Calling all JD 46 backhoe owners...

[jimgerken]

I noticed that the more I used my 46 backhoe, the more it bothered me the way the operator gaurd bar flexed all over the place. When I used it as a handle to assist climbing on the backhoe, it felt like something was going to bend. And it vibrated around on the control tower during use. Also, pushing or pulling on the gaurd bar made the hydraulic levers flex all over, cause they share the mounting bolts and structure. Just not quite a quality feel. So I added an additional part to stiffen the control tower and gaurd bar mounting surface. I NC plasma cut this part, including the holes, and put a bend in one edge. It fit well the first time. Requires four 1/4" holes drilled, one in each corner, thru the control tower itself. Material is 11 gauge mild steel (0.119" thick).
With this addition, there is very little flex in the gaurd, and the joystick levers' mounting points are stiffer too.
Attached is a pic before painting. After painting pics don't show very well, everything being black.
If anybody wants one of these, let me know.

 

[Gizmo2]

Yep, Bad design. Concerned me from day one. Every time I grab the thing I look for it to bend. Does your plate attach to the top of the housing or just the front? How much??

 

[Runner]

Jim,
Good mod. Looks better than factory.

 

[jimgerken]

Gizmo, the bracket attaches using the existing bolts, plus four 1/4" x 3/4" bolts and nylocks you supply. To use, you would take off access cover (which is the very thin metal on the operator side and includes the top flap with the big 2.5 inch diameter holes for the joysticks thru it). Then remove the two bolts that hold on the joystick pivot mounts, and those are the same two bolts that hold on the gaurd bar. Then remove the two bolts that hold on the outrigger control lever pivot bracket. Now, add the new bracket, and replace all the above existing hardware, except substituting 5/16" x 1.5" bolts for the two carriage bolts that held on the outrigger control lever pivots. Last, drill thru the JD control tower with 1/4" drill, thru the holes I provide in each corner of the bracket. Put the 1/4" bolts in those last four holes, which ties everything together tightly. When you put on the access cover, its your choice to put the top flap with the 2.5 inch holes in it, either on top of or under the folded wall I put in my part for stiffness. When I did it I prefered the look of the top flap on top of my new part. I think you can make out that much detail in the picture I provided. Assuming shipping to continental US, cost is $30. Brackets come painted gloss black to match the backhoe.

 

[Chuck K.]

Very nice job but I believe its crazy given what one has to pay for these things that you had to fab. this.. Great job though..

 

[Gizmo2]

Does the top of your part have room to tap two 1/4 20 holes in it. I would be looking to add two more bolts to the mix to bind the cover and your part together, it would be bullet proof then. $30.00?

 

[dbdartman]

Too late. I went through this, & more, over a year ago. Read about it here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/99094-no-wonder-hard-control.html

 

[jimgerken]

Gismo, yea, plenty of room, the flange on that top edge is 0.8 inches wide. You would need to tap it, to allow assembly, 'cause you won't be able to put on nuts, no access once the front cover is put on. The material thickness I used for the first part is OK for tapping for 1/4"-28 (fine thread). I think if you try it you won't bother adding the top bolts. Yup, $30 gets it in your hands within a few days, shipping included, all the holes (except the ones you wish to add on the top) are in the right places. I was thinking of painting the brackets green, but then the price would have been twice as high. Private message me with your ship-to address if interested. thanks