Paralysis by Analysis, and the sinking of the USS Good Idea.........

[Runs With Scissors]

So there I am, it's zero dark thirty and I am in the garage just staring at my BH77 outriggers.

I can't sleep, and I have been going over the plans in my head for what feels like an eternity.

I want, in the worst way, to make guards to protect the hoses, but I also want to incorporate a bigger/more convenient step.

I have probably 3 or 4 "basic ideas" running through my head, but I can't seem to get a "clear picture" of the result.

I probably stared at it for 2-3 hours, running different scenario's on how to bolt it on, what it will look like, what parts need to move......what parts don't need to move..........etc.

Since I can't get a good picture of the best way to attach it, I decided to start by making the actual guard, then retrofitting it to the mounting system....Kind of a "reverse engineering" concept.

Smoke was probably pouring out of my ears........... screw it.........I gotta try something.

I hate indecision, so F'it, I gotta stop analyzing this thing to death and do something......

There is only really 2 "must haves" in this project.

1. Must bolt on. No welding

2. Must be "simple" ( i.e. one piece design ideally)

I feel like a boat adrift at sea......

This should be easy man! Why am I so stumped??????

I decide to make a "cardboard mock up" to clear the cob webs,

Break out the Amazon boxes and packaging tape..






I get the "basic idea" and kind of "muttle along".

You can see that it will protect both hoses in the "up" position, so that's good

 

[Runs With Scissors]

This is my first iteration



It incorporates a step and covers both hoses

The only problem is that I would ideally like to use this 11 gauge(?) piece of steel that has been mocking me quietly, from the corner of the garage.....hahahah



a few quick measurements and I find out that will not have enough metal.

No biggie, I will order more.

But then I decide to make it go in between the hydraulic cylinder to save steel and use a scrap piece of rectangular channel that should fit around the square arm perfectly to bolt "around" the square leg....

I also realize that there needs to be a "cut out" to allow for raising it up, or it will hit the deck of the 77.

The ideas are starting to flow........finally.....



I cant remember which was which, but the idea is beginning to ferment.



Well after about 257 iterations, 25 rolls of packing tape, and 3 acres worth of trees for the boxes I used, I have a "slightly clearer" picture of my idea.

Basically using the "box and tape" method was getting frustrating, and since I have an "idea" of what I am going to do......

Break out that Bitch'in Plasma cutter

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Have you benchmarked the TLB series? Does it have the protection you are looking for? There is a pic in this that maybe sort of not so far off from what you are thinking?

Kubota Kicks Off 2016 with Two New Tractor-Loader-Backhoe Introductions

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (February 1, 2016) Kubota Tractor Corporation, looking to raise the bar in the tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) segment, starts the year strong with the announcement of two new models, the L47 and M62 TLBs, both unveiled today at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas...Read more

www.kubotausa.com

 

[Ping]

Ah, the 'ol cardboard & tape design....brings back memories of my winter cab build 8 years ago.
Waiting to see out how this episode of the 'Runs With Scissors' turns out.
Regards,

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So I need to get an idea of the angle the step will have to be at so it is more or less"flat" when the arm is on level ground. I know that will change depending on the height of the outrigger, but I'm ok with that if the step is large enough.

Well in a "momentary lapse of reason" or inattention, I crush my damn "angle gauge". Well its only about 6 bucks, so I just shrug it off.





While I was "straightening" out that gauge, trying the use it one last time, I spot a couple of scrape tubing that I think will work for the step and the mounting base

 

[Yooper]

My saying is Henry Ford didn’t build a Rolls Royce, but his tin lizzy eventually lead to it. I tend to overthink things but one thing I’ve learned, just put it into 3D and the picture clears up a lot. Another saying I have is I get it right the second time.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So one of the things that bothers me about this, is the "3D" aspect of it. It's hard to measure things when they "zig zag" around things and the "tightness" of the area doesn't help.

So I cut the piece a little bigger than I think I need to allow for some "bend radius".



Then I "place it" in place and use marker to place "tic marks" where I think the bends should go.



Now it's time to use my "new press'......I'm like a little kid wanting to play with his new "race track' on Christmas morning....LOL




Surprisingly, things are looking good. Now mind you I am using the "Ansatz" method to solve this puzzle so its "bend and check......bend and check........bend and check......etc

It's slow, and having to "jack up" that bottle jack is already grating on the "Laziest man south of the Mackinac Bridge's" last nerve.

(Spoiler alert...............The"air over" bottle jack is already on its way.....LOL)





I pretty much nail it, and now I need to play with the step placement

The angle of everything is concerning me, especially when it comes to raising and lowering, but I figure I will "cross that bridge, when I get to it"

And the idea for bolting it to the lower arm is developing..........

Here are a few different placement options, each with a pro and con, but one of them will/should work.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Now I pretty much need to commit to some sort of "base" for it.

Mostly because my hand is having a hard time holding the damn steel plate in place so I can take something that resembles "accurate measurements.

The idea I have that is foremost in my head is to cut that tube in half and it should wrap nicely around the square leg.

Back to the Plasma Cutter.



Well cutting it was easy, but I am not sure why, but it closes up a little when I cut it. its tough to see in the pic, but it will definitely not fit now.

I am presuming it was the heat from the plasma cutter, but now it will not fit around the square leg.

Hmmmm........then it hits me, use the press to "smush it" apart, so I find a scrap piece of square tubing that "by chance" fits nicely in to the press.





Fits perfect now!




I'm still not "sure" of the bolting system, but we are getting there.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So now its too far away from the square leg to weld it so I need to bend it so that it stays far enough away from the hose/fitting yet but still enables me to weld it to the "base"

This is getting complicated.

