Re: Use universal \"suitcase\" weights on Kubota
Now that it is "loader" season, I have removed the weights and installed my FEL. All I have to do is to pull one of the lynch pins, remove the bar holding the weights in place, remove the weights, and then install the FEL. It (grill guard and weight holder) never has to be removed. Everything clears with my suitcase weight bracket in place. I simply keep a can of Kubota Orange paint handy, because when I take the weights off the paint is always worn off where they rubbed the steel bracket. It is not a requirement, but I like to keep it looking like new with no places to rust.
I think it was in another thread that I mentioned a funny story about my weight bracket. With my luck being like it is, I managed to blow the valves that operate my FEL, so my 5030 is currently at the dealership for repairs under warranty. Again, just my luck, it is a part that "rarely" breaks and nobody stocks it. I'm waiting for the part from Kubota. Anyway, a Kubota rep dropped by the dealership to see about my tractor. The dealer got a good laugh when the Kubota rep commented "it's about time we (Kubota) made it where the customer doesn't have to unbolt and take off the grill guard to put on the front weights". /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif My dealer informed him that it wasn't a Kubota item, and he seemed confused because he knew that the grill guard just had to be Kubota.
Apparently the dealer ran the FEL through all of it's movement cycles to show the rep where it does not interfere with any of the FEL movements and there is adequate clearance. I wonder if it may begin to appear on Kubota's in the future?? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The rep commented that the suitcase weight holder was so simple that he couldn't believe Kubota hadn't come up with something better than their current way; remove the grill guard and then install the weight holder. It really is a simple design and it is very functional. How Kubota missed designing it, I'll never know.
Thank you for your kind comments. Not all of my "shop inventions" turn out quite as intended in form and function, but this one seems to work just fine for me. And, as I think I stated earlier, feel free to copy the design. (this one really does work /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
One funny observation; I admit that I was slightly embarrassed when the dealer asked me what I used for the rod to hold the weights on. You see, it needed to be hardened to keep it's diameter small, since I didn't originally think to leave room for the keeper rod. Yes, I forgot all about that need. What did I use? Part of the jack handle off of the factory jack in a 1993 Dodge Dakota. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Hey, I used a chop saw to cut it to length, and a carbide bit to drill the holes in it for the small keeper clips, but it fit just fine. I didn't tell them that I was an after thought because I was too dumb to incorporate a keeper rod in my original design. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif