That is a very nice looking B26 Lopez69. I enjoyed mine for the three years I had it and almost put a Laurin cab on it but in the end opted to upgrade to an L45 and put the Laurin cab on that machine instead. After five years I can tell you the extra money I spent for the cab is well worth it as I have done a lot more cold weather work which I wouldn't have done without the heat. I went an extra step and added A/C through a third party on top of the roof and really like that down here in the Toronto area.
A few tips I will give you on the Laurin cab:
1) Be careful with the backhoe swing if you open the rear window all the way. On the L45 if you swing the hoe all the way to the left or right and then lift it will hit the rear window if it is open all the way. This will result in broken hinges and yes the voice of experience is talking here. That is why there is that little metal piece with the slot in it at the bottom of the rear window opening - open the rear window half way and use that to hold the glass and then the hoe won't hit it.
2) I found it a pain to remove the rear window from the backhoe enclosure and transfer it to rear of the cab for winter when I add my rear mount snowblower. I went to a glass place and had them cut me a piece of polycarbonate plastic to use as a rear window for the winter. Order two extra hinges and the rubber gasket to put around the plastic window from Laurin and you are all set for the winter. The factory tempered glass is very heavy and trying to remove it and reinstall it on your own is very difficult and time consuming.
3) As you point out it is a little tight in the Laurin cab and I found it almost impossible to use the pedal for the hydraulic thumb as it ships from the factory. I always leave the pedal down so I added a thick piece of plastic to the rear of the pedal so it would be easier for me to push it with my boots on. If you search on L45 and posts from me you will find photos of this modification I made for reference.
The B26 is a great machine and I am sure you will enjoy many warm winters in your Laurin cab. Nothing beats clearing snow in shirt sleeves in the middle of a raging blizzard.
Regards,
Lauren
A few tips I will give you on the Laurin cab:
1) Be careful with the backhoe swing if you open the rear window all the way. On the L45 if you swing the hoe all the way to the left or right and then lift it will hit the rear window if it is open all the way. This will result in broken hinges and yes the voice of experience is talking here. That is why there is that little metal piece with the slot in it at the bottom of the rear window opening - open the rear window half way and use that to hold the glass and then the hoe won't hit it.
2) I found it a pain to remove the rear window from the backhoe enclosure and transfer it to rear of the cab for winter when I add my rear mount snowblower. I went to a glass place and had them cut me a piece of polycarbonate plastic to use as a rear window for the winter. Order two extra hinges and the rubber gasket to put around the plastic window from Laurin and you are all set for the winter. The factory tempered glass is very heavy and trying to remove it and reinstall it on your own is very difficult and time consuming.
3) As you point out it is a little tight in the Laurin cab and I found it almost impossible to use the pedal for the hydraulic thumb as it ships from the factory. I always leave the pedal down so I added a thick piece of plastic to the rear of the pedal so it would be easier for me to push it with my boots on. If you search on L45 and posts from me you will find photos of this modification I made for reference.
The B26 is a great machine and I am sure you will enjoy many warm winters in your Laurin cab. Nothing beats clearing snow in shirt sleeves in the middle of a raging blizzard.
Regards,
Lauren
