[AT] Scales for antique tractors???

[Bill Bear Hood]

Dean
When our tractor club decided to build/buy scales I did lots of research with Texas Scale mfg's and on the net.  I talked to Omaha Scale Co (NE) and they had a setup of load cells and head made for tractor pulling scales.  They came complete with all the plans for building same.  They are portable, with a larger loader tractor. They will weigh to 20K and were about $1760 for the equipment and the steel will be at least another $1000 with increased steel prices. 

I have since helped build two more sets of scales for other Texas clubs.  
We are all very happy with the results and the scales.  They measure in 5# incriments and are very repeatable.  On the set for the Lake County Club, we met at a members shop and had several welders and helpers working at once with other members doing coffee and snacks and lunch and turned out a set of scales in about 8 hours.  I mainly supervised and drank coffee.  This was my third set, so we had it down pat by then.  
I don't remember the guy, I talked to at Omaha, but he was very knowledgable about our needs.  Look at their plans and specifications.

I went to order the first set of cells and head and asked how he wanted me to send the funds--he just said he would ship them today and a bill would be in the package.  These load cells are designed to be handled roughly as portable scales and the oldest set is now 7 years old and have had no problems.  We have checked them with weight standards and they are within parameters.  I also purchased the equipment from them and fabricated a set of 40K trade legal scales for a local fertilizer plant to their plans and they pass regular Texas inspections.  

Live every day of your life like a three year old.  Get down in the dirt with it, roll in it and smile a lot.  Bear


--- "Dean VP" <deanvp at att.net> wrote:

From: "Dean VP" <deanvp at att.net>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 02:13:08 -0800
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: [AT] Scales for antique tractors???

Our local antique tractor club is considering building a portable platform
scale to weigh antique tractors and garden tractors for use during pulling
competition. 

Having had some professional experience with load cells and associated
electronics and observing some rather erratic scales at various antique
tractor shows in the area I would like to offer other alternative options
for the club to consider before venturing into a possibly ill advised
building adventure. There are scales available to rent if the risk of the
urge to "do-it ourselves" is properly recognized and tempered.  But I'm not
sure that can be controlled. 

If there were appropriately skilled scale personnel in the club I would be
less concerned. But, what I see is a possibility of "we can build anything
and make it work" syndrome developing. Not recognizing some of the inherent
risks and financial exposure.  Therefore, I am soliciting advice from any
others on the list who may have technical advice and/or experience in such
an endeavor. 

My gut tells me there are used, commercial, ready made solutions that have
had good design methods used and are probably less expensive than the cost
of doing it ourselves.  MY guess is that there may be surplus platform
scales available that no longer fit the needs of today's commercial
requirements but would be totally adequate for the clubs needs. 

I know we do not need certifiable weights and measures accuracy traceable to
the National Bureau of Standards. :-) However, some reasonable level of
accuracy is required but consistency is probably even more important. 

My guess is the scale probably will need to weigh up to 12,000 - 15,000 lbs
but also weigh 500 lbs reasonably accurate as well. That may be more
difficult than expected. The inconsistencies I have seen on some of the
scales used at local tractor shows has been largely due to temperature
variations and loading position sensitivities. These all can be compensated
for with a good design and appropriate electronics. So far I don't see that
kind of collective design skill within the club personnel and therefore I
see the us heading for the wonderful experience of kaleidoscope hell (tweak
it until it works) and severe cost overruns. I do see a significant level of
naivety. :-) I currently see the potential of "We can do it for $1500
turning into a $5,000 doesn't work so good end result". 

So... I'm looking for ideas on where one would go to find a low cost
commercial solution. I would think there would be used commercial scales
available on the market that might fit both our technical requirements and
simultaneously fit our financial budget. I may be wrong.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Help??? 



Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

Forbidden fruits create many jams!

www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm






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