RE: (ET) Satellite Actuator Arm

the new elec-trak.org forum has the capability to publish your posts incl. pictures. So you could

create a thread there on satelite actuators, copy your text that you send via emails

and add the pictures. Then sent a note to the list informing us about the location of the pictures.

If you don't want to go this route I'd be happy to put your pictures on my webserver and

make them available to everyone. I think thought he forum is the way to go.

One note about the actuators. I am not sure how well they handle the forces of implements

when driving over bumps with the implements lifted. I got a warning from Warn winches about

me using a 1700# winch to lift a bucket - they thought the lever distance and the high forces

envolved when absorbing a bump may be too much for my geartrain when driving with a full

bucket. The original elec-trak strap would absorb some of these forces as it is a little bit

elastic. I am considering putting a nylon strap on my winch instead of the steel cable

to get the same effect.

I am not at the location of my tractor during the week, so I won't be able to time it until the weekend. It seemed to have adequate movement within 10 - 30 seconds, and doesn't stop me from using it. I will take pictures next weekend, but do not have a place to post them on, so am not sure if I can share them or not.

Great! Pictures Please!

My actuator (Von Weiss) was too slow to implement, nearly a minute for 24"; how fast can you raise/lower your tiller?

All the current talk about lift straps breaking prompted me to send this message. I too was plaqued with those darn straps and the limited support that they provide. A few weeks back I posted messages about using a Satellite Actuator arm to replace the front lift on my E-20 tractor. I have since modified the rear lift to use an actuator in place of the strap, etc.. I used the actuator this weekend on my rear tiller and it works great! Basically I removed all the et lift assembly stuff, i.e. motor and strap, down to the actual rear mounting bracket. The actuator mounts directly to the upper pin assembly of the rear bracket, with the end mounted to the tiller pin bracket. It does not require the chain to support the tiller, nor any straps that were crummy and under powered to say the least. The actuator I use is a Jack Venture 18" unit, that is powered by 36 volt from the aux power plug, through a dpdt/switch on tractor firewall. The actuator arm is rated for moving up to 800 lbs and easily lifts and lowers the heavy tiller on back of tractor. I used this same unit on the front of tractor to lift my modified dozer blade with great success. In fact I like these units so well, that I just ordered another one on ebay, so that I can leave both of them on the tractor, without having to move them from front to rear, etc.. I am going to wire two power receptacles, one in front and one in back, on tractor that I can plug unit(s) into as needed. The only down side that I have found with these actuators is that they are slow in operation, but who cares. "No more lift strap problems." Do a search on ebay for satellite actuators to see what is available. Got mine for $39.95 - sweet!

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