Homemade loader for Branson tractor

[ptsg]

Thanks Lou. It's getting closer.

Time for another update.

After I was done with the cylinders, I proceed to get the other loader arm and the right loader mount finished and started working on the cross pieces that go from the loader mount or frame to the rear axle and also the the front of the tractor. The flat bar that go to the front of the tractor will also tie into the winch frame.

The cross bars to the rear of the tractor:



And now for the front flat bars:



That's all for now. I have a lot more progress done on the loader that I will post later. The loader cross member is done and welded to the arms, the cylinder mounts on the arms are also done and welded, the quick attach is done. The loader is currently mounted on the tractor waiting for the bucket so I can figure out the support legs when the loader is off the tractor.

 

[LouNY]

As always excellent workmanship, I always enjoy looking at your fabrication.

 

[Rustyiron]

All very nice work :thumbsup:, but those braided SS lines on the front is downright hyd. ****.
subscribed.

 

[farm boy00]

Only thing that I would change. Your flat bar supports going to the front of the tractor. If anything ever happens to the loader and it pulls forwards, they would just bend instead of supporting. Should weld a piece of angle iron or change them to square tube.

Thanks Lou. It's getting closer.

Time for another update.

After I was done with the cylinders, I proceed to get the other loader arm and the right loader mount finished and started working on the cross pieces that go from the loader mount or frame to the rear axle and also the the front of the tractor. The flat bar that go to the front of the tractor will also tie into the winch frame.

The cross bars to the rear of the tractor:

View attachment 616982View attachment 616981View attachment 616980View attachment 616979View attachment 616978View attachment 616983View attachment 616984View attachment 616985

And now for the front flat bars:

View attachment 616990View attachment 616989View attachment 616988View attachment 616987View attachment 616986View attachment 616991

That's all for now. I have a lot more progress done on the loader that I will post later. The loader cross member is done and welded to the arms, the cylinder mounts on the arms are also done and welded, the quick attach is done. The loader is currently mounted on the tractor waiting for the bucket so I can figure out the support legs when the loader is off the tractor.

 

[ptsg]

Only thing that I would change. Your flat bar supports going to the front of the tractor. If anything ever happens to the loader and it pulls forwards, they would just bend instead of supporting. Should weld a piece of angle iron or change them to square tube.

Yes I'm aware of that and I already have a piece for 20 mm ( I think) flat bar to weld there in horizontal position while the crossbar is vertical. I will weld that when I take everything apart for painting.

 

[ptsg]

The follow up on the previous update post.

I did finish the cylinder mounts and welded the cross member, thus making this thing a lot heavier and harder to move. Then I moved on to the quick attach coupler. It's the Euro 8 style quick attach. Two hooks sit on the top round piece, then a single lever will move the lower pins out and locking the bucket in place.

Bucket cylinder mounts and cross member:



Once that's done. I attached the loader on the tractor and of course had to check the lift height, which is 2,7 meters (106") from the ground to the pivot pin. Exactly what I had done on the 3D Drawing. And also had some "planned" close calls.



Some quick attach coupler pictures:



That's it for now. I do have the bucket about 90% done and also the valve is mounted in place.

I do plan on doing a slideshow video in the end with a couple more pictures and maybe some machining clips also.

 

[LouNY]

It's coming along nicely.
We have the global quick connects on the IH Puma and the NH 6050 I find them much nicer and easier to use then the SSQA,
on ours the latching pin are spring loaded, when you move the lever to disengage the pins the lever has a catch that holds them back,
then when you pick up your attachment and curl it back to latch as it swingsninto place itdisengages the arm and the springs automaticly latch in.
I find the global to be safer then SSQA also as you have to lower the bar under the bucket to get free, it will not just fall off when swinging free,
as the SSQA will.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks Lou.

Thanks for the explanation on the self locking quick connect. I didn't realize that it would also self latch when curling the implement back.

That's a nice and handy feature. It saves a lot of going back in and out of the tractors, specially the ones with cab.

In my case I will only use the bucket for now. Maybe in the future, I build a set of forks. But it's still nice to have an easy way to remove attachments if I'm going on tight spaces.

 

[Imold]

That is real nice, I like seeing what folks can do with iron and a welder being I can not weld anymore due to a pacemaker and morphine pump, doc says no welding. Call me jealous.
Just out of curiosity is it possible to put a 2 inch receiver by the quick hitch pins? Here is where I mean, it would add a bit more versatility to your fel, it is just a thought I had when I looked at this pic.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks Imold!

Yes, there is actually enough room for a receiver hitch on each side, although we don't use those over here. Our bumper pull hitches are slightly different.

But yes, would make it really versatile and handy to move trailers around.

 

[Imold]

I was so interested in your build I missed your location.

 

[ptsg]

It's still a valid idea. If I had a piece of thick wall square tubing, I would probably do something similar to the receiver hitch concept but welded in the middle of the quick attach.

 

[ptsg]

So the next thing to do was the bucket. I don't have that many pictures of the fabrication.

The sheet metal I used it's all 5/16" thick. A bit on the thick side but got it at a good price on the scrapyard.

I do need to add some sort of cutting edge and maybe a reinforcement web in the middle of the bucket.



Then I bought the hydraulic tubing. I needed a way to bend the tubing, so I made a tube bender. Fun fact on this. The only part I actually had to make, was the die. Everything else was stuff of the shelf (My shelf :laughing just cobbled together. It's not pretty but works awesome.

To make the die, I used my homemade rotary table/indexing head on the mill, to create the necessary radius. As the part rotates, the end mill is cutting the radius.

I also had to make a special/odd hydraulic fitting for my valve. It's an adapter from M27x2 to 1/2" BSP. I would have cost me close to 30$. So being cheap as I am, I just machined one. Took me 30 minutes.



More to come.

 

[ptsg]

After I got the tube bender done, I could finally bend the hydraulic tubing. It worked very nice and had only one little mistake on the last bend which is not that big for a deal. A few days later, I also received my order of hoses, fittings and quick disconnects, so I could finally try the loader.

I machined and welded the fittings in place on the hydraulic tubes. I only have a stick welder and turned out that I only had 2 tiny and small leaks on the welded fittings.



Some more pictures of the loader moving on it's own power.



I did run a leak down test and got about 4 mm over 2 hours. Or about 5/32" over 2 hours in Freedom units. I think it's pretty nice for a first time making cylinders, although the leak down shown is most likely coming from the used valve I have. I believe it came of a Case 580 Backhoe, so who knows how many hours that thing have. But does come with some nice features like float, load check valves, port relief valves and anti-cavitation valves.

On the to do list there is still:

Support legs (Just finished that today)
Cutting edge for the bucket
Reinforce the supports to the front of the tractor
Add grease fittings on every moving part
And finally painting everything.

 

[Rustyiron]

Nice! You deserve a good handshake and a big pat on the back.:thumbsup:

 

[Citydude]

Very nice work!

 

[EddieWalker]

Very impressive. You definitely know what you are doing!!!

 

[crashz]

Awesome work! I've never seen anyone make their own hydraulic cylinders. You make it look so easy.

No more need for those front axle weights!

 

[ptsg]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the comments.

I don't I will remove the front weights though. I'm almost sure that I will need to take the loader a lot of times and it's nice to have the weights there. I also designed the loader so I didn't need to remove both the winch or weights.

It's now being prepped for painting. If the weather is right, it should look a lot better with a fresh coat of paint on it by the end of the week.

 

[iseki]

Very nice job