Anyone done the conversion to hydraulic using parts (rams etc..) from tool places like Harbor Freight and the like? How much did it cost you and would you mind sharing the info on how to hook it up, what you used, and such. Might go nicely with the tech write up on how to bend tube 101! Thanks

Yep...been there done it.

I ordered the JD2 set up for Hydraulic only. This means that I traded the manual set up for this set up. There is not extra cost this way. I called everywhere for the 14" ram and they actually have the cheapest price that I could find ($377 I think). The ram is QUALITY work. I then bought a 10 ton port-a-power set from Harbor Freight. The ram uses a std quick disconnect but the prot-a-power set used some metric thing. One stop by the local hydraulic shop got me the male fitting for the ram. I then removed the metric fitting and dug through my bucket of old hydraulic fittings (I used to be a forklift mechanic;) ) and found an adaptor fitting--I think it was 1/4" pipe to 3/8" pipe but I didn't really measure it. Screwed it all together. Hooked it up and started bending tube. 6 bends into it, the first pump died. returned it and got another one. this one seems fine so far. However, I do not intend to use the pump system for ever. I will be buying an air/hydraulic pump as soon as I make enough $$$ back to fund it. Then, I will use the port-a-power set for their real intended use:D

Hope this helps---Joel

Anyone else?

As soon as I get mine I am gonna take a REAL hard look at if I can convert it over with not much trouble.

Anyone have any comments on what stroke cylinder to use? How many tons it needs to be rated for to do the work well?

I already have access to an electric punp, valves, and a couple of cylinders - just not sure if any of the cylinders are the right size for the application...

Well, my original post was based upon what he was asking---Using Harbor Freight stuff.

However, if you want to set this up with std hydraulic components, it would not be too hard.

Use a 10 ton rated ram with at least 12" of stroke (the port-a-power one has 14")..if you don't have enough stroke, then you can't get the bend aroung far enough to move the bender/die to the next pin hole (you'll understand what I mean when you see your bender in action) The cylinder must be a double action cylinder--two ports, one on each end. The port-a-power set up has an auto-return set-up. The double action cylinder has the ability to be powered forward and backward. You need to hook the cylinder up to a two- way valve and then to the pump. Not too hard, but I think that it has it's limitations.

I just bought the entire setup with J2 model 3 bender with degree wheel and extra degree wheel for old model 3 bender that we have for 800 Now have 2 bender's !!


I have checked all around and for the price of the ram J2 has a good deal !! the ram is what cost's !!!!! and I have pumps Already !!!

the ram if you where to buy it from other people would cost 100 to 200 dollars more !!!

this was not good for me !! when it arives I will put up some pictures!!

Adam,

Yes please, pics would be appreciated...

I dug up this post from Jay K... but the pics are dead links now :(

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6695&highlight=bender

Maybe he will chime in when he reads this?

yeah I am gonna get real good at taking close pics

And see if Dean and me can make some duplicates for the other bender!!


Adam,

Try these:

Jayhttp://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bbspics/jbender1.jpg

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bbspics/jbender2.jpg

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bbspics/jbender3.jpg

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bbspics/jbender4.jpg

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk3/bbspics/jbender5.jpg

Thanks Jay.. and comments to go along with the pics?

Let me get this straight. I will need a ram, pump and a motor to power the pump to go hydro on my bender? I've posted a couple of links, am I going into the right direction? Should I order the hydro kit from JD2?http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1683555887
pump (http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/NTE_LLSEARCH.d2w/report?PHOTOS=on&prlngth=10561.0000)

You can do the single acting (spring return) air/oil setup like JD2 provides, but I think you have to repin the die twice to do 90 deg.

I wanted something that could do 90 or better in a single shot, without repinning. Mine will do about 105 deg or so.

I used a 1 hp hydro power unit from Northern along with a 3" x 24" Prince double acting cylinder. It'll bend about 3-4 deg a second so is not real speedy if your looking for fast work, but I can usually stop it dead where I want it on the deg wheel without having to jog the controller (standard spring return to center 4-way valve).

If you want more speed, you could drop to a 2.5" cylinder and up the speed 50%. Should still be plenty strong to bend 2" .120 tube....I would think.

My hoses are all 1/2" size and it took a little work to gather all the proper fittings to mate it all up.

I basically laid the Model 3 out on the floor and worked out the geometry so I could build the stand to mount the bender and cylinder. With a little more work you could probably build a setup that could use a 30" cylinder and make igher angle bends in a single stroke, but I figured that I probably wouldn't be doing a lot of bends between about 105 and say maybe 130 deg.

If I were to do it over I would mount the bender further down kinda straddling (vertically) the top of the sawhorse area and the whole setup probably would have come out a little cleaner.

Prior to building it I ran thru the basic formulas that told me the pressure I'd get, the ram speed, etc.

Jay

Originally posted by Scout Dude

Use a 10 ton rated ram with at least 12" of stroke (the port-a-power one has 14")..if you don't have enough stroke, then you can't get the bend aroung far enough to move the bender/die to the next pin hole (you'll understand what I mean when you see your bender in action)

Just to confirm then..

I think I'm hearing that the 10T PortaPower setup I bought (I can't remember the stroke - 6"?8"?) probably won't be quite enough to run a JD2, I'll need a longer stroke ram?

Drat.. ;)

--Tom

In my JD2 catalog they say that their rams have a 14 in stroke!! I got a 16 in on mine and it works fine.....:D

And in order to cut your tube get one of these:

Dewalt Multi Cutter (http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=647843&prmenbr=6970)

Reconditioned for $199 New is like $499 or so at HD.

Originally posted by tsm1mt


Just to confirm then..

I think I'm hearing that the 10T PortaPower setup I bought (I can't remember the stroke - 6"?8"?) probably won't be quite enough to run a JD2, I'll need a longer stroke ram?

Drat.. ;)

--Tom

Correct. You will not get enough turn on the tube to back it up to the next pin hole. You might be able to use the extentions that come with the P-O-P set to extend it though.

Roktoy, how much you think you got into your setup? Also what you have looks quite nice to me, got any schematics on that stand? Thanks

So whats the benefit to hydraulic versus manual??? Besides ease of use of course...does it make it so you don't have to permanently mount your bender??? That would be nice:D also do you get more accurate bends???

Originally posted by Supergper
So whats the benefit to hydraulic versus manual??? Besides ease of use of course...does it make it so you don't have to permanently mount your bender??? That would be nice:D also do you get more accurate bends???

Yep and probably nope...

Mine is not mounted to the floor..I move it all the time.

Accuracy...It seems to me that it would be the same except that with hydraulic, you can stand over your work with an angle guage and measure it whiel bending where the manual process would not allow this. Either way, you have to over-bend to acheive the bend that you want--it springs back all the time.

My Model 3 and all parts to complete was about $1000 plus cost of metal.

Sorry no drawings of the stand.

I wanted hydro so I could move it around and not need to floor anchor.

Jay

Originally posted by Scout Dude


Mine is not mounted to the floor..I move it all the time.


Precisely why I want to go hyrdaulic. With a porta-power it'd probably be faster to bend it manually.. but I went nuts with the radiant floor heat and didn't think to leave some spots open for putting concrete anchors in.. d'oh.


Correct. You will not get enough turn on the tube to back it up to the next pin hole. You might be able to use the extentions that come with the P-O-P set to extend it though.

OK, that's what I was hoping. It'll be a PITA, but do-able as long as I can get enough stroke out of it, then add in the spacers and repeat.

I won't be getting crazy with multiple bends any time soon I guess. :)

But down the road I can add the extra coin for the full hydro setup..

Thanks.

-Tom