Idea,Design and fabrication

[4shorts]

Everything starts with an idea and today was no different. My head is full of ideas and the wife says I'm nuts and she's probably right.
Anyway my new Kubota Grand 4240 had this tube on the loader attachment. I said to myself that seemed to be a terrible waist of space and seeing I needed a place to put a tow sling I decided to use that space for it.

I had to have some way of capping the ends of the tube so this is what I did. It was all made out of scrap aluminum. It was machined and then Tiged and machined again. I wasn't to particular about the appearance of the weld because I knew I wanted to machine it anyway. The O rings were used to keep the caps in place but the grooves had to be machined just right or they would be either to tight or to loose. After that was done the parts were etched primed and painted.

 

[TBDonnelly]

I was thinking that tube would make a great potato launcher but I like your idea, design and execution much better!

Don

 

[EddieWalker]

Very impressive workmanship.

Eddie

 

[ToadHill]

You should consider selling those and make a few $$$.

 

[3RRL]

I love it when a guy does a perfect job...great work!
Now, be sure to post your pics as clickable thumbnails for us slow connection guys.
Thanks,

 

[mjncad]

Excellent, I have the same crosstube on my Deere's loader.

Plus if you store your tractor outside, bees and wasps will be less likely to use the tube as a nesting site.

 

[tlbuser]

Pretty clever and nice looking too.

 

[4shorts]

Thanks guys. I wanted to try and do the mods I've done without actually altering the tractor. As with the light bar and these end caps I've only either used the tractors existing hardware or in this case it's just a push and pull and no damage to the tube. Glad you all like it and I'll be sure the next time to use the thumb nail system Appreciate your comments

 

[czechsonofagun]

Now thats a job!! I was reading replies wondering how does it hold in - than scrolled back up and noticed those 2 O-rings. Tip of the hat to you, sir, it is great to see man made perfection!

 

[Egon]

Very nice indeed.

 

[zionview]

Nice! I can think of alot of stuff to put in there!

 

[actionaj]

Nice job. I like how you used the shear to cut the circular end plates cool.

 

[flusher]

Someone else had the same thought. My new Mahindra 5525 has the ML250 FEL built by Buhler and distributed by BII Fargo, Inc. They use that tube to store the two legs used to support the FEL when its detached from the tractor.

You can see one of the end caps on the tube and one of the brackets on the far FEL arm for a support leg.

 

[dfkrug]

Very nice work, SHORTS! (Not just one O-ring...2 O-rings!)

Interesting front wheel fenders you have there. I have never seen
these on a tractor. You must drive pretty fast.

 

[4shorts]

Very nice work, SHORTS! (Not just one O-ring...2 O-rings!)

Interesting front wheel fenders you have there. I have never seen
these on a tractor. You must drive pretty fast.

Thanks my friend. I've got the sports model which is super fast I haven't seen to many around with fenders. They came with the tractor. Appreciate your kind words guys.

Hey flusher. How does your caps work? Interesting indeed.

 

[mjncad]

I can think of a couple of times where front wheel fenders would have kept me from getting mud in my eye so to speak. Are they stationary, or do they pivot with the wheels when you make a turn?

 

[Blagadan]

Now you have somewhere to keep your french bread.... fresh and undamaged! Air tight seal... I like it!!

 

[Blagadan]

Just looking at your tractor again, boy that is a clean machine!

Is it a showroom tractor?

 

[tlbuser]

Just looking at your tractor again, boy that is a clean machine!

Is it a showroom tractor?

Maybe just a big driveway ornament? Yard art??

 

[4shorts]

I like the french bread Idea. They don't sell it around here because no one speaks french

The tractor looks clean because it's new. well it will actually only be used for snow clearing and may never see a dirt road. I attached a picture of my old 1993 GMC truck that was taken a few months ago. that truck has plowed snow every winter for 13 years and is in perfect condition with the orginal paint so I tend to keep everything clean and maintained.

The front fenders are mounted to the steering knuckle and turn when the wheels turn. I think it was a nice thought for Kubota to add them. Enjoyed the comments guys. Thanks!


PS. The Kioti decal was added for a bit of fun. I almost purchased a Kioti but the Kubota won out.