BX Canopy&heater

[Anonymous Poster]

Has anyone made there own soft or hard side canopy. I've been looking at my bx and I don't think it would be that hard to do. If you utilize the rops all one would have to do is make a frame for the front, some heavy viynal (sp?) seat fabric, add a roof and some snaps, old sleeping bag zipper for the door and wala! We have some copiers at the junk copiers that are water cooled, I could take the radiators and stack them up, add a fan and add heat! I was even thinking of 1/2 plexiglass for front and rear windows, hit the junk yard and get a rear wiper out of a compact car..bug, rabbit honda or something. Any thoughts, comments ideas welcome!

 

[Fly_Rodr]

As far as the canopy is concerned I've had boat canvass fabricators make up all kinds of things during my boating years with clear plastic windows at reasonable prices. You make want to check with one and work out something.

 

[stovepoker]

Sounds like a great project. Up my way boat canvas people
are terribly expensive, but they do seem to have the right
kinds of materials and equipment on hand. I don't think I'd
use plexiglass though, especially something as thick as 1/2",
because it eventually will scratch up and you'll spend a fortune
for this stuff. I'd opt for the 1/8" Lexan sheet sold by
hardware stores for shatterproof screeen door window replacement. If you're serious about using windshield wipers,
forget using any kind of plastic. Go for shatterproof automotive glass. I'd even talk to the windshield replacement
guys who seem to be able to find any size & shape. The
frame could be made of Unistrut, electrical conduit,
welded/bolted teel angle/pipe/tube, or even wood. I built
a really nice canopy for my '35 Moline using White Ash.
Also forget the zippers. Nothing but trouble. Use snap
fasteners or good old Velcro

 

[Anonymous Poster]

1/2 inch....what was i thinking! The lexan stuff is actually what I had in mind. As for the canvas I could use that too. You see...actually I'm pretty good with a sewing machine.( Now don't laugh) I've done several projects, my last was a new seat cover for my arctic cat zr 580. The kid I got it from had it done in custom graphics and orange paint, but the seat was cat green...looked like hell. Amazingly I found extra heavy seat fabric in alomst the exact color. Now it looks great! So you see stiching up the canopy is no big deal. I did an old cat and used snaps on that, very easy to do. I thought for the sides I could make like a big pocket to hold the lexan for the windows, add a velco closeure on the inside of the cab, if the get scratched (most definatly will!) pull it out and change it 1,2,3.

 

[stovepoker]

Yep, I like the idea of easily changed glass. And the pockets
for the side curtains are a great idea. Not having an industrial
sewing machine available, I naturally opt for other fastening
systems. The fabric used for boat canvas is much more
durable than upholstery material and the price reflects it.
I manufacture a Teflon/fiberglass architectural fabric, similar
to what is used on the Houston Astrodome, etc so that would
be the material of my choice. I also do business with Nationwide Tarps, who can supply some really nice materials,
and even fabricated assemblies, per your drawing, for surprisingly cheap prices. One material that comes to mind is an 18 mil reinforced vinyl sheet that is used for dump truck
load tarps. I've had some of this in service for over 10
years with no sign of degradation. This type of material
can also be bonded with adhesives, heat sealed, etc.

This thread has inspired me to build a new soft cab for my Satoh S650!!!! I'll use the pocket storage idea plus Velcro-fastened bug screens wherever there is glass. I use this tractor in the woods, and up here the black flies will reduce you to hamburger faster than you can say "heavens to mergatroid".