Another old guy step

[kubotajoe]

The 21" high step to the platform on my Kubota B7500 was getting to be too much for my old bones. Seeing the thread on mfrost's old guy step inspired me to finish the one I had started.
I began by making detailed dimensioned sketches of the pieces I would need, then drew them in AutoCad. I printed them at exactly 1 to 1 scale and glued the paper patterns to 1/4" luan plywood. (pix 1) These patterns were cut out and fitted to the tractor and fine adjustments were made to my drawings. I then emailed the cad drawings to ACS Steel in Bixby, Oklahoma to have the parts cnc plasma cut from 3/8" steel plate. They advertise on eBay, do an eBay search for "steel plate cut to any shape". The actual step is made from a piece of antislip metal plank grating from McMaster-Carr, part number 64935T22. It is 5" wide by 1-1/2" high. I had to buy a 2 foot long piece and cut it to length. After welding on some angle brackets for mounting, I bolted it to the tractor to see how it would look before painting. (pix 2,3,&4) My step is completely mounted to the Woods BH6000 backhoe subframe, so no holes had to be drilled in the tractor.
Everything looked good, so off to the powder coater to turn them orange. (pix 5&6) The last 3 pix are of the step installed. I should have done this a long time ago!

 

[BlacknTan]

Very nice job indeed!

Your workmanship is flawless...

 

[Redneck_Randy]

WOW Really nice job. Looks factory.

 

[jwnge]

They are very nice, good job. I want to do something like that for my 2015. A few years ago I bought a new pickup. I took it to have the bed linexed and the guy suggested doing the hitch and side pipe steps. It worked great and looked good also. I am thinking about taking my footboards off and also making a step and having him spray both. I am thinking it would last a long time and never wear off like my paint has from dirt and grit.

 

[mfrost]

Great job kabotajoe! You'll have a hard time missing that step. Should make life alot easier and safer. Only problem I see is it's not green

 

[BTDT]

That looks factory to me. Nice job. Total cost? You might be able to put up a pic and a card at your tractor dealer (if he would let you), and sell those on consignment.

 

[Thomas]

You just might be on to something there Joe....sharp looking,thanks for sharing.

 

[WayneB]

Really nice Joe, now you will be up and on the B-7500 pushing snow (if we get enough to push) and be safe getting on and off.

Wayne
Dunbarton, NH

 

[kubotajoe]

Yep, we got about 3" of snow today, and the step worked perfectly. Thank you all for the kind words about my project.

 

[johnk]

Should put a patent on it and send a pic to Kubota.... You may be a very wealthy man..Nice Job.