Forest proofing m7040 w/cab

[carlhwv]

Hi all. First, I know we hashed over this a while ago. The posts I saved with photobucket pictures are a broken, so I’m starting from scratch again. I got got tractor back in MD and I’ve got a window until the snow starts flying to get some fab work completed. I’m not very good, but have a friend who makes gun ranges for a living and I’ve seen his work on the targets and I think it will translate. At the least, we have plenty of scrap to use. We are have a bay in the shop for a week. I’ll share what we do with the group so any help becomes public domain.... Going to start with a belly plate. If anyone has a working plan for a m7040, it would really help. Right now, my thought is to model it off the m8540 pan that I remember was shared by a couple guys a while back. I’m thinking 3-4 sections, bolted directly to points that already exist on the tractor. I want complete coverage underneath. If I remember the other design correctly, there was also a cage around the hydraulic filters. This is the area I where I have the most concern. If we get the pan done we may tackle the top. Thinking of modeling off a 4 post squarish roll cage with two bar running from the top front of the cab to the front of the tractor, but I’m having a hard time visualizing how to work around the loader, as I’d like to keep in in place for using the grapple.

I’m hoping to get some thoughts and pictures to give us a jump start. Ill buy the patterns, if you happen to have them........I’ll share back everything we do.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a lengthy thread on here of my skid plate build. Unfortunately I used photobucket and refuse to pay their ransom so now the pics are gone. I've got all my pics saved here so I can post them. First I'll see if there's some way to fix my thread by hosting the pics here on TBN. I'll get back to you on that.

As to a cage, couple of my friends here have added cages. One is on an open station. One is on a cab model. Hopefully they'll step in here with pics and ideas. I'll do some searching and see if I can find their stuff as well.

The skid plate is a bit** to design and fit. But worth the effort. I built mine after I put a huge dent in one of the hydraulic filters. Fortunately before I tore one off. I'm in the timber all the time.

 

[ovrszd]

Rustyiron (Eric) and TripleR (Larry) are the members that have cages you might want to look at. If you can't find any posts from them about it, PM them and alert them of this thread. They'll gladly help in any way they can.

 

[carlhwv]

I have a lengthy thread on here of my skid plate build. Unfortunately I used photobucket and refuse to pay their ransom so now the pics are gone. I've got all my pics saved here so I can post them. First I'll see if there's some way to fix my thread by hosting the pics here on TBN. I'll get back to you on that.

As to a cage, couple of my friends here have added cages. One is on an open station. One is on a cab model. Hopefully they'll step in here with pics and ideas. I'll do some searching and see if I can find their stuff as well.

The skid plate is a bit** to design and fit. But worth the effort. I built mine after I put a huge dent in one of the hydraulic filters. Fortunately before I tore one off. I'm in the timber all the time.

Thanks for jumping in. Your post was the one I was referring to where the links broke. Off topic, [/rant]but I hate when companies do things like photo bucket did...make the change moving forward...don’t hold people hostage by doing things like this retroactive. It happened on just about every board I’m on and from what I see not many people gave in. I hope they all left the service...[/rant]

I appreciate they help. I hope Josh is as good fabricating tractor parts as he is building indoor range systems. That, with the knowledge here, should equal a good outcome.

 

[ovrszd]

I dug up my old thread and looked for a way to update the pics. I can't find any way. There are some other member's on the thread that posted pics of some ideas you might want to look at. Here's a link to that thread if you haven't found it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/266010-m9540-belly-skid-plate-brush.html

I've got 28 pics of my skid plate in various stages of construction if you want them? I can post them here is thumbnail size so as not to "clog" up your thread. Let me know.

Regardless of direction, keep us updated on your progress. I've learned much more from threads on TBN than I've contributed.

 

[rustyshakelford]

I dug up my old thread and looked for a way to update the pics. I can't find any way. There are some other member's on the thread that posted pics of some ideas you might want to look at. Here's a link to that thread if you haven't found it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/266010-m9540-belly-skid-plate-brush.html

I've got 28 pics of my skid plate in various stages of construction if you want them? I can post them here is thumbnail size so as not to "clog" up your thread. Let me know.

Regardless of direction, keep us updated on your progress. I've learned much more from threads on TBN than I've contributed.

Go back to photobucket and save the pics to your computer. Then you can add them

Brett

 

[ovrszd]

Go back to photobucket and save the pics to your computer. Then you can add them

Brett

I have all of the photos. I would never only save my pics on a provider's site. I just find no way to replace the photobucket "locked" pics in the thread with ones hosted thru TBN. In other words, I can't edit the thread due to it's age I guess??

