Forecart Hydraulics

[cjejfarm]

Would like to use a small gas powered engine to power a pump. What would anyone out there suggest?

[Donn Hewes]

There are really three options for hydraulics. If you have a motor for PTO or other use then adding a hydraulic pump is simple. if not electric with a good battery may be cheaper / easier. I am hopong / planning to build a hydraulic pack that slips onto a cart. It will be battery powered with solar panel. There are also carts that use ground drive to run a pump and a device called a hydraulic acccumulator. Any of these ideas will work, just need to figure out which is best for you. What do you plan to use the hydraulics for?

[cjejfarm]

I’d like to be able to pick up a JD corn planter. Hope to put in 3 to 4 acres of sweet corn this spring with the horses. Trying to be as economical as I can.

[fogish]

The engines used on small backhoes is usually 7-9 hp. Do you have a pump already?

[Goranson Farm]

We built a hydraulic unit for our 510 grain drill this past summer using the 12 volt pump with a 4 way valve (power up power down) off an old dump truck. It is awesome! I highly recommend a valve which gives you the option of down pressure. Its quiet, fast, and requires minimal charging. A solar panel would be ideal but it’s pretty easy to throw a charger on it after a couple days of use. We mounted it vertically on a 2×2 steal post which easily slides in and out of the seat holders of our white horse fore cart.

[Donn Hewes]

Carl, when you say you mounted it vertically, is that fluid below the pump or above the pump? Do you have a picture of that? Is the battery attached with clamps or clips? Does it come off separately? I like the solar panel idea too, but might just start this season with the charger. What is the best type of battery and size? I want to raise and lower a rake 20 times? D

[Goranson Farm]

Here is the best pic I could find from this summer. The reservoir is above the pump. The large deep cycle RV/Marine battery is connected via cables. To hold the battery in place I welded up a small holder of 1″ angle iron and bolted it to the floor on the opposite side of the cart. The Battery was secured with a small bungee cord. I thought about making it a single unit but the weight of the pump, reservoir, and battery would have made it a bear to lug around and would have reduced accessibility. The hydraulic cylinder on the drill has a relatively short stroke which is part of why I got away with mounting the pump vertically. I’m not 100% sure if this would work with implements requiring a greater volume of hydraulic fluid. I’m pretty sure you would have enough power to raise and lower a rake 20 times. Wish mine had a float option.

I can’t take credit for the vertical mounting of the pump, Zack Messier dreamed that one up. Makes getting on and off the cart much easier.

[Goranson Farm]

Second try with the picture

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