Thanks. That does help and its not too late because I work slow :biggrin2:

I'm just playing with geometry today. Cylinder placement is all over the map on the many dozens of loader pics viewed. And cylinder length is pretty variable too. I'm likely going to have a single three inch cylinder on the bucket curl. With a separate pump running around 1,500 psi lift power shouldn't be a problem on the boom.

I'm going to build cylinder mount eyes today.

The 149 hasn't been getting much attention the last couple of days with some other projects needing the time. I did get some bushings and cylinder mount eyes made. I'm going to graft the the two 2X2X1/4" pieces of tube with the bushings welded in, into the 2X3X1/8" boom tubing. Those will be the pivot point at mast to boom connection. Strength wise the one inch pins are way overkill, but it gives lots of greaseable load bearing area.

Spent some time with cylinder length and placement geometry and I think a sixteen inch stroke cylinder will be my choice. The skinny board on the bottom has the length of the cylinder, retracted and extended, pinned in. My goal for lift is to be able to comfortably dump into a full size, 4X4 pickup.

Hopefully start cutting boom tubing tomorrow.

Nice work so far!
I also like to use wood mock ups. When I built my backhoe thumb, I cut the pieces out of plywood first.

IHinIN, your carpentry skills are much more refined then mine!

Seems like I didn't get much done today either, with all the cutting, checking and adjusting. Then fitting the bushings into the boom ends, drilling and tapping for grease zerks. Then just when I was ready to weld everything up, the welder had a problem. Have to buy a new spool gun liner on Monday. :bash2:

But the arms are all tacked up. Next will be the quick connect front mount. I can probably make a final decision on boom cylinder length now too.

Nice work :ThumbsUp:

I'm subbed for your build .
I like the idea of your 1" pins.











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It took awhile digging through the iron pile and contemplating options, but I finally formed a plan. I have the basic frame all cut and dry fit for the quick attach for the front end. I may get it welded up yet tonight. This is it laid out and viewed from the tractor side.
Once this is pinned on to the boom, I can finalize the lift cylinder lengths and start with the bucket curl geometry.

Since I'm retired, I work about half speed and for the last week, my back has been really bad, so I'm about half of half speed right now. Plus I hate redoing or going backwards so I'm going half of the half of the half speed so I don't make any missteps. I hate wasting material more than I hate wasting time.

I got the quick connect frame welded up. It will need the cylinder eye attached when I have that figured out and the lugs for the pins for attachments. I also finished up the four mounts for the boom cylinders.

The boom arms got the corner gussets welded on. Not sure if I'm going to put a strap on top of the corner.

I picked up two cylinders for the boom, 2" bore X 16" stroke. And a 2 1/2" bore X 10" stroke for the bucket curl.

It's finally starting to look more like a loader. :beerchug:

I like what I see :biggrin2: :beerchug:

:popcorn::popcorn:

I spent a few hours last night trying to get the bucket curl figured out using the single 10" stroke cylinder. And I don't think it's going to work. :HeadScratch:

I wanted the single cylinder for less weight, less hoses, less money and tidier appearance. But even the 10" stroke is a tight fit and any thing shorter, I think the fulcrum will be too short, needing too high a pressure to operate.

I'll fiddle a bit this morning, but I think it's off to the store to trade one cylinder for two longer ones. Probably a good reason 99.5% of loaders use two bucket curl cylinders.