Jaylegger
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2009
- Messages
- 713
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC2600L
Getting ready for snowblowing this winter I figured I'd be well served to take a few hints from the veterans, ie: get a friggin cab. I recently purchased a Massey Ferguson GC2600 but couldn't justify the approx 5K for an aftermarket cab so began scouring for methods and materials for a diy build. After a few days I stumbled across an aluminum tube product which doesn't require welds or bolts to put together, it relies solely on compression connectors for fabrication of the tubing which served me perfectly as I don't have a welder and with my desire to complete build the myself out-sourcing the welding was not an option either. A significant added bonus to the aluminum product is that it can be ordered with a variety of different flanges or fins built in to hold glass inserts which obviously is beneficial for the intended product. (the fins also act as gussets which strengthen the tubes considerably)
All materials required for the project are off-the-shelf materials requiring no tools other than a grinder, reciprocating saw, hacksaw, and drill and other hand tools to fabricate and assemble.
The primary materials list is:
Black anodized aluminum tubing and connector from: EZ Tube Boltless Construction System, Aluminum Tube, Steel Tube, Storage Products.
Brackets to connect cab to tractor frame are galvanized dock corner brackets. A combination of plexi and safety glass used for glazing. Two 12VDC heaters, a $6 rear utility light and a hand operated wiper fill out the opulant comforts for snow-blowing only afforded with the addition of a cab.
I'm not yet quite finished but here's a few photos of the cab in near done mode. It's a little boxy due to the availability of 90 degree connector only but I think it looks ok none-the-less for between quarter or third of the cost of a dealer sourced aftermarket cab such as Sims or Curtis Cab while providing me with another invaluable project. The sub-compact Massey's are not the easiest to build a cab around, the rear handles require about 6 inches wider than I wanted and the bucket joystick plastic covering was removed to keep the cab as narrow as possible. As is, the joystick movement is curtailed somewhat to the right which prevents quick bucket dumping but I'm only using the cab for snow blowing so this isn't an issue. If I were using the fel with the cab the joystick controls would need to moved which would be as easy as added a few shims where the controls bolt to the frame.
All materials required for the project are off-the-shelf materials requiring no tools other than a grinder, reciprocating saw, hacksaw, and drill and other hand tools to fabricate and assemble.
The primary materials list is:
Black anodized aluminum tubing and connector from: EZ Tube Boltless Construction System, Aluminum Tube, Steel Tube, Storage Products.
Brackets to connect cab to tractor frame are galvanized dock corner brackets. A combination of plexi and safety glass used for glazing. Two 12VDC heaters, a $6 rear utility light and a hand operated wiper fill out the opulant comforts for snow-blowing only afforded with the addition of a cab.
I'm not yet quite finished but here's a few photos of the cab in near done mode. It's a little boxy due to the availability of 90 degree connector only but I think it looks ok none-the-less for between quarter or third of the cost of a dealer sourced aftermarket cab such as Sims or Curtis Cab while providing me with another invaluable project. The sub-compact Massey's are not the easiest to build a cab around, the rear handles require about 6 inches wider than I wanted and the bucket joystick plastic covering was removed to keep the cab as narrow as possible. As is, the joystick movement is curtailed somewhat to the right which prevents quick bucket dumping but I'm only using the cab for snow blowing so this isn't an issue. If I were using the fel with the cab the joystick controls would need to moved which would be as easy as added a few shims where the controls bolt to the frame.