The Blue Danjube Bridge

Well . . . on the job learning. Hi Ho hi ho

Or put another way . . . what you were trying to tell me.

The steeper the bridge ramps are, the more torque demand is on the rears so the front end gets lighter . . . especially with a rear load. But I did lessen the angle of the left ramp as much as I could, without having to redo its nailing base to the log. I think that ramp was where I used one of my two 8" spikes with the others. The metal ramps are now held down with L iron bolts.

I think I'll hang an old 6 cyl crankshaft from the front bumper that's easy to unhook. Probably use old connecting rods to hang it from the rod journals with a long iron bar through the wrist pin end, the small end . . . hanging from a bar like my black weights, but on a solid rod. I'll have to see what the ID of the rods I have are with the pin bushing in or out. I've been saving them but I think my Chev rebuild will outlive me and won't ever need them. I'd still have 4 spares.

Ideally, the crankshaft and my black weights should both hang from the same bar. How much weight can those bumper brackets take . . . the way they are mouned?

That plasticote chrome on my headlight rim, would be greatly improved with a hardener. Even a plastic tarp leaves an impression on it and because of touch it looses its shine . . . but it stays stuck at least. I should have put a hard clear coat on top. If Plastikote could be bought non-spray could a hardener be found that would work?

A little cost involved, But I'd make the ramps 2-3
times longer than they are now and be done with it
and be lots more serviceable and safer..

If the front is too light as loaded, just back over the bridge.

Dean

He can spread some road base to fill under the longer ramps too.
Greg

(quoted from post at 06:09:16 09/20/14) If the front is too light as loaded, just back over the bridge.

Dean

Click to expand...

I'll give backing over a try next time I go down there for more wood.

I've got my feelers out for some wide 3 or 4" planks like the ones on the bridge down the road -- or band saw milled slabs of which I've had several over the years.

One idea I have is to come off the end 2 X 12 cross tie with two lengths of long and heavy angle iron, one on each side of each existing ramp -- leaving those short ramps there. then after rigidly framing the angle iron, fill in the space with short 2X10's or whatever until they come up to meet the top few inches of the existing ramps.

Thanks,
Terry

P.S.
Part of my punning around with "Blue Danube"
included the fact that this Jube was one of the ones that took advantage of the dealers' offer to paint them blue and red!
There's Blue under all the grey and the red is not the original orangey red of 1953.

Then the next person to have at it, painted over the blue sheet metal with Ford Grey again but left the red alone.

Great post title.
Can't help you with your project but I do like the waltz.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_CTYymbbEL4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I do love the music, but as much as I like to dance, it is one of the
worst songs to try to actually dance a waltz to. Too many changes.

As far as the bridge goes, I'd still dig the supports in a bit and be done.

Just me I guess!

[b:24a05c8674][i:24a05c8674]As far as the bridge goes, I'd still dig the supports in a bit and be done.

And, I would agree.......but also would add.....(leveling the supports, to the end bank suroundings) with smooth access!!

GB :roll: [/i:24a05c8674][/b:24a05c8674]

Better still, pick it up with the three point on your tractor backed
in at an angle and back it off to the side a bit, then set it down.
Hire a local teenager to dig the holes, then move it back.
Around here the kids will still work for a fair wage, I assume that's
true in your area too, although I understand you're on an island.
A few bucks would sure beat tearing up that new hip!

Any chance taking some dirt and building the area in front of ramps up and extending the dirt back far enough to lessen angle?

Well that's a heck of a plan too . . . pick it up at an angle, back up to move it over and put it down again, dig deeper trenches, then move it back! No tedious gouging with restricted movement. Excellent!

A Middle Buster would be handy for this right?

Confessions of a Newbie:
When I was leveling it with the crane I thought for a second that something was amiss with my hydraulics . . . then I realized I needed more throttle for the work load. :shock:

Thanks
T

Good plan too Howdy.
I found that the sand I have on hand, would be great for mixing cement but that it doesn't compact very well under the tractor's weight.

Every time i go down my new driveway to the shop, the tractor squeezes more sand out from under it's tires and off to the side.

Thanks,
T