Actuators

[markT]

Anyone have experience or directions for a 12vdc electrical actuator. Trying to modify my home built aerator ( Ryan) so I can raise and lower it with an electrical actuator similar to Sweep-All brand.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Anyone have experience or directions for a 12vdc electrical actuator. Trying to modify my home built aerator ( Ryan) so I can raise and lower it with an electrical actuator similar to Sweep-All brand.
View attachment 1357483

They're not real cheap. How heavy is this thing? I know electric would be nice but would a manual lever get the job done or is it too heavy?
I've got one that's bad on a mower and it's about $700 for that sucker. I mow around things now? I plan to take it apart and try to repair it. I think it's in the motor so I'm hoping I can either fix it or replace just the motor to save a few bucks this winter.

 

[Jon Leary]

They're not real cheap. How heavy is this thing? I know electric would be nice but would a manual lever get the job done or is it too heavy?
I've got one that's bad on a mower and it's about $700 for that sucker. I mow around things now? I plan to take it apart and try to repair it. I think it's in the motor so I'm hoping I can either fix it or replace just the motor to save a few bucks this winter.

Checkout SURPLUS CENTER they sell actuators.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Checkout SURPLUS CENTER they sell actuators.

Thank you! I'll double check things but looks like they have it for about half the price I was told from the dealer.

 

[Albany Mountain]

Check out the hot rod shops. They use them for hoods, trunks, doors and run about $20 per inch stroke. You can buy a DPDT toggle switch to wire them up for not too much money. Look on Ebay. I use them for thottle linkages, emergency brake replacement for cables lever, and air venting on my Jeep.

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[markT]

the aerator is 48" wide and has 8 cast steel disks that are ~45 lbs each. So I'm looking at 500 lbs to lift..

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

the aerator is 48" wide and has 8 cast steel disks that are ~45 lbs each. So I'm looking at 500 lbs to lift..View attachment 1357566

Looks good! I bet you could figure out a lever setup that would take away most of the effort and work well but I can't blame you if you go electric. Leverage is pretty easy to calculate and there are online calculators to make it easier. I'm just and old farm guy, myself. I'm used to doing things like that around the farm. Electric would be nice but I think the material cost and time without the actuator would be about the same. If the cost of the actuator doesn't bother you, I'd probably do that, for convenience alone.

 

[markT]

The only issue I’ve got right now is speed. Two actuators are available. 850 lbs force at .66”/sec/inch or 2000 lbs force at .33 sec/inch. Don’t want to be waiting on a slow actuation.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The only issue I’ve got right now is speed. Two actuators are available. 850 lbs force at .66”/sec/inch or 2000 lbs force at .33 sec/inch. Don’t want to be waiting on a slow actuation.

Gotcha. I was thinking you'd only need to raise and lower it for transport, etc. You might be able to plumb a hydraulic cylinder into that Scag, fwiw.
Most commercial mowing people prefer manual deck lift for that reason, speed. The actuators are relatively slow compared to stepping on a pedal to raise over something without ever slowing down the mower.

 

[markT]

I have put some thought into a hydraulic actuator.
My SCAG does have hyd but no “remotes” my neighbor has a John Deere that I can use and I may investigate that. Electric would be the simplest but cost and speed got
My mind spinning.

 

[markT]

Gave up on the electric actuator idea. Too many unknowns. Made 1.125” threaded rods (left and right hand.) Ordered ratchet for class one top link. Just bolted everything together.

 

[markT]

Need to saw off excess material off lift arms and wheel assemblies, paint, grease and go make holes.

 

[dgeesaman]

Good choice. The mechanicals just aren’t in your favor for that.

I would never tow a draggy device like an aerator with a zero turn. You can shred the mowers hydraulics. That’s a tractor chore.

 

[markT]

I did not know that about the hydraulics.. My neighbor has a John Deere riding mower... I'll borrow his, as he will borrow my aerator.

 

[Old Navy]

Good choice. The mechanicals just aren’t in your favor for that.

I would never tow a draggy device like an aerator with a zero turn. You can shred the mowers hydraulics. That’s a tractor chore.

Or an ATV.