AUtomating the tiller - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

Mickey · 11-09-2007, 06:47 PM

Some of you may have seen this stuff but for those that haven't.

Yanmar has offered for many yrs some components and controls for automating the operation of their tillers. I had the controls on the tractor so this yr I decided I wanted to add the things needed on the tiller itself to make the automation happen.

Thanks to Ernie, he had the components to spare. After a little fabrication and making connections my tiller has auto level and auto depth.

To my knowledge and from what Ernie has said, I'm the only one who has ever hook up these controls on their import.

Here are a few pics of the components and connections.

First 2 are mech component and connection for depth control. Second 2 are the electronic level control and it connectd in to the tractor.

Mickey · 11-09-2007, 06:51 PM

The automated depth control is by monitoring the angle on the rear drag. Works sorta like a draft control on many tractors.

The auto level is controled via controls on the right fender and the electronic level sensor mounted on the tiller.

The 2 pics show the tractor and tiller with the control switched off. The second pic is what happened when I flipped a switch on the tractor. Range is about +/- 10°.

**JDFANATIC** · 11-09-2007, 07:21 PM

Mickey,

Wow! Auto level and auto depth? That is pretty sophisticated!

Mickey · 11-09-2007, 07:34 PM

Dang, included a wrong pic in the first batch. Here the correct last pic.

JD, I'd have thought you'd have seen these as I posted them on MTF some months.

**Ducati996** · 11-09-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey

To my knowledge and from what Ernie has said, I'm the only one who has ever hook up these controls on their import.

Your most likely the only one in existance - its such a clever idea its scary, because it would appear nobody knows about it otherwise we would see it today - its a real good clever idea, and thank you for the pictures. I never seen or knew it existed

Mickey · 11-10-2007, 01:36 PM

Yanmar gives tillers a lot of serious thought. The newer model have fancier controls for the 3pt than mine. You'll find on the newer models you can set lift point and depth point and then when you are using an implement like a plow or tiller, just push a button and the lift drops to the set point. Get to the end of the row hit the button again and the lift raise to the high set point. Lot fancier than the position control lever we all know.

Yanmar has several models with more attachments for automating position control and at the top of the heap, they have a model with a shuttle mechanism. Just a flick of a control on the tractor and the tiller moves L/R so it is offset from tractor centerline. The also offer a quick mount hitch that address the need to connect/disconnect the pto shaft. It's all handled via the QMH. Think JD is now offering something sim and my money is on the idea and possible the design came from Yanmar as the 2 Co's have been doing business with each other for about 25 yrs.

I liked the auto level so much I picked up another sensor and mounted it to my QMH so now, anything I hook up to has the benefit of auto leveling. Oh, this leveling is a real time function. I can drive the tractor across the property and as the grade and lumps in the ground cause the tractor to shift side-side I can see the 3pt moving continually to keep the 3pt level.

**Ducati996** · 11-10-2007, 10:28 PM

This feature is so unique, I dont know if anybody else offers it in lets say the compact line? something that fancy maybe on the AG lines?

Interesting

Mickey · 11-10-2007, 11:00 PM

For the tractor end of this setup, the right lift link is an hyd cyl with a position sensor. With the auto feature off, I have a small joystick that raises and lowers the right arm. Without the level sensor, the link position sensor can level, equalize the 3pt links automatically. Manual adj was nice to begin with but when I added the sensor to the QMH, manual adj is all but out of the picture. Just think of having a blade on the tractor and wanting/needing to set it parallel with the ground. Just pull the tractor up to a level spot, flip the switch and presto the blade is level. Same for a plow. Get the tractor wheel in the furrow and need to adj the plow so it is level. Again just a flip of the switch away from self leveling. For thse kinds of things, once the leveling adjmt is done, just turn off the control and the setting is kept.

**Ducati996** · 11-10-2007, 11:03 PM

Just had an idea, can this setup be applied to a box blade? Im sure Yanmar already thought of it

Mickey · 11-10-2007, 11:24 PM

You gotta have the controls on the tractor and are a factory option. If you do have a tractor with the controls, all that is needed is the electronic level sensor. Like I mentioned I now have one on the quick mount hitch and any implement mounted to same will get leveled. How accurate depends upon how parallel the 3pt attachment points are mounted to the ground. Since mounting the sensor on the QMH I've used my rotary cutter and when I switch the auto leveling on and placed a level on the mower deck, it was level. The sensor has a sensitivity of about 2°.

My Yanmar dealer, Tractor Ernie for those on TBN, keeps a supply of all the parts for the tiller but he doesn't supply them with a tractor or tiller purchase as no one up till know has ever tried to mount and used them. I suspect other Yanmar dealers would have a few of the components laying around.

I could see someone that had some electronic smarts could build the the tractor controls. The sensor sends out a signal telling if left or right are high/low. the control only needs to sense this and then control an electric operated hyd valve to raise or lower a hyd cyl mounted on the right 3pt lift link.