Tree Spade Cylinder Question

[SilentElk]

Hello all! First time poster here. At any rate, I have a simple question that I am sure someone might be able to help me with on tree spades. In short I am making a skidsteer mounted tree spade for a buddy of mine. All said and done this machine will be approx. 41.5" accross the top of the root ball. I will be using truncated blades but one thing I can't find any info on is what cylinder Bore are people using for a spade over 36" ? I was thinking of using 3.5" bore on the pull stroke. I know smaller 30-36" spades often use a 2.5" on the push stroke.

Any info on the what cylinder is used on a larger spade would be helpful.

 

[jimmyq]

http://www.lemarweb.com/

http://www.dutchmasternurseries.com/treespades1.htm

http://www.optimaltreespades.com/

http://www.bobcat.com/products/att/treespade.html

you might try emailing and asking about their specs.

 

[SilentElk]

I have been to all of the above links with the exception of the Bobcat site. One nice thing to see on the bobcat site was that a S300 bobcat, machine i am building this for, is rated to use a 44" machine made by bobcat that weighs a little more, 200 lbs about, than my design for 41.5"

I could probably just call the bobcat dealer and get some specs. I will post what I find out.

Thanks for the reply so far. Anyone else know off hand please feel free to post still as I was love to hear more. Thanks!~

 

[jimmyq]

Finning / Caterpillar has a spade too I think. Their machine uses a different pump setup to the attachment as well if I remember the sales pitch right. I am most familiar (seen it in use a bunch) with the Optimal spade. it was on a 773 machine but I believe it is now on an S300 (turbo?). anyhoo, good luck with your project.

 

[SilentElk]

Local Bobcat dealer wasn't able to find, or possibly give out, any specs on the cylinder Bore. A 3.5" on the pull stroke at a max of 3000 psi will yeild a downward force of 21,636 lbs. This figure uses a 1.75 dia rod. A 3" bore will yeild 15,896 with a 1.5 dia rod. A larger rod isnt needed but a certain amount of force is helpful. Cost difference being $9 a piece I think I will opt for the 3.5"

If someone knows specifically a cylinder size that is used on a 38"-45" spade machine please post it though as I won't be ordering parts till Monday at the soonest and still time to change things if need be. thanks, Pat

PS- thanks for being so Helpful JimmyQ!