Where to mount tiltmeter?

[OverlyRun]

OK I've read all of the posts, even though I have yet to press close to "pucker factor" territory (nothing I am doing is so important as to bother testing my or the tractor's tolerance in this regard). But I bought the tiltmeter anyway. It is here, shipped very efficiently by R&B.

The problem: the dash and hood on the NH TC35 are so compact that there's no good (read "easy") place that I can see to mount the thing. To bolt into the close-in dash would require taking the whole housing apart...a process that from the looks of things involves about 12 bolts placed in difficult to reach (without a very long socket extension) places ... presumably placed that way for a reason. The hood further forward has got double layers of fiberglass and seems like there it would get swept clean by brush in any event.

Where do people mount their tiltmeters, especially on NH TC35-45's?

Any help welcome because for the time being the meter is doing a great job telling me the shelf in the workroom is not quite level. (I got the model 25).

Chas

 

[ERNIEB]

Chas, it can be a problem, more on some tractors than others. Really, I haven't yet found a good place on my TC29.
It's been talked about on various different tractors, with a few different solutions. I would guess the loader supports are probably your best bet. Good luck.

Ernie

 

[RBManufacturing]

Hi Guys,
Rick here. I have a proto-type new mount that uses only
the adhesive strip. It is a bracket made for a different
application, but if my customers like it, I will make a mold and
inject it out of a graphite material, or abs. The proto-type is
steel. I found it in a hardware store, and made some
modifications. E-mail your address, and a note saying you
want to test one, and I'll send it along. No charge, but I
would like your honest opinion. I'll be at;
RandBMfgInc@worldnet.att.net
Thanks, Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[MChalkley]

Rick - You'd do a lot better if you weren't so hard to get along with.

P.S. For the sarcasm-impaired among us: /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MarkC

 

[RBManufacturing]

Hi Mark,
Both my wife Nancy, and my business partner Brenda tell me how
bad I am. It's just that I'm so good at it. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[dmccarty]

OverlyRun,

I'm not sure this will work with your tractor or how you run the machine but I just mounted my TiltMeter on the right FEL vertical FEL support with the two sided tape supplied with the meter. I figured this would be a temporary placement until I could find a way to mount the meter. The TiltMeter has been on the tractor for at least six months and it is exposed to the weather without any problems. Surely the easiest solution and the fastest....

Hope this helps...
Dan McCarty

 

[JATO_RaT]

Rick, I have what I would assume is the equivalent of a tiltmeter. It is from a World War II bomber. It is made of metal, uses a fluid and ball with indexs in degrees. I'm sure you have come across these in your business. The degress goes pretty extreme for hard banking planes. Rat...

 

[Mike_Dumond]

Rat, it sounds like you have part of a turn and bank indicator. Probably more rugged than what's available today, but I don't think the ruggednest is gonna help unless you drop your tractor from 39,000 feet. If I remember, the liquid is some sort of mineral spirit, and the ball should be bakelite. Not sure, but I think the tube was of glass.

I think it was used in the bombardiers position to make sure of straight and level flight prior to bomb release. (now, you got the rest of the bomber to go with that?)

 

[GlueGuy]

Yup, that's a slip/skid indicator. There is an instrument called a "turn & bank" that includes a gyro (on top) and the ball (on the bottom). The gyro shows your bank angle, and the ball indicates whether the turn is "coordinated" or not. If the ball is on the one side of the turn, you are slipping, if it is on the other side, you are skidding.

Here's a link to the "modern" equivalent.

The GlueGuy

 

[OverlyRun]

Ernie, Dan, Rick,

Thanks for the reassurance on the 2-sided tape. I will stick the meter on the right-hand FEL support (less likely to get knocked off as I mount and dismount) and see if this "temporary" arrangement lasts as long as it has for others. If it were to fall off, the filled R-1's would give the plastic tube and base a real testing.
Chas

 

[RBManufacturing]

Hi Rat,
Yeah I've seen alot of meter styles. One I have to mention is;
Elderly farmer, used a clear 1in. diameter rubber tube, curved
in U shape, and was about 10in. tall, and taped to a board.
Filled with anti-freeze. Tilted tractor with a floor jack to 15-20
degrees and marked tube where liquid flowed to at tilt. Have
to admit, it worked, but liquid sloshed around alot. Says he
had less than $10.00 in it. He was very proud of his idea.
Super nice guy. Fixed income. Gave him a meter. Uses it,
but says he still looks at his rubber tube one to make sure
MINE is working right. Oh well. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[Bird]

That's great, Rick!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Glad to hear someone's calibrating it for you./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[Mike_Dumond]

You ought to get the old feller to work in R&D at R&B. Hmmm, always wanted to say that.

Keep the greasy side down
Mike

 

[RBManufacturing]

Bird & Mike,
Real Laurel & Hardy ain't ya. Thanks Guys. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[Mike_Dumond]

Bird, I wanna be Laurel.

 

[Bird]

OK, Mike, I'll be Hardy. If we had one more guy, the three stooges might be more like it./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[RBManufacturing]

Ches, John Miller lll ,Overlyrun,
I sent out proto-type mount brackets to Ches & John
Yesterday, and new type tape to Overlyrun to test. You
should have them Sat. or Mon. I have new tubes finished now
also with STAINLESS STEEL BALLS, if anyone wants them.
Non-magnetic. Also, I have two brackets left if anyone wants
to test them MARK ??? Jack??? New bracket should allow
hood or dash mount without drilling any Holes. Uses adhesive
strip. Alot of you have asked, so I am trying to develope
what you need. Thanks Guys, Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[Mike_Dumond]

Rick, will the stainless balls dampen the oscillations any? I find mine would need a little damping, but don't get me wrong, I love it, and wouldn't do without it.

Keep the greasy side down.
Mike

 

[TerryinMD]

Boy Rick, I wish I would have waited a week. I just mounted mine last weekend and had to drill holes in my hood. Didn't have any other choice. Oh well, the meter still works like a charm.

Keep up the good work!!

 

[RBManufacturing]

Hi Mike,
The stainless ball is slightly heavier, but I doubt enough to
make any difference. Sorry Terry. Trying to develope soon
as I can on new things. I am currently playing with a RF,
(radio frequency) tilt switch. When an implement like bucket
is tilted, or leveled, it will send a radio signal to receiver on
dash, and turn on a light, or beeper. No wires to run, to be
ripped off etc. So far, works great, but cost is prohibitive
right now. I am looking at ways to lower cost, but not
compromise quality, and dependability. If the new bracket
I sent out for testing to tbn guys is well liked, it will set me
back about $3000.00 for mold, thus slowing down other
projects. I am hoping new bracket will generate more sales,
and allow more cash for R&D of other projects. Like they say,
Another day older and deeper in debt. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814