Hydraulic limb saw project.

[Gordon Gould]

Good report and pictures Smokey. Very impressive project all around !! Keep grinning, Nobody will blame you.

gg

 

[Smokeydog]

Another variation would be a swivel behind the saw to let it rotate 360 in the horizontal plane. Would exponentially increase the complexity, of course.

With the square receiver with 3/4” jam bolt, the boom and saw can be clocked in four positions. Maybe to the right is the best way to utilize this feature?

 

[BackRoad]

Looks like operator visibility has you on the edge of your seat!

Impressive...thoughtful design and nicely fabricated.

If this is one is Model U235, does that mean there will be more!

 

[npalen]

Smokey, I noticed that your construction utilizes square tubing telescoping into square tubing. I'm curious how you deal with the weld seam inside the tubes.

 

[Smokeydog]

Looks like operator visibility has you on the edge of your seat!

Impressive...thoughtful design and nicely fabricated.

If this is one is Model U235, does that mean there will be more!

When you see videos in operation usually from an advantageous spot to highlight the tool. Not from the operator seat! Even with decades of past crane operator license with eye testing and remote robotic processing expertise, it is a real challenge to line up the saw for a cut. Small movements in loader control or steering are large swings in saw position. Having a second person helps. A well placed camera in the motor armor cover option needs explored. Going to have to revisit some tractor camera articles.

Having ROPS roof in the woods has saved me from falling limbs several times. This would be a scary tool with an open station tractor.

While it’s a good cutter, it can be improved. Need to reduce the hinge weight the saw bar sees. Several ideas in the cooker.

 

[Smokeydog]

Smokey, I noticed that your construction utilizes square tubing telescoping into square tubing. I'm curious how you deal with the weld seam inside the tubes.

Used different methods from band file to broaching. Depends on how long and how much slip fit you want. On this saw boom simply ground a groove on the inner pieces to clear most of the weld seams. Still had to press the pieces together. Not elegant or skillful, used the tractor bumping a rock wall to push together for the right engagement before welding. Also plug welded and added a strong back to tie the three pieces together.

 

[airbiscuit]

Do you have your foot on the brake when you cut?

 

[Gordon Gould]

Smokey, I noticed that your construction utilizes square tubing telescoping into square tubing. I'm curious how you deal with the weld seam inside the tubes.

Also if you want to slip 2" square inside 2- 1/2" you can get 2- 1/2" X .238 with a flattened seam at most steel suppliers. Some times called trailer hitch tubing. At a slight premium of course but not much.

gg

 

[Smokeydog]

Do you have your foot on the brake when you cut?

Yes. Often set the parking brake so I have less to worry about when positioning to see larger cuts. Started with the easy stuff first.

 

[BukitCase]

Gordon brings up a good point - my steel supplier has a slightly different "trailer hitch tube" available, their "2 1/2" is actually 2.530, and wall thickness is a full .250" - that's what I use in combination with .250" wall 2" tube for all my "tinker toy" projects, works great... Steve

 

[Xfaxman]

A well placed camera in the motor armor cover option needs explored. Going to have to revisit some tractor camera articles.

For your saw you would need a camera with a narrow field of view, not a "backup" camera.
My front view camera is 50°:

 

[Smokeydog]

For your saw you would need a camera with a narrow field of view, not a "backup" camera.
My front view camera is 50°:

View attachment 740207

Where do you find a camera with a narrow view?

 

[Xfaxman]

Got mine from https://www.rearviewsystems.com/ back in September of 2012:

Mounted on right front fender:

The rear wide angle camera is mounted next to the right tail light:

 

[Smokeydog]

Got mine from https://www.rearviewsystems.com/ back in September of 2012:
View attachment 740266View attachment 740267

Mounted on right front fender:
View attachment 740268

The rear wide angle camera is mounted next to the right tail light:
View attachment 740277View attachment 740278

Thanks. They sure make nice, rugged industrial/agricultural camera systems. $pendy. They are only about 40 miles from our farm in Sweetwater, TN.

The attachments versatility on your compact telehandler is amazing.

 

[newbury]

Thanks. They sure make nice, rugged industrial/agricultural camera systems. $pendy. <snip>

Considering the potential for damage you might be better off going with a very inexpensive wireless IP cam and your mobile phone.
I've put a $10 battery in a ziploc bag, run a short USB cable to a wireless IP cam and then used it for a backup camera, FEL camera, battery charger monitoring etc.
Total outlay about $40 w/ battery (not considering the phone).

