[groundhog]

Going to get up early tomorrow, and go to Omnipole to get my hired guttervac for the day, does anyone know how to get there?

If all goes well I may start another thread to let you all know how things went with the guttervac, I'm quite looking forward to it!!

[jeff1]

Its a pity Omnipole didn't have hire centers dotted around the country, they would make some good money in hire sales.

Hope all goes well for you tomorrow Gray?

Don't forget the piccy's

[groundhog]

Thanks Jeff!! I wish they had one more local as well! I live near Portsmouth, and I'm going to leave about 6am to make sure I miss the traffic and get there for 8.30 when they open. I'm charging the camera up right now!!!

[*Mr Tumble]

Jeff, I think you may be making life difficult for yourself with the gutter grabber...

You have the wire entering through the arm on the left of the pic (taken on the ground), while the tube for taking the Harris pole is on the right.

Surely you must be putting all that strain pulling on the hole where the wire exits.

Surely you need the wire to be exiting on the same side as the arm that is supported by the pole?

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it looks from here.

[jeff1]

Jeff, I think you may be making life difficult for yourself with the gutter grabber...

You have the wire entering through the arm on the left of the pic (taken on the ground), while the tube for taking the Harris pole is on the right.

Surely you must be putting all that strain pulling on the hole where the wire exits.

Surely you need the wire to be exiting on the same side as the arm that is supported by the pole?

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it looks from here.

I see what your saying Mr Tumble and agree with you, if I turn the tension up on the spring it has a tendancy to try and twist but when its in the guttering it can't twist because the guttering stops it.

Also I have the tension spring set to minimum and with it set there, you can pull the grabber closed with just 2 fingers.
Don't forget Mr Tumble this is only a protor type, I shouldn't have called it Mk2 as its a different design completly from the Mk1 version, the Mk2 version like lots of things I make could easily end up in the Bin

[*Mr Tumble]

I'm with you on the development side of things.

I've made my own now, and can see that there are a number of variables.

The positioning of the spring
The length of the spring
The angle of the tube that receives the Harris pole
The position of the draw string
Whether to use rivets or machine screws in the various locations.

But I think there's some potential for this thing - limited, yes, but I can think of a few uses.

[jeff1]

I'm with you on the development side of things.

I've made my own now, and can see that there are a number of variables.

The positioning of the spring
The length of the spring
The angle of the tube that receives the Harris pole
The position of the draw string
Whether to use rivets or machine screws in the various locations.

But I think there's some potential for this thing - limited, yes, but I can think of a few uses.

There is always room for improvement 
Don't use a powerful spring, the reason for the spring is to just reopen the grabbers, so you don't have to lower it to open them back up.
You can see rivets on mine also 1 self tapping screw, the hole below this screw is a curved shape to allow the grabbers to swing open, if you put in a straight line of holes then the screw can bind and stop free movement.
My main reason for it is to just grab items out of gutters, my Mk1 is the best for getting Gardens out of the gutters.

Lets see your pictures of it then Mr Tumble.

[*Mr Tumble]

I'll do them later.

[windowwashers]

I'll do them later.

Cheers for removing the pic Mr tumble

[*Mr Tumble]

Pics...

[*Mr Tumble]

Pics...

[*Mr Tumble]

Pics...

...end of pics.

[jeff1]

There tall ones Mr Tumble?
Looking at yours I may just move my cable down further, althouth there easy to operate moving them down will make it an easier task.

Have you tried them out yet? when you do let us know how they handle.

[*Mr Tumble]

No, I haven't tried them yet.

Yes, I used the whole length of ally square section.

I notice that the tube connected to the arm is a bit fragile.

I put the cable there as I knew that it would be easier to operate than at the top.

The cable I used is 1/16th galvanised steel wire from b&q.

My spring is too small and tight really - i need one with a longer 'frequency' if you know what I mean.

I have three gutter leaf guards (for the downpipe) to install next week, so will try to use it then.

[*Mr Tumble]

Here's a job it won't cope with...

[jeff1]

I would use my Mk1 on that and then finish of with the lance.

The spring to reopen the Mk2 doesn't need to be a very strong one, just enough to re-open the Jaws.

You may be able to see now why I put the wing nut onto my bolt, when you undo it you are able to open the jaws a bit wider but again this is governed by the length of the spring.

I hope it all goes well for you next week.

[*Mr Tumble]

I just ordered a whole box of springs from screwfix!

Much time to play with.

Do you think longer arms or shorter are better?

[jeff1]

I just ordered a whole box of springs from screwfix!

Much time to play with.

Do you think longer arms or shorter are better?

Now that is a question non of us know the answer to? you have the long set and I have the short set.

Just Guessing though, shorter is lighter and might give better balance.

The main thing to think about with the grabbers are Weight , ease of use, grab distance between the tongs and ease of operation to close the grabbers.
I have decided to drill a couple more holes down the bottom and put the pull wire down there.

So were learning from each other on this one.

[*Mr Tumble]

I went to bed last night thinking about cams and having two wires perhaps, then I remembered that I only had two hands, not four.

and phosphor bronze bushes.

and spring(s) outside of the arms?

[jeff1]

Its alright going to bed thinking about it, its when you start to dream about it, it becomes a problem