Stigian 1,234 #51 Posted March 18, 2014 A joy to watch and follow Ian Andy Thanks Andy. I know Zip about Hydros and Cat Linkage, so I have to along with Andy. The Stigian Fab work speaks for itself Thanks Richard, I'm still learning about both hydro's and cat linkages.. The 3 point is a fun way to learn I used a bottle screw and a piece of pipe for mine - with a couple of nice rose joints... can't wait to see what you magic up from the stig parts bin Thanks Mark.. Yep the drop links are a "parts bin special" for sure... Other than "borrowing for now" the 3 point arms from the 6x6 this is a no budget build. I'm making it all out of what bit's I have kicking about the place Ditto here Ian. Your videos go great with my morning coffee! Thanks Van. There will be Part 2 of the build videos at the end of this update, give you something to help your coffee go down better in the morning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #52 Posted March 18, 2014 And now for a rummage through the parts bins to make these drop links.. Off to a good start, a couple of these silver bit's were left over from the 6x6's 3 point kit. They just needed some holes drilled a bit lower down. Now to add a bit of sideways movement.. A bit of thick wall box with a hole drilled through and the top cut out.. Sideways it goes... I may add a bit more strength to this part of the drop link at some point.. We shall see how it copes with the abuse use I'm going to give it With the top part of the drop link worked out, I now needed to think on the other end.. The bit that joins to the lower arms.. What I need is something like this... That will do nicely, just need to drill some holes. Now for the "in the middle" bit's The fixed length drop link was easy. A bit of Wheel Horse lift handle with some extra tight fitting tube hammered inside to give it a bit of extra strength. The adjustable link took a bit more thinking about.. As I couldn't find a nut and bolt that I thought was strong enough, I made my own.. This was the left side steering lever from back in the day when I thought brake steering would work The thread is only partly cut here. Take 1 didn't work too well... It went a bit wonky and the threaded bit didn't want to wind in or out no matter how much force I could put on it!! Take 2 didn't go to well either, I managed to cut the thread at an angle so the nut wouldn't wind on! Take 3 involved cutting up a bike clutch removal tool which I hadn't used in years and was unlikely to ever use again!! But it worked.. Both drop links tack welded together. I know the adjustable link isn't ideal as you need to detach it one end to adjust it, but for now it will do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #53 Posted March 18, 2014 A check to see they fitted and worked as they should.. Up.. Down. The next day I should of got them fully welded up, but it was such a nice day Pete and I went for a short drive on the 6x6 instead Both drop links fully welded up.. Some nice strong welds there The connecting link arm thingy was made nice and strong as well.. I was going to make the angle/offset change bit look really tidy.. Until I thought it's not going to be seen under all the panels anyway.. So not pretty but strong it is. The pivoting lift arm slowly being fully welded up.. A little at a time and let it cool.. Painted bits everywhere!! I know all these parts look a bit new and shiny at the moment, but I will make sure I have very dirty hands when I install them to start the "aged look" process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #54 Posted March 18, 2014 And now on to the final parts... Adding some strength back into the roll bar, and putting loads of strength into the lower arm mounting bracket. A lot of time was spent trying to work out the best way of strengthening this bracket... Not as easy as it may sound! In the end I thought I'd just be better off making some new heavy duty brackets.. So out came some big thick wall box that I had bought for making a dozer blade for the 6x6.. For lengths marked out for cutting. And cut out.. The two bit's on the right are slightly shorter than the two bits on the left to give me a nice join to weld when the right bits go inside the left Yep with a bit of trimming the right side bit's did fit inside the left side bits... It should be nice and strong when welded together I had to cut a little groove in the inner part one side to clear the manufacturing join inside the outer part.... I hope I'm not confusing you all to much here And the last photo for this update, It's amazing how 6 clamps can turn some bits of steel into a work of art And for you viewing and coffee drinking pleasure, here's Part 2 of the 3 point build videos Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #55 Posted March 26, 2014 What a week that has been.. It feels like I've been making these 3 point lower arm mounts forever!!! Lot's of chain drilling... 84 little holes in total through 8mm steel, which if you add it all up I've drilled through a little over 67cm or a little over 26 inches!! What came as a shock was all this was done with the same drill bit, I have a habit of breaking small bits very fast! Lot's of filing out chain drilled holes! But finally today I have got them almost finished.. All hole filing done, I just need to finish off the seam welding.. I think they should be strong enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,737 #56 Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) good work... what size hole where you drilling? I'm drilling 30mm holes though 2 x 3/8" steel using cheap holesaws and arbors - a lot easier than chain drilling and filing Edited March 26, 2014 by meadowfield Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #57 Posted March 26, 2014 No idea on the size hole Mark, I've never measured it as I know I don't have a drill bit of hole cutter big enough.. The hole is the same size as the pin that holds the lower arms on a Cat 1 3 point.... Which happens to be the same diameter as the hole in "normal" size grinding and cutting discs I do have a cheap set of hole cutters, more suited to wood, they struggled through 3mm thick ally! