I find that the 10" stroke works perfect. In my pictures you can see with it retracted and extended how close the cylinder and piston are to other parts.
That cylinder link I posted has the dimensions and it is 19 closed and 29 open.
The retracted was very close but I wanted it to tuck up as close as i could get it.
I plugged and welded the base pin hole and then re drilled it a fraction of an inch off,
I also welded a 1" shaft collar on each side and milled them down to get the desired width.
If I can remember I will measure my pin to pin as it is in its altered state.
If you choose to use this cylinder you may find if close enough to install out of the box and just shim with washers or a couple spacers you might make on your lathe.
A point I brought up before is there may be some variation in the manual thumb mount but I don't know that is just a thought.
I welded the collars to also give more bearing to the re drilled area.
I would wonder if a 12 inch would have the rod hitting on the dipper arm fully extended.
I didn't change the ports. I picked that cylinder because it has them clocked to the side and I ran them on the left. I see others using them with hoses on the bucket side and I worry a stone or branch or root could get in there.
Bill
Edit, I couldn't measure pin to pin as there is no way with out disassembly.
But with it fully retracted, and the bushing at the thumb mount and the bushing at the thumb both measuring 1.5" in diameter i measured top to top and have 18 and 7/8" so I must have changed that base end hole moving it about 1/8" shorter.
Again you might find out of the box this step is not needed, it was just me being me.
I would maybe suggest putting it on and maybe moving it with air or by hand to see if the rod clears.
Bill
Bill, I got that cylinder the other day, and I think you're right, it should be "nearly perfect".
In the "mean time" I got to thinking and my mind started racing.....(always a dangerous thing
) and I have decided that I "need" an "El Cheapo Hose Maker".....
So; As per normal, it's Vevor to the rescue......
I went online and saw a few reviews/videos for the "knock off" hose makers, and I decided that it is/was a good idea to learn how to make my own hoses.
Now lets be practical....Making my own hose's is not a "$5,000 good idea"....But in my opinion, it's a "$600 good idea"
So it was off to the "Big A" of course, and a few days later the "Amazon Fairy" started dropping so many packages, the last time anything like that happened, it was akin to "The Allies Carpet Bombing Dresden".
Packages were hitting my porch so fast, my wife had to "take cover"......
I have not used it yet, (too many damn projects going on at the same time)....But I will "update" when I get a chance.......
(oh and I also got the "air-over" foot pedal.....(cause you are "damn straight" that I ain't gonna pump this thing 140 times to make a crimp
)
Here is the cylinder and "some" of the fittings I ordered.
Now it's time to remove the "old manual thumb"....
I figured that it would be "pretty simple"....but "as per usual"....the damn pins are nearly "welded in" from corrosion......(And I keep this thing stored inside
)
Well I whip out the PB Blaster......Then I found some "Kroil" that I forgot about, and tried it...
Then I reached for the BFH.... and started "Whoopin and a Whompin"...on those pins....
Now, "the sh1t is gettin real".....Those damn pins are frozen, and I notice that they are begininnng to "mushroom"......So from my 40+ years of "Whoopin and a Whompin" experience(s).....I know that I best stop, before I totally F myself.
Out of the corner of my eye, I hear the "flame wrench" singing it's song....calling out to me like a "light house of hope"......
But I resist the urge......
Instead the "most hated tool" in my tool box, calls out my name.
The damned, dreaded, PITA.......Ball Joint press.................
So I set her up (sorry no pics).....
Then with a series of "Impact bursts and Whomps" from the BFH......One pin "POPS", (and scares the sh1t out of me)......
After that, It was a series of "bursts and whomps" until they were both out......
I had estimated removing the pins would take 10-15 minutes......And "as per normal", ~4-5 hours later, they were out
Another "day" basically shot in the a$$......
