yes as phil has mentioned be careful with threaded rod the cheap stuff which is often made in china isnt true to size as they often start with bar the size of the thread not bar to make that thread and therefore after machining as most threaded rod is roll formed and not cut it ends up undersize. be sure your buying quality high tensile rod from reputable companies that actually does meet the standards for structural use its is made from the correct oversize bar stock and rolled or cut to size
there has been some building failures due to companies short cutting and using the inferior product one was a suspended walk way in a shopping centre in the US the cheap rod just pulled out of the fasteners as the threads had very poor thread engagement due to being under size.

that is why i use rod supplied by bremick, ajax fastners or hobson engineering.

Neil wrote:

Thanks for that information Phil. Looks like I might need to add a 30t ram to my collection. The vendor I bought my set from has an extensive range of ram tonnages, and physical dimensions so I'll find something that works best
 

You could always try it first before spending money on another cylinder. Just make sure youaccount for the bigger cyilinder when you make your plates up. Maybe Eddie might have a chart that would show the force required for track pin removal.

Hey Neil can you provide the measurement for the 30 ton cylinder diameter. I'm making a rudimentary pin press to aid in installing my d2 tracks. I have a hyrafore 20 ton cylinder that measures 4 in diameter but feel like a 30 ton might come in handy for some upcoming d4 track work. I can alter my holes to accommodate a bigger cylinder now without compromising the strength but would be more $$$ later to make more plates. I already have 1 inch grade 8 domestic threaded rods and nuts. I'm going with 1 inch plate.

Thanks Neil i ordered the standard 30 ton cylinder. Hopefully everything will show up so I can install the spring and tracks next week.

Neil i hate grass growing under my feet and my friend Bryon aka markus meticulous is having a gathering this summer with his 1905 sawmills and has requested my d2 to be present. I'm pretty motivated but when someone throws down the gauntlet I'm on it. I am going to get this tractor going and if not I told him ill drag it over there with one of the d4s so it can look pretty. But it'll be running for sure
Tracks on next week fingers crossed after that things should progress as fast as the honeydew list will allow 👍

well, I will say that I used 1"NC grade 8 all thread all the time at work to 30 tons to pull things apart that. one 1"nc will hold 30 tons I would stay away from fine there as they get damages so easy when being used. I like and use a lot of 4140 htsr it up there over 100,000 vers the 56,000 of 1018 mild steel. find some old grader blade or old corner bit of a dozer blade good steel and they have holes already in them. steel keeps going up but the week/day sometimes. I would say steel double in price in the last 18 months. 2" is overkill if you ask me . sometimes we can make stuff so heavy you can move it or adjust it in place without a crane just keep that in mind I have done that my self.