A few more pictures. I will be playing with the handle locations a bit and building a cover for the mechanism. Jay

 

That is cool. Looks to be a lot more ergonomic with the handles closer to you.

 

Always a pleasure to watch your mechanical abilities, Jay. Anybody that can build a joystick from scratch is alright in my book. Nice re-use of the hydro handle to operate the inner spool!

How long til you've made a 540rpm gearbox rear pto for that 400?

 

Thanks guys! I would think about a rear pto, but there is no gardening in my future to require a tiller-about the only rear implement that seems to need a pto. My neighbors might appreciate me having a tiller, but so far they are happy that I have a loader. Jay

 

I'm sure its going to be amazing like everything else you do. Looking forward to the end result.

 

True, but it would be an awesome build thread. I bet you would find some uses if you had it.

Does the new joystick operate the loader? How will you switch it to a standalone pump? I'd like to see a hydraulic diagram of your tractor.

 

Does the new joystick operate the loader? How will you switch it to a standalone pump? I'd like to see a hydraulic diagram of your tractor.

Thanks! Yes, the joystick replaces the 2 loader handles. It would take me longer to draw a diagram than build a system, buy I'll try to describe my hydraulic mess.

A while ago, I added 2 more spools of control downstream from the original 3 spool SCV to allow independent control of the 3PH and mm deck. I pulled the combination rockshaft (3PH and deck lift) circuit away from the SCV and hooked it up to the 2 spools mounted on the fender. I added an additional cylinder to operate the deck and now the 2 spools independently control the 3PH and deck.

That left the original 3 spool SCV available as all auxiliary controls. I have used 2 of the spools at the SCV for the loader and the 3rd control an auxiliary circuit out on the end of the loader combined with a set or rear connects.

When I add a pump, all I need to do is bypass the onboard hydraulic pressure from the SCV and go directly to the 2 spool. Then pressurize the SCV with the new aux pump. I know that is clear as mud. There is a lot of plumbing on this tractor. It is kind of fun to flare tubing and swage hose fittings.

I did threads for the H5 addition and the loader hydraulic rat's nest. Jay

 

Jay, I feel like you're close to a fortress hidden in a volcano, a white cat and death ray on your tractor of doom with a cloaking device. Please remember I wasn't mean to you when you take over

 

I'll end the madness for "One Meeellion Dollars!". My grandson has a little ways to go to be a mini-me.

 

I never noticed the easy fender removal slots for the deck height and shift lever until this thread. Another great modification.

 

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for the explanation. You'll be able to use the 3rd spool for a grapple or similar. Can't wait for the auxiliary pump/ reservoir build thread!

 

Jay, I'm surprised with your tools and skills that you haven't figured out a way to set up a larger charge pump to do away with the need for an auxiliary pump.

 

Jay,
That is incredible. I do the same thing - lay in bed for hours dreaming up mechanical stuff when I should be sound asleep.

I'd love to wake up tomorrow and find an old Bridgeport mill and a proper lathe in my shop....



Andreas

 

I'd love to wake up tomorrow and find an old Bridgeport mill and a proper lathe in my shop....

:ditto:
I'd love to be able to just machine the pieces I need.

 

Jay, seeing your constructions makes me realize how little I know. This is really cool.

 

Jay,does the black lever move over for the outside lever and move out from the center control and move back for the center lever and then the outer lever is inoperative?

 

Let's see if I can actually explain the handle operation. The easy part is that the inner handle (now black since the first pictures) still actuates the inner original handle and is for auxiliary front and rear remotes. It goes straight forward and back. Of course, it originally operated the rockshaft for lifting the 3PH and deck. On this 400, those functions have been moved to the 2 handles on the right fender.

The (now) red handle operates forward and back (actuates the original middle lever), as well as right and left. In forward and back it raises and lowers the loader. If pushed forward it will detent in the float position. Moving the red handle to the left dumps the bucket and to the right curls the bucket. Right and left movement is translated to forward and backward motion of the original outer lever. Pulling the red knob furthest back and to the right crosses right in front of the black knob. My speculation is that I wouldn't need to have the red knob back and right to the stop and operate the inner aux. control at the same time.

I'm not positive this makes sense in writing. Jay

 

Thank you all for the compliments. I get inspiration from each of you! I think of us like the Star Trek Borg Collective-all of us pooling our interest and skills. Of course, that means being "assimilated".

A while ago there was a thread on "What feature do you wish your GT had?" I took that to heart and this has become an enjoyable hobby in the quest to answer that question.

Here is a few pics from today-though the handles don't show very well against the cluttered background. I made a longer stainless main lever and recycled the red hand control knob by making a threaded insert for it. I made up a wire pattern to start the thinking about a cover. That will get made into a mold and then a fiberglass part. I ordered a little dual boot from Amazon (hope it works) and that will inform the final shape around the levers. Jay

 

Jay,I use an old plastic bowl for stuff like that,just lay your layup in the bowl,cut a piece of it to clear the levers,then set it on something flat and add a few layers to bolt the the tractor.

 

Jay that red lever wasn't there in your first pic. [emoji3]. Like your Bridgeport... I have a j head... Not variable speed tho...

 

Alright now you are switching knobs.... Lol

 

Like the look of the mechanism and turnbuckles and such... Don't cover it up...

 

Jay,

Great engineering and fab skills on your latest addition to your tractor! :thThumbsU

Your 400 is definitely one of a kind!

Roger

 

Thanks, Roger! My dream is your 748, but I have to get there like Johnny Cash's One Piece at a Time. Jay

 

Here is a bunch of process pics of some fiberglass work building the joystick cover. I also snuck in a pic of the wood shop. It is a separate building to keep the sparks and dust from mixing.

I transferred the wire frame to a cardboard pattern. Then laid out the angles and cut them on the miter saw. Some tape, glue, and sheetrock mud later, there is a form.

 

More pics

 

Only some nutserts in the tower and 8-32 machine screws for the cover to finish. Jay

 

Fantastic!



Andreas

 

Wow Jay, that cover looks awesome. :fing32:

 

Jay you don't linger on your projects,GREAT JOB,as usual

 

Nicely done! :thThumbsU

 

Jay,

Super nice work on joystick cover! :fing32::fing32:

Where did you get the boot from?

Roger