are not the same. And neither are 90 degree in relationship to the wall of the plate, or of the square tubing if that's what you use for your frame.

I built the basic frame. Then clamped it to the FEL SSQA. Then i used that to add the brackets to the puller. Very easy.

One more tip. When you add the jaws of the puller have the frame you just built fastened to your FEL. Have it adjusted so your bucket level indicator is in the level position and on the floor. Then add the jaws level. This lets you continue to use the level indicator as you do with the bucket on.

Fantastic suggestions! Thanks! I’m gonna get started soon before long.

 

[Aquamoose]

Getting started! Spent most of the day prepping the pieces.

 

[Aquamoose]

Managed to start welding. I spent the afternoon sourcing a 1” drill bit in town and to find pins for it.

Sorry, it’s not much to look at. I was on a roll.

 

[ovrszd]

Every project starts as "not much to look at". Thanks for the update!!!

 

[Xfaxman]

Yep, looks like progress. :thumbsup:

 

[Aquamoose]

A little more...





I’ve gotta adjust the tie rod end shorter to make it fit better. Before I cut it short, I’ll need to get a nut installed before cutting a portion of the threaded rod off. The arm swung perfectly, better than I expected since the hinges have to be dead center.

 

[ovrszd]

I built my hinges similarly. My welding shop friend just shook his head and smiled. He says use one long pin to ensure alignment.

Make sure to add a horizontal angle brace to the fixed jaw equivalent or stronger than your cylinder.

Looking good.

 

[Aquamoose]

Of course, a long single pin would have done the trick but without calculations, I knew that 4 weld points was better than two on each end so I opted for the former. The bracing definitely will be there for the fixed section.

I’d imagine that it’s over engineered but at least it’s gonna be stout!

 

[ovrszd]

A warning should come with every tree puller build. Here it is.

"IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERBUILD"

You'll better understand this warning after use.

 

[jmc]

A warning should come with every tree puller build. Here it is.

"IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERBUILD"

You'll better understand this warning after use.

Case in point: several years after I bought my very heavy tree shear, the factory shipped me a heavy plate to weld on the bottom of the unit, at my expense, of course. Plus disassembly time/loctited pivot bolts, etc. My theory- their designers overlooked long term metal fatigue.

Its so easy to overbuild a structure with little or no additional expense when weight doesnt matter. That's why Aeronautical Engineering was more difficult than Mechanical Engineering in my day.

 

[Aquamoose]

Dual purpose mount plates (SSQA & 3ph)

Yup,

I think I overbuilt this... the fabrication is done and I tested it out and I think it’s crushing the 3-4” saplings instead of gripping them. I only tried it on 3 saplings before the dinner bell came and it got dark.

I need to decide whether I should grind down the teeth a bit or simply live with it. I left them semi blunt when I first made them so they definitely weren’t pointed. The cylinder is a 8 x 2.5 bore and moves at the speed I hoped for so I’m happy with that.

Tomorrow, I’ll give it a few more tries to determine if any adjustments needs to be made and more importantly, whether I should continue to make this 3ph compatible. While it would provide more lifting capacity on the 3ph, I’d lose some maneuverability & lifting height so I may fab some “U” brackets (cut in half) in the tip of the jaws to aid in pushing over the small trees in the 5-10” range.

What I have are entirely fir & pine trees I want to thin out if anyone’s curious.

Whadda think?

 

[Aquamoose]

I should add, I think I’m gonna add a “mast” to prevent any saplings/trees from falling on me.

 

[lennyzx11]

A little more...

View attachment 552183

View attachment 552184

.

Did you buy that top piece of metal, (the one with the ground clamp attached) with that 45 degree bend in it pre bent? Or make that angle yourself?

 

[Aquamoose]

I sourced all the cut pieces from my local metal supplier and had that top piece bent by a local fan shop for $25. It’s 1/2” thick.

 

[Rustyiron]

Re: Dual purpose mount plates (SSQA & 3ph)

Yup,

I think I overbuilt this... the fabrication is done and I tested it out and I think it’s crushing the 3-4” saplings instead of gripping them. I only tried it on 3 saplings before the dinner bell came and it got dark.

I need to decide whether I should grind down the teeth a bit or simply live with it.

Whadda think?

Very nice!:thumbsup:
I'd guess your on the right track making the teeth dull or even blunt down "in" where a 3-4" or under tree would fit into it, leaving them sharp where a larger dia. tree would fit.

 

[Xfaxman]

Re: Dual purpose mount plates (SSQA & 3ph)

Yup,

I think I overbuilt this... the fabrication is done and I tested it out and I think it痴 crushing the 3-4 saplings instead of gripping them. I only tried it on 3 saplings before the dinner bell came and it got dark.

I need to decide whether I should grind down the teeth a bit or simply live with it. I left them semi blunt when I first made them so they definitely weren稚 pointed. The cylinder is a 8 x 2.5 bore and moves at the speed I hoped for so I知 happy with that.

Tomorrow, I値l give it a few more tries to determine if any adjustments needs to be made and more importantly, whether I should continue to make this 3ph compatible. While it would provide more lifting capacity on the 3ph, I壇 lose some maneuverability & lifting height so I may fab some 填 brackets (cut in half) in the tip of the jaws to aid in pushing over the small trees in the 5-10 range.

What I have are entirely fir & pine trees I want to thin out if anyone痴 curious.

Whadda think?



View attachment 552621

View attachment 552622

Can you control the clamping pressure or is it all on and all off?

Try filling in the area between the top and bottom teeth, more like mine is made:

And their standard model:

 

[Aquamoose]

You’ve both given me an idea, I’ll work on it!

 

[jmc]

That is really nice, Aquamoose.

I hope you rig it up for the 3PH too. Sticking out there on the loader will be better with low hanging branches in the way but it will be easier to see what youre doing on the rear.

 

[ovrszd]

As I said earlier, it's impossible to overbuild. You'll figure that out with use.

A friend of mine added a simple trick for dealing with large trees. He made a wedge point on the tip of both jaws. If he can't pull the tree he forces the jaws down in the ground at a 45 degree angle around the base cutting the root system, then pulls it. Sorry I don't have pics.

I think the double row of teeth on the jaws is a bit unnecessary. I also think it will "plug up" with debris creating one wide gripping point rather than a thin sharp point.

In regards to cutting the trees in half, that's overcame by sensitive control of the gripping force. This will come with practice.

Nice build. Thank you very much for sharing it.

 

[Aquamoose]

I took it out for a spin again and pulled a variety, some full saplings, some small trees, and some stumps I left for this tree puller last year & recently. I managed to pull ALL of them, especially this 50 footer with a 6” trunk! That in itself vindicated my need for the high loader lifting capacity of the Branson (3520h). Guess that I won’t be needing the 3ph capability for it.

What I will do is put some filler material between the teeth in the mid section (with angle iron, corner facing out) and put some grip at the inside tip to pluck the cut saplings with the jaws pointed down.

The double row jaws helps because in a way, it keeps the trees upright without pivoting. I will have to build a guard for the puller and fabricate a shield for the front of the tractor. It’s a matter of time before the roots poke through.

I’ll try to get some variety of pics next time. Meanwhile, I need to get a ballast box and I may just order it from Titan.