 

[carlhwv]

I have all of the photos. I would never only save my pics on a provider's site. I just find no way to replace the photobucket "locked" pics in the thread with ones hosted thru TBN. In other words, I can't edit the thread due to it's age I guess??

Thanks for digging these up. I think I can open a shard link for you to send them to me if that works for you. I’ll be at the computer this afternoon and will try and figure it out as those pictures will be invaluable to what we are trying to do.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks for digging these up. I think I can open a shard link for you to send them to me if that works for you. I’ll be at the computer this afternoon and will try and figure it out as those pictures will be invaluable to what we are trying to do.

Yep, I'll do whatever. In my foggy brain I was thinking a member could look at every photo a different member had ever posted on TBN but I can't seem to find that.

 

[carlhwv]

I think if we both had Dropbox or a Google Drive we could share them that way but it looks like email is probably the easiest way, if that works for you. I’m carlhwv at yahoo. 28 is too many pics to ask for, but if you could put together a few of the more important one that would be great.

 

[ovrszd]

I think if we both had Dropbox or a Google Drive we could share them that way but it looks like email is probably the easiest way, if that works for you. I’m carlhwv at yahoo. 28 is too many pics to ask for, but if you could put together a few of the more important one that would be great.

Headed your way.

 

[ovrszd]

While you exploring mods on your tractor maybe you can come up with something to prevent this problem.

Picture is of my original engine cooling fan "hub" above my replacement engine cooling fan. Sheared every blade with a sprout that I backed over......

 

[Rustyiron]

Like this

 

[Rustyiron]

It's seen some action since then.

I built quite a bit of supporting framework to support the weight of the tractor (sitting on the "pan" on a rock or stump) . I wanted to only use 1/4" for the pan (for reasonable removal & cleaning) and wanted to minimize ground clearance loss. IIRC this set up cost me 2.25" of clearance but the pans lower nicely with a floor jack, there are 3 pan sections.

 

[carlhwv]

It's seen some action since then.
View attachment 527050

I built quite a bit of supporting framework to support the weight of the tractor (sitting on the "pan" on a rock or stump) . I wanted to only use 1/4" for the pan (for reasonable removal & cleaning) and wanted to minimize ground clearance loss. IIRC this set up cost me 2.25" of clearance but the pans lower nicely with a floor jack, there are 3 pan sections.

View attachment 527051

I was looking forward to seeing how yours turned out. Did you weld your supports or were you able to use existing mount points and bolts? Still have the farm in Wolfsville?

 

[Rustyiron]

I was looking forward to seeing how yours turned out. Did you weld your supports or were you able to use existing mount points and bolts? Still have the farm in Wolfsville?

Hey Carl! Yes, still renting it out. No welding to the tractor, I used existing holes in the trans & I quess what would be called the bell housing area and the loader mounting points for the engine pan. I have a ton of pics if you'd like them. I'm not much on a computer and wish I could mark up a pic for explanation. The majority of the "frame" is 2x2 5/16 sq tube with a heavy angle @ the front (where the 45* bend in the plate is) I guarded the plastic fuel tank from the bottom with the plate and the side with a junk plastic p/u bed liner and incorporated a big enough step for some one to hitch a ride on. The hyd filters got guarded along with the loader "plumbing" and it involves a decent saw holder and space for bar oil and mix- a toolbox.

 

[carlhwv]

Same cast of usual characters.... Got the road into the TN property and I’m going to start pulling a few logs out so need to get the bottom taken care of before I lose it. I’ll take all the pics you want to send. Still not set on the design...it will probably be a game time decision. Good news is we have some good scrap materials from multiple shooting range builds. We need all the help we can get on the design though. If we get done the bottom and still have the bay in the shop open might tackle some protection for the cab. I’m sure with the exposure I have there I’ll break some glass for sure. In the market for a good used logging winch but we know those never come available....still if anyone comes across one please let me know. I’ll end up getting one in the March/April timeframe.

 

[carlhwv]

I owed a few pictures from the build.

 

[carlhwv]

This was before we started. I’m the fat guy with outstretched arms. There is an after picture of the one looking up the hill with the road running through. We’ve got 102 poplars like the one in the picture that are going to fund the timber frame we want to rise. All in steps.

 

[The Fred]

Have you considered roof protection?

Although you have rollover protection the fact is you have no protection for limbs coming through the center of the roof.

Regards, Fred