Yesh, I was only a mechanic. the good thing was that although they didn't pay much, I learned how to operate an oxygen-acetylene torch, fit up metal and do some arc welding so it wasn't a total loss.
Hello Gaylord,
I used for another job inexpensive laundry dryer solenoids. Their force is impressive and big enough, but their draw to is impressive at 120VAC 15 Amps means at 12VDC such a Solenoid might pull as much as a starter engine and perhaps even shut of the engine.... try to get one that has the force and perhaps beaf it up with a strong capacitor.
The 12VDC/120AVAC Inverters became preety cheap. my 1500W unit was about 100$ at Pricemart. I use Inverters frequently on the shop van and UPS's for valves und PLC back up. Allthough you have a square wave (about 135VDC each direction) the secondary transformers for 24VAC work well on them, so you might take a cheap 12V/120VAC inverter of 400W (700W Peak) (30-40$ at Pricemart) and make up or get a cheap 18/24VDC powersupply for the winch.
(transformer (15-18VAC)/diode bridge (from alternator) /capacitor)
Regards
Sven
Originally written by Peter Pan on 10/15/2008 8:26 AM
Hello Gaylord,
I used for another job inexpensive laundry dryer solenoids. Their force is impressive and big enough, but their draw to is impressive at 120VAC 15 Amps means at 12VDC such a Solenoid might pull as much as a starter engine and perhaps even shut of the engine.... try to get one that has the force and perhaps beaf it up with a strong capacitor.The 12VDC/120AVAC Inverters became preety cheap. my 1500W unit was about 100$ at Pricemart. I use Inverters frequently on the shop van and UPS's for valves und PLC back up. Allthough you have a square wave (about 135VDC each direction) the secondary transformers for 24VAC work well on them, so you might take a cheap 12V/120VAC inverter of 400W (700W Peak) (30-40$ at Pricemart) and make up or get a cheap 18/24VDC powersupply for the winch.
(transformer (15-18VAC)/diode bridge (from alternator) /capacitor)
Regards
Sven
Well, if you are speaking about the electric shift project, I have a whole bagful of 1970's GM starter solenoids complete with the pistons. I bought them at the local wrecking yard before they went out of business. They will give close to 25 pounds of pull on a fishing scale. I only need about 15 pounds pull to actuate the shift mechanism in the HD five speed transmission. I've already tested two of them side-by side with a toggle type bell-crank and it appears that it will work. I built a prototype a couple of years ago and then dropped the project when I got sick.
The only problem is that the solenoids are a little bulky but, properly packaged, they will be just fine. I'll get back to it shortly. When I get it done, I'll show it to you in the same way I did with the reverse.
I like to experiment but as far as production, I'll leave that to the Chinese. LOL.
As to the power supply matter for the winch, a 700 watt unit would be about right. The output of that could be run into a bridge rectifier with proper capacitors to get some nice flat DC for the winch motor. The operation is not continuous so it should work OK. That's the next thing on my list.
Regards.
As a sugestion:
For the bulky solenoids think about a flexible cable or guided fibreglass arrangement (as in model building) and hide the solenoids. By the way leave the lever accessible and movable so you can use the shift alternatively in conventional manner.
Regards
Sven
Sure, I would not remove the original shift levers. It would just be an add-on. Also, they have an ignition cutout for fast shifting but that won't be necessary as I always use the cluch.
I'd have to think about mounting the unit remotely since there isn't any room left. The installations that I've seen use brackets on the primary case with studs and spacers to support a mounting plate. Both Kliktronic and Pingel show pictues of their mounts for various motorcycles.
Hey there Gaylord;
you got the maddog here,..glad to see your up and about,...as you know from our conversations I was a precision machinest and owned 2 machine jobber shops before I broke my neck and I just want to say that I'm very impressed on the quality of your fabrication for that reverse set up,..very well done.
For others considering buying the electric shifters I have both brands, the Klicktronic on my 3-wheeler and the Pingel on my RK-hack,..buy the Pingel,..much better unit and set up is next to nothing,..setting the klicktronic up was a very big pain and took hours to get it right and dose not shift as good as the Pingel.
Originally written by maddogvic on 10/17/2008 1:31 PM
Hey there Gaylord;
you got the maddog here,..glad to see your up and about,...as you know from our conversations I was a precision machinest and owned 2 machine jobber shops before I broke my neck and I just want to say that I'm very impressed on the quality of your fabrication for that reverse set up,..very well done.
For others considering buying the electric shifters I have both brands, the Klicktronic on my 3-wheeler and the Pingel on my RK-hack,..buy the Pingel,..much better unit and set up is next to nothing,..setting the klicktronic up was a very big pain and took hours to get it right and dose not shift as good as the Pingel.
Hi Vic! It's nice to hear from you. Thanks for the telephone call today! A compliment from you makes me feel like I'm on the right track with this stuff.
I have also heard that the Pingel is the better of the two shifter units. It's good to hear that you've got both of them so you know what you're talkkng about when you give a review. If my homemade one doe't work, I'll probably have to break down and spend some money for a Pingel.
I only wish that there had been some lower-cost reverse units for Harley-Davidsons but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.
Happy Trails!
