If I were a JD engineer, I would......

[XSKIER]

I think JD "nailed" the cup holder on the all new one-thousand series. It is two stage and about 8" deep. You'd have to lay the tractor on its side to loose your drink. I do have to keep an adjustable wrench on board for top link adjustments though.

 

[soulasphil]

Excellent idea, my 3520 needs a wrench for the nut blocking the adjustment. The wrench fits in the fender box but takes up too much of the very limited space.

 

[dusty3030]

I've got a 4120. I bush hogged one of my favorite mossy oak beer coozies when my Yuengling flopped out. Recovered it but the elastic lost its springiness.

 

[buck12]

Here is my Mahindra water bottle holder. I use the tractor in rough stuff and have yet to loose a water bottle.

 

[JimRB]

Yes, I'm serious. I use my tractor....I dont just mow lawns or wash the tractor. I realize I can find solutions....but I got other fish to fry. "Little" stuff like losing my water bottle is annoying.

Yesterday I put ten hours on my clock tilling about ten acres.....and it was warm and dusty work. I keep a small refrigerator at my shed with bottled water and lose em all too easy. My land is ROUGH. I really dont want to re-engineer this little stuff....or buy a different solution. A deeper pocket or better retention would solve things. I suppose I will look for a hanging water bottle when time (or memory) permits. :laughing:

Regarding the top link....I have two "U" shaped rods welded to either side of my top link....but what about the jamb nut? Still takes a wrench on mine...and usually some kind of bar thru the loops on the top link.

Yesterday I had two crow bars, a 5 lb hammer, a loper, a big crecent wrench, and assorted cutters and pliers bunge corded to my tiller - for field maintenance while tilling new land. Hard to easilly stow this needed stuff.

I had to walk out in the rain to see if my top link has a jamb nut. It does. I have not used that jamb nut in 13 years. Granted I do not use my tractor for 10 hours a day but I have used a Shaver post driver, brush cutter, finish mover, pulverizer and scrap blade but not used the jamb nut. The post driver and scrape blade certainly shake things enough but no need for the jamb nut.

Some folks that have metal fenders bolt a real metal toolbox on top of the fender to hold stuff. I am rarely far from my garage so that is not a big issue. Carrying the loppers or chainsaw is annoying though and I can see your frustration. JD will sell you that toolbox on the fender operation for $49.99. Naw, it would be $79.99 for JD. Green paint costs.

I place my water bottle between the seat and the left corner behind the seat. A reused two liter soda bottle seems to fit fairly well. I can sometimes place some tools back behind the seat. Maybe that would be a good place for a toolbox but maybe that area disappears if you have a 75" tall operator. I am only 70" tall so my seat is not the whole way back. No cup holders on my 1986 model 870.

 

[pacerron]

Regarding the top link....I have two "U" shaped rods welded to either side of my top link....but what about the jamb nut? Still takes a wrench on mine...and usually some kind of bar thru the loops on the top link.

Yesterday I had two crow bars, a 5 lb hammer, a loper, a big crecent wrench, and assorted cutters and pliers bunge corded to my tiller - for field maintenance while tilling new land. Hard to easilly stow this needed stuff.

I'm not familiar with category 1 hitches but you should be able to get a top link with a lever lock built in such as in Cat 2 and Cat 3. Perhaps a Cat 2 link would fit lengthwise and you could put Cat 1 balls in the ends. Messing with a lock nut is crazy. Tractors are always lacking in places for extra tools no matter what size, but strapping your tools to the tiller is a good way to lose them or cause serious damage to the tiller if they fall off and the tines get a hold of them. If your going to carry your tools on your tiller why not build a tool box to bolt on the tiller?

 

[RoyJackson]

Regarding the top link....I have two "U" shaped rods welded to either side of my top link....but what about the jamb nut? Still takes a wrench on mine...and usually some kind of bar thru the loops on the top link.

Yesterday I had two crow bars, a 5 lb hammer, a loper, a big crecent wrench, and assorted cutters and pliers bunge corded to my tiller - for field maintenance while tilling new land. Hard to easilly stow this needed stuff.

I just use the welded rods to jam the top link barrel against the nut...no wrench. I've never had it loosen on me.As far as your tools, can't you just use the loader bucket for the longer ones and the tool compartment (on the left fender) for the wrench and other smaller tools?As far as modifying...the best I've seen is guys welding boxes to their Quick Hitch sides. That seems to work quite well.
BTW, anyone else experiencing formatting problems when responding to threads?

 

[BelarusBulldog]

I use a carpenters tool pouch for extra storage on my CUT. Site won't let me post picture or add Smiles today?

 

[pjbci]

If I were a JD engineer I would stop putting plastic parts in the drive lines, transmissions, and engines.....Fuel tanks and fenders too.

 

[SPYDERLK]

....Make a bottle / cup holder that could retain a standard bottle of water or coffee mug when operating over rough ground.

I must have lost at least 20 bottles of water and several coffee mugs because the blasted fender holder / pocket is not deep enough or sized correctly to hold standard mugs and bottles when I am working on my land. Today I lost three. A deeper pocket would help ALLOT. It aint rocket surgery.

How about a QD holder on the ROPS that could hold a 12" crecent wrench so I can easily adjust my top link. It's impossible to carry a big wrench in the fender box.

How about a few more tips for JD engineers to improve upon?

Copy a good auto cup holder. ... Self storing tool.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/149267-whats-you-most-useful-cheap-2.html#post1735896
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