Our Longhorn Squeeze Unit And Digital Scale

[Running Arrow Bill]

Here is photo of our site constructed "Medina Hinge" unit with a 42" x 84" platform setting on the Load Bars of our Digital Scale unit. Platform is setting on a 4" thick poured concrete slab. Platform constructed of 2" angle iron frame and 2 x 12" treated boards bolted onto frame with 5/16" carriage bolts.

Scale unit is very accurate. Cavaet: make sure animal is briefly "still", otherwise digital read-out jumps all over the place. Wait until readout is still, then read quickly...lol.

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[Fred]

Nice set up. Does it take 2 load bars and the readout to set up the system?

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Nice set up. Does it take 2 load bars and the readout to set up the system?

Yes, 2 load bars are standard with a system. We have the Trancell Technology T-500 system (5000# X 36" long bars) mfg. in Buffalo Grove, IL. The control module also has a feature to hook up to a computer for saving data; however, we just manually record weights from the digital read-out then put data on our Longhorn Max 2 software program.

We set our bars about 6" in from the ends of our 84" frame platform. The bottom of the load bars have 2 adjustable hard rubber feet that prevent bars from moving. Also, on the bottom of our frame platform, we welded two 1" angle irons and this 4.5" space slips over each bar to keep things from shifting. Bars come with 15' of cables.

Our 2" angle iron frame supports our 1800# LH bull since his feet are close to load bars which take bulk of weight load. If one is unsure about weight strength you could use 3" angle iron frame. We also use butt bars on each end of 2 Priefert gates to keep smaller animals from stepping off of platform since our gates are 10' long and platform is only 7' long.

 

[Jovid]

Here is photo of our site constructed "Medina Hinge" unit with a 42" x 84" platform setting on the Load Bars of our Digital Scale unit. Platform is setting on a 4" thick poured concrete slab. Platform constructed of 2" angle iron frame and 2 x 12" treated boards bolted onto frame with 5/16" carriage bolts.

Scale unit is very accurate. Cavaet: make sure animal is briefly "still", otherwise digital read-out jumps all over the place. Wait until readout is still, then read quickly...lol.

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Have you tried a different setting on the scales calibration?

Our scales you can set where it locks in on the weight even if they move or set it where it varies depending on the movement.

 

[WagaAgeyv]

Can you send us some plans for this? We would love to have it. WE jsut finished a new corral and pen and are gonna look at putting in a chute next.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Can you send us some plans for this? We would love to have it. WE jsut finished a new corral and pen and are gonna look at putting in a chute next.

In lieu of "good" plans, here are the specs:

Concrete pad: 5 x 7' x 4" thick.
Two "squeeze" gates: 10' Priefert "Gray" gates (heavy duty).
Backstop metal: 3/6" plate steel (8' wide x 7' High) welded to three 2-7/8" vertical pipes with top welded cross-pipe, with curve based on swing arc of gates.
Gates Hinged 10" apart.
Holes bored in plate steel every 6" or so to accept sliding bolts with "bolt sleeves" welded to gates.
Vertical rods welded between horizontal bars of gates to accept butt bars on gates.
Entry & Exit area constructed to one's own corral/alley design. Generally, cattle enter one side, get "squeezed" & worked, and exit via 2nd gate.

That's about it!
Bill