[grandpajay]

I thought I would just throw this out there for you 400 guys. There seems to be a break in the snowblowing to give me a chance to make some hydraulic modifications in preparation for a late winter FEL build. I put in the rear aux over the last couple of evenings and got the QD holders installed on the sides of the towers. I didn't want the lines looping around the loader arms so I poked out each side. The extra 2 ports on the left side are for an aux set out on the loader for a possible grapple. Now the job is a bunch of cutting, bending, and flaring to get 10 QDs installed. I did have to move the battery 90 degrees to give some room. Jay

 

[army]

You do very nice work Jay, not to mention the obvious ingenuity

. I take it you're going with the on board hydraulics for the loader? Or did I miss something?

I was wondering how you squeezed the hydraulics in there where the battery is. I'd like to see a bird's eye view of it.

How come the oil filter opening in the engine tin is covered like that?


Army

 

[grandpajay]

Army,
Thank you and welcome back! I'm going to get the loader operational with on board hydraulics. I'm going to run out of fluid with the cylinders that I have and will add a aux pump after a while. The fender mounted 2 spool (deck and 3pt) and power assisted steering will always be on board. Plan A is run aux fluid through the 3 spool scv. I'll post pics of the rat's nest of lines in front of the battery when I get that done. The rubber sheet over the oil filter is part of my strategy to make best use of the cooling air on the right side problem cylinder. Jay

 

[mikeduwe]

Holy hydraulic couplers batman!

Sounds like a neat project. Not sure the tractor pump will be up to the task though?

 

[grandpajay]

Mike,
Being folicly challenged, it's not that I don't have plenty of hair. It's a distribution problem. So corollary to the 400 hydraulic system is to distribute adaquately. My cylinders are 2.5" so my 900 psi won't be in play. But 4 gpm means speed is going to be frustratingly slow. And I will run out of oil with things extended. I found that ISO B interchange couplings are half the price of Parker 4000s. I upped the size to 3/8" to make sure to handle more flow later. Watch for the Bat signal when I'm in trouble! Jay

 

[jameszmcnelley]

Jay,
The follicle distribution problem arises when those that fall out of your scalp, transplant themselves and take root on your back.
3/8'' is a good choice.
I expect more than a rats nest from you.
I await the worlds first, Bat Nest! JZM

 

[jameszmcnelley]

Forgot to mention; once your hyd. syst. is completely full and all air bled off, the reservoir will achieve a neutral fluid balance.
On double acting cylinders, as the pres. side on the cylinder fills, an equal amount on the neutral side returns to the res. Resulting in a constant fluid level status. later, JZM

 

[grandpajay]

Thanks jzm,
I am working out of a really low tech bat cave. The oil volume issue comes from the cylinder rod size. A cylinder fully retracted moves the rod volume equivalent oil into the reservoir. I still need to do the math on the rods to calculate the worst case scenarios-all 4 cylinders retracted or extended. I'm not sure how much the Sundstram U15 has in reserve. Jay

 

[jameszmcnelley]

Jay,
I see what you mean now on the volume space occupied by the rods.
You could drain the rear end case and measure its volume. That would vary slightly depending on the location of the rear lift cyl. I would venture a guess at around 3qts. JZM

 

[grandpajay]

Finished the side coupler project today. No geysers! (Knocked on a lot of wood!) Tight fit. Reminded me of working behind the instrument panel on the Ercoupe. Most of the tube was right against the minimum that the flaring tool would accept.

If I had planned a little more, I would have bought some 45 degree fittings to ease some of the space issues. I turned a little bending fixture on the lathe for some of the close bends. It might have been an interesting project to make some manifolds in place of lots of fittings.

I modified the battery tray to turn the standard Group 26 battery 90 degrees. Jay

 

[nc400]

Looks great Jay. Where are you buying all your hydro fittings and tube? Im planning to add rear hydraulics to my 400.

 

[grandpajay]

Jake,
I get my components from Discount Hydraulics and Hose and Fitting Supply. The tube is 5/16" seamless brake line from Amazon. I ordered a 10 pack of dust plugs and they came colored blue. I had assumed black. Can't bring myself to put them on. Jay