home-made hydraulics

[hackberry jake]

Here are 16" welded cylinders http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-8100&catname=hydraulic
here are 18" tie rod cylinders http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-8451-218&catname=hydraulic

[JByrd]

I took a picture of the Woodmizer log loader.  Unfortunately, it is in the stored position for towing so it is not obvious how it works. 


 

The cylinders appear to be 4" x 12".  They push at a point only about 6" from the pivot point - this gives them a mechanical disadvantage of about 1:6, in other words, the cylinder travels about 5" while the log is lifted about 30".  This seems like the hard way to do things, but I think they did it so the cylinders can be tucked in behind the lift arms and the whole thing can pivot up for portability - and it works like a charm. 
My advice to someone building one would be to copy an existing one that works - either the Woodmizer one for a portable mill or a simpler ground-mounted one for a mill that is not portable.  This design puts several tons of stress on the pivots, so it would require high quality welds, meaning a high powered welder and serious steel fabricating experience.
Jim

[grweldon]

Here are 16" welded cylinders http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-8100&catname=hydraulic
here are 18" tie rod cylinders http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-8451-218&catname=hydraulic

Well, the welded cylinder isn't the correct type, but I image the correct type would be more.
The tie-rod cylinder is perfect except for the travel.  I seriously doubt that I'll need 18 inches of extension, but I'll start designing pretty soon...

Thanks!

[hackberry jake]

The best way to look for things on surplus center is to hit the "sort by price" button and scroll down til u see one thatll work.

[JByrd]

I just finished adding the Pinewoods log turner to my LT-40!  It turned out to be a much bigger job than planned, since I ended up painting the entire mill, repairing a bad valve in the engine, replacing hoses on the already-installed log loader while I was at it.  Also had a whole series of issues with wrong hoses, wrong fittings, clearance issues, etc, etc.

 

[pineywoods]

JByrd, that is one beautiful job. Hope it works as well as it looks. Mine is rusty, oily, and covered in sawdust. But if it don't work, I don't saw  ;D Actually only had 2 problems.  1 busted hose and worn brushes in the electric motor. Can't tell from the pics, did you do the toe roller and power backstops ?

[MSSawmill]

Wow, jbyrd! We just finished ours, and we're in the process of working through some issues with our hydraulics setup. I'm ashamed to post pics of it after seeing yours though! We were a couple of amateurs just trying to get something that worked. Yours is impressive! I'm with piney; I hope it works as good as it looks!

[VictorH]

That is one nice looking fab job there.  Would love to see a video of it in action.

[barbender]

That is one sweet looking piece of work, Jbyrd! I love the Pineywoods decal  ;)

[pineywoods]

That is one sweet looking piece of work, Jbyrd! I love the Pineywoods decal  ;)

NO, I didn't have anything to do with that  ;D

[JByrd]

Thanks for all the kind words!  I haven't actually used it with a log yet, still fixing the fitting that broke due to a clearance problem. 
To answer Piney's question, no, I didn't do hydraulic toe boards or backstops.  However, I used a valve with 4 channels, and only used 3 for the loader, turner arm, and claw.  I think I will do power backstops when I get caught up on the things I should have been doing while working on this.  The cylinders I used on the turner arm are long enough to raise the turner arm about 3" above the bunks, so I am thinking I can lift the log a little and stuff a board under one end when needed.

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[pineywoods]

  I haven't actually used it with a log yet, still fixing the fitting that broke due to a clearance problem.

yea, one more little detail I neglected to mention  :( Take the end off the cylinder and rotate it 90 degrees. May not be required with some cylinders.

[JByrd]

The fitting on the claw cylinder was my first interference problem.  Rotating the end would work, but I fixed mine with a street el and a little grinding. 
When I put the log loader down, two fittings on it started leaking.  I used street els where the hoses come out, looked good with it stowed, but when you lower it, it moves a bit relative to the frame, with plenty of leverage to crack the fitting.
I used steel rods to remotely locate the controls.  The clevises on the rods are made from 3/8" pipe with a bolt tapped into the side for a setscrew.  Seems to work great, made use of some 5/16 rod I had on hand.


 

[gholbrook]

Thanks to everyone for all the pics and info on putting hydraulics on my manual lt 40.  Got it working and it's a real time saver.

[VictorH]

welcome gholbrook to the forestry forum.  We would love to see some pics of your mod.

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, gholbrook.   

[thecfarm]

gholbrook,I want to welcome you to the forum too. Been sawing long? Have your own land to get logs on?

[pineywoods]

Thanks to everyone for all the pics and info on putting hydraulics on my manual lt 40.  Got it working and it's a real time saver.

More important is it's a back saver. As we get older, that becomes even more important. Show us some pics, it ain't difficult once you get the hang of it.  ;D

[gholbrook]

I will get some pics loaded up this weekend. Been sawing about 1 year and enjoy it very much. Next project is to add homemade hydraulic loader onto my mill. Working on the design now.  I go saw a lot for others and really need the loader arms. I get real nervous when some of these customers come towards my mill with a log on a tractor front end loader.

[MSSawmill]

We finally got to roll a log with our pineywoods turner yesterday. Other than the learning curve, it's amazing! We stuck a 28" x 16' pine butt log on the deck yesterday, cut the first few slabs off, and then rolled the monster with the flick of a couple of levers. Anything to keep the cant hook in the truck! Not sure I can post a pic of the setup, though. It's pretty ugly compared to some of the rigs I've seen here!

Question about technique... how do you hold the log in position as you "reset" your turner when one motion isn't enough to turn it? Blocks against the bunks? Someone bracing it with a cant hook?

[pineywoods]

We finally got to roll a log with our pineywoods turner yesterday. Other than the learning curve, it's amazing! We stuck a 28" x 16' pine butt log on the deck yesterday, cut the first few slabs off, and then rolled the monster with the flick of a couple of levers. Anything to keep the cant hook in the truck! Not sure I can post a pic of the setup, though. It's pretty ugly compared to some of the rigs I've seen here!

Question about technique... how do you hold the log in position as you "reset" your turner when one motion isn't enough to turn it? Blocks against the bunks? Someone bracing it with a cant hook?

Most of the time, you can leave the claw lightly against the log and slide it downward. Extreme cases of stubborn logs, you need one of these
Hi tech anti-rollback device


 


Be aware that the turner claw has a nasty habbit of jumping up in front of the blade, usually when you just mounted a new blade.


 


Merry Christmas

[Magicman]

Experience talking  ???   :D

[elk42]

  Wisdom marks   :D

[gholbrook]

Got pics of my hydraulics 

    

[MSSawmill]

...
Most of the time, you can leave the claw lightly against the log and slide it downward. Extreme cases of stubborn logs, you need one of these
Hi tech anti-rollback device


 
...

Well, pineywood, I figured out the hydraulics and the arms, but that anti-rollback device may be too complicated for me! ;)