Installing a new accessory outlet

[4shorts]

These days it seems there's never enough accessory outlets in the vehicle we drive and my Kubota was no different. I found a really nicely designed accessory outlet at my local Canadian tire store and decided to install it. The new outlet is all plastic with a waterproof door on it not that I'll need it like that because I have the cab model but It would be a nice item for the non cab models as well.

The tractors accessory out that came with the machine was towards the back near the cup holder and kind of out of the way so I installed the new one up front.

I removed the shroud around the cluster and to my surprise I found a factory plug coming from the ignition switch that was fused and to add to the fun, Kubota left the empty male part of the plug there so all I had to do is get the right solderless connectors and install them in the factory plug. Here's how it went. I thought I would post this just in case someone else had the same idea. All I need to do now is install the back up camera and plug it in to the new accessory plug.

 

[4shorts]

Some more photo's

 

[Ductape]

Looks good. I had looked at 12v accessory outlets at a couple of my local auto parts stores, but everything they had on the shelf looked to be made for the import car crowd (read: "tacky"). Since i don't want blue LEDs lit up around my accessory plug, i haven't bothered to install one yet. Lately, i haven't been in the tractor long enough to worry about plugging in my cell phone, but the snow is coming.

 

[emmy71]

A boat dealer or somewhere like Bass Pro Shops has marine grade outlets that don't look cheap.

Terry

 

[johnk]

Some more photo's

Nice clean job. Thanks for the pics..

 

[Riptide23]

A boat dealer or somewhere like Bass Pro Shops has marine grade outlets that don't look cheap.

Terry

Roger that. I just put in a Marinco 12v plug on my BX23, that you can get at any West Marine. The cool thing, besides the good construction, is that you can get it as a set with their matching male plug that can be used with any 12v accessory. Used together, they make a water-resistant connection.

I plan mainly to use it with my battery tender, to keep may battery charged during the winter...

Sealink 12V Plug & Receptacle | Marinco

 

[emmy71]

Here is where I installed one on my 3400. I have a hook over to the side of the ROPS where I hang my phone and a radio and I run the cord over to the outlet. I used one of the cheap auto ones since it is out of the weather.

Terry

 

[MarkV]

So 4shorts, how is the new tractor working for snow? I know that is what you bought it for and surely you have had some up your way by now.

MarkV

 

[4shorts]

So 4shorts, how is the new tractor working for snow? I know that is what you bought it for and surely you have had some up your way by now.

MarkV

Mark it was only this morning we had our first snow and it was only a sprinkle of the stuff but I still had to go out and plow it so the tractor made it's first coin this morning.

The blade that I modified for the tractor worked perfectly but then again we only had three inches of the white stuff but it gave me a feel for the tractor. The heat was great in the cab, actually warmer than I wanted it so I turned it down after five minutes. The HST is out of this world for plowing. Just really enjoyed it. I have a long history of operating heavy equipment so I kind of knew what to expect from the little tractor and it exceeded that.

About the only thing that really bugged me and I know I'm being picky was the front wiper. There was just enough snow falling that you needed the wiper on but not enough to justify having it on all the time and as the windshield went dry the wiper would start that junking noise. I wish Kubota had put an intermittent switch on the wiper. I'll be doing that this week along with installing a back up monitor. All in all I'm happy to have had the opportunity to try it but I'm looking forward to seeing more snow to give it a real test Thanks for asking