TopsyTurvey rams

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TopsyTurvey rams

Post #1 by hair bear » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:44 pm

There has to be a simple answer to this but it has eluded me for years.
I'm quite certain that the main lift rams on all loader tractors have the barrel attached to the frame and the piston attached to the loader arms - Except that is for MF farm tractors in the early 80's. Massey industrial types (203, 40, 50, ect) had the 'normal' arrangement but for some reason the rams on Massey farm tractors were fitted upside down ie the barrel was on the loader arms and the piston was on the frame. This arrangement was even reproduced by Britains on their models of the same era.
Any ideas why?
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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #2 by Jeremy Rowland » Fri Feb 17, 2017 8:37 am

Rob I'm guessing that upside down rams are just a design fad; a bit like motorcycles some of which are now fitted with upside down forks, doesn't look right if you ask me but I cannot see any benefits of fitting them in this way.

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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #3 by jcb4cx » Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:38 am

they were single acting rams on those loaders
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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #4 by essexpete » Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:30 pm

No idea why but some ag loaders are still or (recently) like that. The old Chaseside loadmasters had a similar arrangement and on the 500 the crowd rams were that way as well (fixed piston end).


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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #5 by hair bear » Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:19 pm

I had considered the single acting, but our Mil loader still had them the normal way around - what would be the advantage? Maybe it would add a little more weight to bring the arms down, but if it needed that extra then I'd be looking for a problem elsewhere! I did wonder if it was to keep them cleaner with dirt/dung etc. falling away from the seals but if that were the case then all self respecting quarry loaders would be that way around as well. I can't think that the plumbing would be any better routed or protected because the run would be longer with an extra flexible joint. And I have to agree, it doesn't look right.
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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #6 by Mrsmackpaul » Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:26 pm

dunno have never seen them done that way and I cant think of any reason why
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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #7 by FOWLER MAN » Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:26 pm

jcb4cx wrote:they were single acting rams on those loaders


That was my first thought too and the agri. loaders I used with the lime spreaders in the late 50s and early 60s certainly had single acting rams and gravity tip buckets but things have moved on since then.
Modern loaders are powered up and down, have double acting hoist and bucket rams and can no longer just operate from the three point linkage control but require their own joystick or double spool controls.
This involves a lot of plumbing and the pipework is now all fixed to the loader arms for convenience.
For this to work the cylinder end of the ram must be " fixed" up top. The pipes would self destruct as they would stretch and break as the rams extended if they were connected to the bottom. :? :?
I hope you can follow my explanation perhaps the picture below will help.

Image


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Re: TopsyTurvey rams

Post #8 by hair bear » Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:45 pm

Got it!
I think 'demountable' is the keyword. Ag loaders are generally demountable, hence the modified plumbing. Industrials are fixed.
As you were posting that Fred, I was looking through pics from Massey, New Holland, and John Deere and still couldn't work out why all the ags were one way round, and anything yellow was the other!
Thanks, I really, REALLY, should have known that!!! :bow:
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