Extra step - knee helper

[wolc123]

I’ve been having some knee issues since my 1951 Ford 8n broke down in mid-May. My only other 3-point hitch tractor (John Deere 4120) has a much higher operators platform. I always did most of the smaller jobs, that required lots of getting on and off, with that old Ford. I am not going to have time to get that old Ford fixed until winter.


To save my knee, I made up a 9” step extension for the John Deere. After a couple days of usage, my knee is already feeling much better.

I was a little worried about loss of ground clearance but no trouble there so far. A neighbor kid got his ATV stuck in a deep ditch behind his house last night and I had to drive thru some deep mud to get to it. No issues going thru that mud or ditches with the new step.

The step extension took me about an hour to make, from steel that I found on my scrap pile, and about (5) 1/8” 6011 welding rods.

 

[LouNY]

I’ve been having some knee issues since my 1951 Ford 8n broke down in mid-May. My only other 3-point hitch tractor (John Deere 4120) has a much higher operators platform. I always did most of the smaller jobs, that required lots of getting on and off, with that old Ford. I am not going to have time to get that old Ford fixed until winter.


To save my knee, I made up a 9” step extension for the John Deere. After a couple days of usage, my knee is already feeling much better.

I was a little worried about loss of ground clearance but no trouble there so far. A neighbor kid got his ATV stuck in a deep ditch behind his house last night and I had to drive thru some deep mud to get to it. No issues going thru that mud or ditches with the new step.

The step extension took me about an hour to make, from steel that I found on my scrap pile, and about (5) 1/8” 6011 welding rods.


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It looks real low but as long as it works for you.
I'd be tempted to either run some weld beads or drill and tap it and run some short bolts up for studs to give some traction for when that gets wet, muddy or snow covered.

 

[redman135]

I think that the step being so low will catch on the ground sooner or later and bend or rip the upper step off.
I saw an idea that my solve the clearance problem.
The guy used a timing type chain (bend front/back but not sideways) to make a step that would swing back when it hit the ground or other obstruction, but NOT dive under the tractor when you step on it. It was a 1 piece chain design with a flat bar on the bottom for your foot.

 

[wolc123]

It looks real low but as long as it works for you.
I'd be tempted to either run some weld beads or drill and tap it and run some short bolts up for studs to give some traction for when that gets wet, muddy or snow covered.

I thought it looked kind of low too, but no issues in the mud or ditches last night. Good idea on the weld breads. That’s my main snowplowing tractor so those will come in handy this winter for sure. If my knee heals up my then, I might take it off for the winter.

It really is amazing how much more comfortable that makes getting on and off that tractor. Maybe I won’t even bother fixing the old Ford. The Deere is now easier to get in and off of, than that is.

 

[wolc123]

I think that the step being so low will catch on the ground sooner or later and bend or rip the upper step off.
I saw an idea that my solve the clearance problem.
The guy used a timing type chain (bend front/back but not sideways) to make a step that would swing back when it hit the ground or other obstruction, but NOT dive under the tractor when you step on it. It was a 1 piece chain design with a flat bar on the bottom for your foot.

I suppose I could replace the (2) 3/8” grade 5 attachment bolts with 1/4” and fender washers. That way they would shear off before the factory step would get damaged. Seeing as how the step is lined right up with the tires on that side, I don’t think that will be a big concern.

Also, this might just be a temporary thing until my knee heels up and/or I get the old Ford repaired. The hour that I put into it is already worth it, from how much better my knee feels, right now.

 

[CalG]

I keep my eye out for some cast off 1 inch diameter wire rope.

I've seen some sturdy steps made from the stuff.

 

[oosik]

That step is low. I have a single step on my Kubota. Like the OEM step on your JD. Until you can figure out a "swinging" alternate or your knee gets better - just have to be very careful.

 

[bigtiller]

I did the same thing with my 3039r for the same reason.

Deere offers an optional second step and mount for the new 4 series but not the 3 series so I bought just the step and made my own mount. I made it weak so it would be the first thing to bend.

 

[Williy]

wolc123 glad you have a new step and your knee is getting better.
What happened to your knee?

willy

 

[wolc123]

wolc123 glad you have a new step and your knee is getting better.
What happened to your knee?

willy

I first injured it in a bad snowmobile accident 34 years ago. Tore a tendon or something. Dr said it probably wouldn’t bother me much unless I played professional basketball. It’s acted up a few times thru the years but this last stretch has been the worst.

It started in mid May, when my Ford 8n broke down. The much higher step down from my John Deere seems to be the primary cause of my current problem. That knee already feels a lot better, after just a couple days with that new step on the tractor.