Kubota TLB cab project

[Jchonline]

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He just sent me pictures...Looks Good!! Now for heat!

How does it attach/remove? Is it just a friction fit with the buttons? Also do you mind providing a ballpark cost if you haven’t already?

I like it!

 

[Yamforlife]

How does it attach/remove? Is it just a friction fit with the buttons? Also do you mind providing a ballpark cost if you haven稚 already?

I like it!

It attaches just like a boat cover - you can take it on or off. He charged me 2186.00 CDN dollars so about 1700 US. Not sure if the cab for the M59 and M62 are the same? I really like the open cab in the summer so it has to completely come off.

 

[rScotty]

There's no backhoe on my tractor, but I can offer some thoughts on cabs in general. My homebrew cab from 6 years ago cost me around $1,200 and a lot more time than I thought it would. It is all steel and tinted automotive safety glass except for the Lexan below the windshield (an area where it was too difficult to get glass to fit). The plastic strips used below the windshield in the original build became discolored. Lexan can be scratched, but so far has stayed clear and looks good after a few years.

The cab is made in sections that can be removed and the doors are on pins so they are on or off in a minute. The whole cab was taken off the first Summer, but not since. I'd like A/C for hot weather, but for now I just lift the doors off and run a fan. That's more comfortable than sitting in the sun.

The heater is plumbed into the engine coolant and has more than enough capacity for the coldest days.

That looks like a nice project. Probably most of us have had the occasional fantasy about building a cab - or at least part of one.
So after 6 years of use, I'm curious what you would do differently & how it compares to other makes of hard cabs?
If you have time, we'd lall ike to hear more about it & see some pictures.
rScotty

 

[chim]

......................So after 6 years of use, I'm curious what you would do differently & how it compares to other makes of hard cabs?
If you have time, we'd lall ike to hear more about it & see some pictures.
rScotty

It might be easier to understand a couple of the comments below if you look at the original build thread shown at the bottom of this post. I'm not sure how it compares with the aftermarket cabs. I haven't seen many except for brochures.

As far as the actual construction of the cab, there's not much I haven't been happy with. The goal was to make it roomy, sturdy and have a shape that was more interesting than a clear cube. You can see in the one picture that the cab is wider than the fenders at the bottom. Although the shape did add to the complexity of swinging the doors, it was worth it to me.

There are lots of homemade cabs on the internet for reference and I must mention "Roy Gage Life on Highway 9" as the one that inspired me the most. People here on TBN were quick to jump in with helpful comments as well.

I would have spent the $70-something for the Lexan below the windshield when I built it, rather than wait for the plastic strips to yellow and get ugly.

The speckled paint that appeared to be a problem really hasn't been an issue. I guess when it was allowed to cure thoroughly (kept putting off dealing with it) it is holding up well. This is one time when laziness paid off. I've gently washed the inside of the cab a few times and the speckled paint hasn't washed off.

After stumbling onto CurlyDave's post about having heater hoses burst in the cab, I re-plumbed the heater with copper that extends out of the cab. The comment on skin grafts created a powerful image. It's a much neater install now and the valves are under the hood.

Not so much cab construction, but exterior cab lighting is now all LED. Work lights face all four directions. LED flashers on all 4 sides because I travel about 1.5 miles to clear snow at our church. The pictures below show the different lighting and the Lexan around the hood.

This thread has all the details of the build if you find yourself with a lot of time to kill:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/263920-diy-cab-finally-decided-time.html

 

[mike69440]

I have a M59 - I am having a boat cover company fabricate a Cab. He is going to use a Auto Glass Wind Shield and the rest will be high quality boat canvas and vinyl windows. i just need to come up with a heat solution. Just purchased a HLA 3000 Hydraulic snow blade for the FEL. 1 Km driveway to keep clear. I will post pictures when it is done later in October.

Just having an unheated cab makes a huge difference, as you are out of the wind and weather.

After an hour or so you get some heat from the engine and hydraulics.

 

[Yamforlife]

Just having an unheated cab makes a huge difference, as you are out of the wind and weather.

After an hour or so you get some heat from the engine and hydraulics.

I have already noticed that! it actually warmed up enough to strip down to a sweatshirt last week ...Mind you it was only -2C. But just staying out of the wind makes a big difference! Plumbing in a heater this weekend. Installed chains a spacers last weekend........Chains are fun.....Not!!

Love the L39 great tractor!!

 

[Yamforlife]

Heater is installed....Piece of cake to install. Works really well and i am very pleased. Also installed some LED's up front, what a difference. Bring on the snow!!!

 

[Jchonline]

Can you post links to the heater you purchased, a few pics of the install if you get a chance?

Also interested in the lights you chose, how you wired them in.

Oh do you plan to remove the canvas cover in the summer months? Any idea how long it will take you to add it and take it off? I love this idea.

 

[RjCorazza]

I had vinyl sides, rear and regular auto motive glass for the front,

That helicopter picture is cool anyway... We had a hot air ballon land in our field in front of the house once, but never a helo!

 

[Yamforlife]

Princes Auto SKU 424003 heater 13,500 BTU
Princes Auto SKU 8003273 Switch
6 feet 5/8 heater hose - you can get that anywhere
Laurin Heater fittings (2) Hex Nipple Pipe 5/8 X 3/8 NPT code 156150000
Laurin Water control Valve for heater code 157800000
Need a short 3/8 elbow to connect The water control vale by the thermostat - Napa auto parts.

Lights Princes Auto SKU 8694796 4X5 Square LED Work Light (take off your stock lights and Brackets these with thread right in to the stock brass inserts in the Canopy )

Everything comes off in the summer except the windshield - the heater can be shut down at the thermostat - 2 min to unbutton the doors etc.

Can you post links to the heater you purchased, a few pics of the install if you get a chance?

Also interested in the lights you chose, how you wired them in.

Oh do you plan to remove the canvas cover in the summer months? Any idea how long it will take you to add it and take it off? I love this idea.