 

[Smokeydog]

Thanks Newbury. Many factors to consider. Like the idea of wireless and using a phone as an inexpensive test. Does the IP camera transmit straight to the phone? Some areas of the farm have no or poor cellular signal. My house is one. The camera has to go into harms way to see the blade. Please keep your ideas and pictures coming as to the options. My nephew could fly a drone to give great video, angles of a cut and avoid the limbs. I can’t.
Do have some room in the silver box motor cover for camera protection. Give visual on the side of blade usually blocked by line on site?

Paint shop outside base made for a good storage stand for easy one person mount/dismount. Note bar thru forklift pocket.

Too tall to fit grapple with saw and tractor in shed. Can duck under hay barn door and drop grapple inside for storage.

Fortunately most of the electrical utilities are underground. Significant hazard with overhead lines using and transporting this kind of attachment.

 

[newbury]

Thanks Newbury. Many factors to consider. Like the idea of wireless and using a phone as an inexpensive test. Does the IP camera transmit straight to the phone?

Depends on the camera. For example the Wyze cameras have to connect back to the company server when first turned on. But the phone can be used as a "hotspot".
Once turned on (and kept powered) I can move mine to where there is no signal and view on the phone.
But these darn tech companies are liable to change anything anytime.

 

[Smokeydog]

Made it a little bigger, longer and heavier structural steel.
Measured saw bar hinge weight with a produce scale. 36#.
Removed motor cover (18#) and reduced saw bar weight to 28#.
I could either skeletonize or remake the cover. 1/8” steel would be half the weight but only lose 4# on the bar. I’m a little MadMax medieval so I like my armor when fighting with tree creatures.

To use bungees to counter balance need better lever arm.

Four bungees gave 22#. About right.

Six bungees gave 17# and temporary clamp starting to slip.

Prepared and ready to weld later after one more eyeball test.

Do see where I could give some spring load to either side of bar for possible undercut.

 

[npalen]

Made it a little bigger, longer and heavier structural steel.
Measured saw bar hinge weight with a produce scale. 36#.
Removed motor cover (18#) and reduced saw bar weight to 28#.
I could either skeletonize or remake the cover. 1/8” steel would be half the weight but only lose 4# on the bar. I’m a little MadMax medieval so I like my armor when fighting with tree creatures.

To use bungees to counter balance need better lever arm. View attachment 740602
View attachment 740603
Four bungees gave 22#. About right.

Six bungees gave 17# and temporary clamp starting to slip.

Prepared and ready to weld later after one more eyeball test.

Do see where I could give some spring load to either side of bar for possible undercut.

Looks like a possible application for a pair of light single leaf springs, one on top and one on the bottom. The red would normally be parallel with the blue but then the red could be deflected either up or down.


This is an old patent using leaf springs to allow deflection in both directions on a much different application. The second pic shows the two leaf springs inside the square tubing.

US3990521A - Foldable farm implement with trailing wing oscillation restrictor - Google Patents

An improved farm implement of the sectional tow type including a central section and wing sections hingedly connected to the central section. Each section is mounted on wheels for transport and the sections are comprised of a plurality of hingedly connected frames to allow uniform ground...

patents.google.com

Edit: Doubt that anyone is interested but, if so, these are other inventions over the years:

Nelson J. Palen Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search

USPTO patent applications submitted by and patents granted to Nelson J. Palen

patents.justia.com

 

[Smokeydog]

Looks like a possible application for a pair of light single leaf springs, one on top and one on the bottom. The red would normally be parallel with the blue but then the red could be deflected either up or down.


This is an old patent using leaf springs to allow deflection in both directions on a much different application. The second pic shows the two leaf springs inside the square tubing.

US3990521A - Foldable farm implement with trailing wing oscillation restrictor - Google Patents

An improved farm implement of the sectional tow type including a central section and wing sections hingedly connected to the central section. Each section is mounted on wheels for transport and the sections are comprised of a plurality of hingedly connected frames to allow uniform ground...

patents.google.com

Edit: Doubt that anyone is interested but, if so, these are other inventions over the years:

Nelson J. Palen Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search

USPTO patent applications submitted by and patents granted to Nelson J. Palen

patents.justia.com

Thanks for your reply. Not sure I fully understand the leaf spring patent for the saw application. The blue boom and red saw arm are not in the best position if parallel. 45* with some adjustability depending on the cut.

All bungees are not created equal. Ones used are 1.8X stretch, 15-27” range gives easy 15” travel to the blade. Gravity still pushes the blade thru the cut. The truck ratchet strap still holds the low position.

Reducing the bar weight should help with long term component wear. The hydraulic motor is very powerful and chips fly. That part of the build works perfect. Sharp saws require little weight to cut thru.