Canopy Project

[schmism]

so like many ive wanted to add a canopee for a while now.... Along the way i saw someone mention the idea of getting a busted golf cart top from a golf cart place.... So i went on a golf cart place hunt....

Turns out theres one on an outer road on my way to work, back in a corner, hard to get to, and you could see the gave yard of carts in the back... perfect i thought....

SO i stoped in the other day, he just happens to have a top of the line top he ripped off a cart the other day while trying to pull it in the garage. He said he can bring it in tomarrow and i can have it for $10 if i want

so fri with $10 in my hand i get my new canopy project


Ill drop it buy the local off-road shop with the guys i know and have them bend a loop of tube to follow the last rib, (were the stock mounts used to be) then ill fab some brackets to attach the top to the tube, and a couple of backets to bolt it to the ROPS.



the list of addtional items to be mounted up top from the same support tube.

2 lights faceing forward
1 light faceing rearward
2m ham radio and antena
control pannel with rocker switches for lights and misc other stuff
car radio and external weatherpoof speakers for music on the go

Id like to get the canopy mounted in the comming weeks but the list of upgrades probibly wont get finished till this winter.... (lots of other projects to work on also you know )

 

[schmism]

oh forgot to mention, im open to idea for patching the holes.... i could go the cheep and dirty route and just pop rivet some sheet metal over the holes on the top, or i could go first class and fiberglass cloth/bondo to fix it so you can tell it was ever broke....

suggestions? (remember its just cosmetic/keep the rain out at this point, with my mount system i wont need those areas as mount points)

 

[Defective]

What's the canopy made from? If it's fiberglass, repair it with fiberglass. May as well do it right...

 

[schmism]

not fiberglass.... doesnt have that "busted fiberglass" look.

looks like one HUGE injection molded top. "hard plastic" is the best i can do.

 

[Defective]

That makes it a bit more difficult to figure out the "proper" repair...

If you can find out what it's actually made from, somebody around here probably has some ideas...

After all, this thing is now part of your tractor. May as well fix it the right way if you can. If just for your own pride.

 

[kwolfe]

You could get an old plastic trash can and cut out some rectangle pieces from it. Use some good expoy to hold it fast, covering the whole. Once you slap a good coat of blue paint on it, you will never notice it. Cheap, easy and fast makes a good combo .

 

[Toiyabe]

Patch the holes with carbon fiber, and put a wing on the top. Use one of your rear remotes to adjust the wing angle. Make sure you tie the wing into the ROPS to handle the downforce.

 

[dbdartman]

Steve,

moparts: Grill repair glue?

The link above may be of some help, or offer some ideas.

 

[Willl]

Cut on red line.

 

[Defective]

Brilliant!!!

A little cutting...A little sanding...A little blue paint...

Bet nobody ever figures out it didn't come from the factory.

 

[schmism]

Cut on red line.

thats the general shape (and location) of the tube im having fabed up.

 

[silverdollar6]

I don`t think that I would like that board in front. Maybe if you painted it.

 

[Defective]

Here's another idea...

Carefully cut the two holes to matching shapes.

Then you can tell everybody they're supposed to be there. If they ask why, stare at them like they've lost their minds & mutter something about lack of education.

 

[BTDT]

As Defective said, cut them to matching shapes, then silicone/liquid nails a couple pieces of plexiglas with a tint over the holes (think sunroof/skylight). Pretty good find for 10 bucks. For 25 you probably could have got one without holes.

 

[weldingisfun]

I hope you post a picture of your final fix. Lookin' good!

 

[zzvyb6]

Before you modify it, consider putting some rear lights and speakers in the front or whatever combination works best. There are lots of kits that fill these needs. I suspect that what the holes were originally for.

 

[VABlue]

It's an old golf cart top, the holes are hand holds. Pretty much every cart has them. And that's a darned fine idea there!

 

[Defective]

um...nope...wouldn't stick MY hand in there...them broken edges can be sharp...

Take a closer look at the pictures & the text in the first post.

 

[hitekcountry]

You were planning to mount a couple of lights on the front anyway so take advantage of the openings that are already there and figure out a design that makes good use of the head start you’ve been given.

 

[VABlue]

Good point, Defective, a closer look was needed! A lot of carts do have hand holds in that location, but they are rounded off. Maybe someone tried to make their own? Anyway, its a good spot to hang lights from (and file down to a soft, rounded edge).