So I go to bend it but the bend is on the right side and fitting it into the press is causing me to have to get "creative"

I had to put a slice in it so i could bend it without jacking up the other bends as well



I tried to bend it like this, but I was worried about screwing up the "uprights" on my press with such an uneven load.



So I decide to move the press and to make the "load" more or less "centered"



The only thing I have to do is put the bend in it the correct way....That's my main focus.....

Concentrate dumbass......concentrate.....you can do it... just bend it the right way.......


I am not sh!tting you, as I was bending it, I was actually saying out loud "you gotta bend it the right way man"

And yep.....You guessed it...............I bent it the wrong F'ing way

Agggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!! M F'er!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I guess this is why I did not like woodworking, there was never any room for screw ups.

Steel is well, different?

More forgiving in many instances.

In the process of bending it the wrong way, I also realize that even if I had bent it the correct way, it would have not given me the "stand off" I need, so a "much bigger "angle is going to be required.

So I "hammer it" back straight'ish and put it in the press which reveals yet another problem.

I need to raise it up some, to avoid contacting the press and screwing up my previous bends.



How do I do that you might ask?

Easy, just cut your "inserts" in half and stack them.




through some "creative pressing" I finally arrive at the proper "offset"

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Skipping ahead a little, I am basically to the point of taking the step on and things appear to be going OK, but there that little voice in me.....nagging a little about something.

Oh well, screw that voice.







Then I gotta do a "little trimming" to make sure it does not contact anything.

 

[Hkb82]

Looking good. Love these projects and reads. Good pics also. Always gives me a bit of motivation.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Well let me tell you mister, raising that thing up CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Now all my design faults rear their ugly head almost all at once......

I hear General Quarters sounding in the distance..........there's a U-boat in the water................

So many things changed when in the up position as compared to the down position, it blew my mind.

For some strange reason I could not see the 'Forrest through the trees' and its bad.


Calling Dr. Hackenslash.......calling Dr. Hackenslash.....

So in a gallant attempt to save nearly 2 days worth of figuring, bending, cutting and welding, I basically revert to a Mickey Mouse "cut and patch" attack.

I start slicing and dicing this monstrosity up and welding patch's, hereto and henceforth.

But the die is cast......It's a POS design that was doomed from the beginning.

As the "torpedo of fate" hits the USS Good Idea, it is abundantly clear that the powder magazine has been breached, and she's going down.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

here is a sample of the Mickey Mouse patch work.




Here is the end result of an Epic Fail

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Have you benchmarked the TLB series? Does it have the protection you are looking for? There is a pic in this that maybe sort of not so far off from what you are thinking?

Kubota Kicks Off 2016 with Two New Tractor-Loader-Backhoe Introductions

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (February 1, 2016) Kubota Tractor Corporation, looking to raise the bar in the tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) segment, starts the year strong with the announcement of two new models, the L47 and M62 TLBs, both unveiled today at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas...Read more

www.kubotausa.com

Hmm.....that's interesting.

I'll have to find a better pic.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

The end of this story seems a bit abrupt.....but honestly I am still going over just how much stuff moved and "changed' .

In the end almost nothing I did worked.

Every bend seemed to hit something, every cut out was too big or too small.

The step would have cleanly busted off the very fitting I was trying to protect, unless I moved it so far that it would have been worthless........

The worst part of this, is that I am back at square one.

Although I still have no idea of what to do next time....I can assure you that there will be a "next time"..

 

[Trimley]

You're hard at it. I feel the frustrations.

Suggestion? Make what you want from cardboard and hot glue gun. Use "drops" for adhering, so easy to disassemble or change.

Glue to the outriggers as you get dialed in....from the start even. Easily removed.

It's obvious you know what you're doing, so just so you know.... I'm not meaning to sound like a Richard.

Sometimes fabricating sucks.

 

[D2Cat]

This is my first iteration

View attachment 117366

It incorporates a step and covers both hoses

The only problem is that I would ideally like to use this 11 gauge(?) piece of steel that has been mocking me quietly, from the corner of the garage.....hahahah

View attachment 117367

a few quick measurements and I find out that will not have enough metal.

No biggie, I will order more.

But then I decide to make it go in between the hydraulic cylinder to save steel and use a scrap piece of rectangular channel that should fit around the square arm perfectly to bolt "around" the square leg....

I also realize that there needs to be a "cut out" to allow for raising it up, or it will hit the deck of the 77.

The ideas are starting to flow........finally.....

View attachment 117368

I cant remember which was which, but the idea is beginning to ferment.

View attachment 117369

Well after about 257 iterations, 25 rolls of packing tape, and 3 acres worth of trees for the boxes I used, I have a "slightly clearer" picture of my idea.

Basically using the "box and tape" method was getting frustrating, and since I have an "idea" of what I am going to do......

Break out that Bitch'in Plasma cutter

I once worked with a guy who's final thought would be, "Do something, even if it's wrong!"

 

[Runs With Scissors]

You're hard at it. I feel the frustrations.

Suggestion? Make what you want from cardboard and hot glue gun. Use "drops" for adhering, so easy to disassemble or change.

Glue to the outriggers as you get dialed in....from the start even. Easily removed.

It's obvious you know what you're doing, so just so you know.... I'm not meaning to sound like a Richard.

Sometimes fabricating sucks.

That's a good idea. think I will try that next time. Thanks

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I once worked with a guy who's final thought would be, "Do something, even if it's wrong!"

My dad used to say that too.