Jump to content

Unofficial Home of Old Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractors

Electric lift for the FDT


locknut

Recommended Posts

While the the rear half of the tractor is out for repairs I built a lift for the 3210V.Not sure of all the clearance issues until I get the tractor back together and the deck under it,but the prototype does work,so far.Here's a video. http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/?action=view¤t=005-1.mp4 And a couple of pics; [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/004-2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/003-2.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks cool. I love those electric linear actuators.. One word of caution though based on research I had done for one of my projects. The clicking at either end of the throw is the clutch so go easy on how often you click it. Ideally, it would be sweet to mount a microswitch on each end that would turn off the current in either direction before the clutch is used. Bob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is an awsome alternative to the hydro-lift on most of the FDTs Also ck'd your resto pics on photobucket...VERY NICE! p.s. is that fleet of "rusty gold" yours?...Lucky Dog
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by AC_B-1Novice
Where did you get the actuator and what do they cost?
Larry, you can start looking in E-bay under 12V linear actuator.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by GLPointon
That is an awsome alternative to the hydro-lift on most of the FDTs Also ck'd your resto pics on photobucket...VERY NICE! p.s. is that fleet of "rusty gold" yours?...Lucky Dog
I wish.No,I took those pics when I visited a Simplicity dealer in N. Vernon,In.They have a lot of used equipment.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by AC_B-1Novice
Where did you get the actuator and what do they cost?
I have several actuators I use for different impliments.All of them puchased thru ebay-some new,some used.The one in the video is a 500lb rated workload for 99 bucks new from ebay.The one I'll use for this lift is a 1000lb model of the same brand,but it's out for repairs presently.I'm using the heavier one because the closed pin distance is about 2" longer so it sets back further and the motor doesn't collide with the steering sector arm when turned to the left.This has been a rather challenging project-make one small change and it's back to the drawing board. Another couple places for new actuators are the Surplus Center and the Johnny Bucket people.I see the Johnny site has changed brands from Warner to Thomson.I've used both and both ok. Buying used off ebay can be problematic as many are listed with part numbers only and no measurement specs.The specs can be very hard to find on older discontinued models. Another note.The rear trunion pins can be turned 90deg easily for differing project applications.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by AC_B-1Novice
Greg, thanks for the details. One thing I still would like to know if you don't mind is what is the travel distance of the rod? larry
4 inches on the one in the video.The one I'll use when it gets fixed is 3.31".
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by Buickgsman
Looks cool. I love those electric linear actuators.. One word of caution though based on research I had done for one of my projects. The clicking at either end of the throw is the clutch so go easy on how often you click it. Ideally, it would be sweet to mount a microswitch on each end that would turn off the current in either direction before the clutch is used. Bob
RE;microswitch.That would be great,but I've yet to figure out how to re-energize the wire after the switch cuts off the power.My EE skills are limitedsm01
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get a DPDT switch with mom - off - mom. Bought my at Home Depot or Lowes for less than $12.00 at the time. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DPDT-MOM-OFF-MOM-TOGGLE-SWITCH-W-6-SCREWS-/220668912488
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update; Put the tractor back together today and the current mount will not work.The rear bracket is in the way of the pto,especially when trying to hook the drive belt up.While I had the deck under there I removed the actuator from the rear bracket and moved it to the front.I think this will work and a much better location.There's not much clearance from the bottom of the actuator and the front part of the deck,but I don't think the front of the deck raises much when lifted from the rear.I removed the angle iron bracket that holds the rear part of the front axle support pivot,then hacked up the rear mount and bolted what was left to that angle iron.Looks to be a sturdy enough location for a mount.I'll get some pics tomorrow after I get the small stuff welded up for a permanent mount.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This oughta work for power angle on a snowplow, right? A heckuva lot easier than trying to plumb something up with hydraulics... How does the actuator resist travel when it's not actually, you know, actuated?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

quote:
Originally posted by Gordan
This oughta work for power angle on a snowplow, right? A heckuva lot easier than trying to plumb something up with hydraulics... How does the actuator resist travel when it's not actually, you know, actuated?
I have built three plows so far,using actuators for the power angle and no problems yet.Only use the heavy duty ones with a 2000 or 3000 lb shock load rating.They all have built-in braking capability.Yes,it is easier than adding a pump,etc for hydraulics.Here's a pic of the last plow I built.It's a Cycle Country UTV V-Plow with the wings cut down 8" on each wing for use with my small 4WD Kubota tractor.I use a joystick control in the cab to control the wings independently via two reversing polarity solenoids,and a separate switch to a winch solenoid for the lifting of the blade. [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/v-blade/003.jpg[/IMG] The actuators used on this blade are 12" 24V Thomson Electrac 10's.They move quick at 2" per second.I also use these for the dump/curl on the loader I built for the tractor.I have 24V on the tractor using an alt powered by the mid pto.It's used mainly for the 24V-3000 BTU cab heater. Short vid of the blade in action on the first trial run.No snow,but wanted to check the bullnose to see how well it would jump the sidewalk cracks. http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/v-blade/?action=view¤t=002-2.mp4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well,I finished up the project today.Not enough clearance under there to use the lift for the deck.I guess it's no big deal.I can still mow without a lift.Will work good for the front blower or anything I want to lift on the back. Here's a shot looking up at the front mount; [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/003-4.jpg[/IMG] And a couple more; [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/002-5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/001-4.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I looked around and the 2000-3000 lb rated actuators are $$$. Well, more like $$$$. But I checked out the Johnny actuators page and all of the dump actuators, which are also used as angle actuators for the JohnnyPlow, are 600 lb load rating, and their stroke is a half of what you've got, so the load on them would be two times higher due to leverage. (For the same travel, anyway.) And there's only one actuator for the whole blade where you have one for each wing... though I don't think that this would make a difference to the load rating. So, are JohnnyPlowJr's underbuilt or is your plow way overbuilt? :-)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've also got an idea for your travel limit. It would work with the mom. on - off - mom. on SPDT switch; you'd just have to add two normally closed pressure SPST switches, one for each direction of travel, and then do it up like this: AC. A ---------+--------------+ | | LimSw Up | | | Mom Up + Mom Down - Mom Up - Mom Down + | | | LimSw Down | | AC. B ---------+--------------+ AC. A and AC. B are the actuator inputs, wired appropriately for corresponding direction. (A+ B- for up, A- B+ for down.)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I doubt the Johnny blade is under-built.I've never heard bad feedback with their products,or service.Is mine over-built? I hope so.I hate it when things are flimsily built and break C A link to a Thomson pdf manual for the Electrac 10's.There is a diagram towards the bottom that shows limit switches.Is that what you had in mind in your above post? Thanks. http://www.thomsonlinear.com/website/com/eng/download/document/Electrak_10_Installation_Manual_mnen.pdf
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, that's it, pretty much. I hadn't realized that the fixed width font I used would not come through in the post... Let me try it another way: [code] AC. A ---------+--------------+ | | LimSw Up | | | Mom Up + Mom Down - Mom Up - Mom Down + | | | LimSw Down | | AC. B ---------+--------------+ [/code]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyway, the advantage of this, vs. a reversing polarity relay, is that you can interrupt travel in one direction without interrupting travel in the other direction.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a short vid with the snowblower hooked up.The lift rod was missing for it and couldn't really use it with this lift anyway,so I used some chain I had on hand.Works ok and provides for plenty of float.Was missing the clutch rod bracket also.More fab work unless I can find one. http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr342/locknut-1/Simplicity%203210V/?action=view¤t=007-1.mp4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...