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeledhorseman 579 #58 Posted March 26, 2014 They look good, and strong, and well.... kinda like they're an original part Ian Drilling big holes is a pain, I've got to drill through the C section girder I made the bar of 3-point A frame for the D to make a sleeve hitch arrangement for the cultivator. The pin for the cultivator is the smallest size they do at agricultural places but much bigger dia than the standard used by WH. Fortunately I've found a reduced shank bit in my box of odds n ends that looks like it might just do it. Andy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #59 Posted March 28, 2014 Thanks Andy, good luck with your big hole drilling Well chaps, it's looking like this 3 point saga is finally coming to the end.. Not much left to do now Yesterday I finished welding up the lower arm mounts, and then turned my attention to the roll bar. Lot's of seam welding and plating over a few holes to make things stronger.. Here's the first two plates on top of the diagonal bit's ready to be welded on.. I had four round "open" bit's to make filler plates for.. I was going to cut some circular plates out until I spotted quite a few of these big thick washers (thank you Michael ).. Just the right size, but how would I hold them in position for welding? By welding some off cuts into the washer holes I created my own mini metal mushroom garden Which gave me a way of holding the washers in place for welding.. Tacked in With the welding all done the last job for yesterday was to get the bare metal painted to stop it rusting. If I had some black paint then I would of painted the roll bar with some.. But a bit of colour adds character.. It will soon get dirty and start to blend with with the rest of the GT anyway The lower mounts could do with a second coat.. Today's plan is to get the GT all bolted back together then enjoy not cutting, grinding, welding and filing thick steel for a short while Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeledhorseman 579 #60 Posted March 28, 2014 Love the way the 6x6 watches and learns (first photo) mine do this all the time! Andy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #61 Posted March 28, 2014 Watch and learn 6x6.. This is the hard way to do it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 605 #62 Posted March 31, 2014 No idea on the size hole Mark, I've never measured it as I know I don't have a drill bit of hole cutter big enough.. The hole is the same size as the pin that holds the lower arms on a Cat 1 3 point.... Which happens to be the same diameter as the hole in "normal" size grinding and cutting discs I do have a cheap set of hole cutters, more suited to wood, they struggled through 3mm thick ally! If those holes are the same in both ends of the lift bars they are 7/8" or 22.225 mm for your side of the pond. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #63 Posted April 1, 2014 Thanks Don, I will try and remember that.. Yep the holes are the same both ends. Well chaps, this update will bring the 3 point saga to an end.. After months of welding, drilling and filing holes it is done One of the parts I built had got me thinking though.. The pivoting lift arm thingy. The part where the connecting rod from the font er.. connects felt like the weakest link!! a couple of extra plates welded on soon had it sorted Only one thing left to do... Bolt it all back on the GT.. And give it a test.. The normal way of testing a 3 point is to get someone to stand on the back and lift them up and down a few times.. As I was the only one in the shack it would of been a bit hard to stand on the 3 point, operate the control lever and take photo's/video at the same time.. So with the aid of a couple of axle stands I got the 3 point to lift the back of the GT instead It will certainly make taking the rear wheels off easier Not that I could lift it too high in the shack, someone had put a roof in the way! I hadn't planned on painting the roll bar any time soon, but as I happened to be in a hardware store at the weekend I bought a tin of matt black paint.. The top should eventually loose it's shine, I did put the paint on a bit thick there! Yesterday all the GT's bodywork was bolted on and out of the shack she came.. Nigel having a drive round the garden... After he chewed up my lawn with the 6x6! A view from the back.. Yes I know I need to adjust the drop links to get the arms level. So there you go.. Project 3 point is done... I do have plans to make a few things to use on the 3 point.. Pallet forks are a must as is something with a long-ish arm for lifting and moving heavy stuff such as engine's and cutting decks.. It was a real struggle for me to dig a cutting out the shed and get it installed under my 312 at the weekend!! Gotta love getting old Rather than finishing with a song or a dance, I'm going to finish with a video Here's Part 3 of the 3 point build.. Enjoy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,737 #64 Posted April 1, 2014 good stuff and a fun build Ian, now you've no excuse to get on with your next project... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
