keeping windshield clear question - curtis cab

[newhorseguy]

guys,

I've been lurking on this site for the last 4 months. Its a great sight and the information here greatly aided to my decision to purchase last month a John Deere 2305 w/ FEL, 54" MMM and 47" snow blower after my wife and I purchased a 6+ acres horse/hobby farm west of Minneapolis Since I'm in Minnesota, I elected to get a soft sided Curtis Cab along with the tractor.

This weekend the Twin Cities is getting hit with 6-12" of snow. And since haven't had the fun (err work) or running my 2305 in the snow I didn't wait for the snow to stop flying before trying out the blower.

The first thing I noticed is the windshield wiper keeps falling off! The wiper arm just isn't holding on the the wipers motor attachment point. Has any one got a quick fix to keep the wiper arm attached?

The second thing I noticed is that the windshield keeps fogging up. I didn't get a cab heater for the tractor. Short of ordering a cab heater does any one have any good ideas to keep the windshield clear?

I did a search before posting this but haven't found anything. If these questions have already been answered I'd appreciate it if someone would point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

 

[diyDave]

Welcome to the site! As to question# 1, get us a picture posted of the offending mechanism, and I and others can give you a better specific solution, but generically speaking, I have done this repair on wipers that have fallen off before: I assume the wiper arm is sliding off the spline, at the point where it attaches to the motor, so I would drill a hole in the end of the arm, thread it, and install a set screw, and loctite everything together for good measure. If the arm is too thin for a set screw to be threaded in, just drill a hole a little bigger than the set screw, and weld an appropriately sized nut to the arm, and locktite, as above. As to your heating problem, I have the perfect solution: Buy yourself a Coleman catalytic propane heater, and rig a holder for it that holds it securely, in a location in the cab that you are not likely to hit it with your face or hands, in the event of a sudden stop. I made a setup for an old air cooled army truck, out of a piece of gas main pipe, a rubber pipe repair bushing, and a hose clamp to hold it securely. Walmart has the heater for about $50.00. One other safety note-The heater has a low oxygen shutoff, but you should crack a window a little for ventilation.

 

[MrJimi]

I think the Rain-X company makes a product that may help you.
Jim

 

[jdgreg]

I wired up a small ceramic fan/heater on the right cab support post. I can move it to point towards the w/s or towards me. I works extremely well in keeping the cab warm, and the w/s fog free. Here's a pic:

Here's where I think I ordered it, this is similar to mine, which I dont think is offered anymore.
12-Volt 150 watt Ceramic Heater/Defroster

Regarding your wiper falling off, are you sure you have it pressed down all the way onto the shaft? Mine fits very tightly.

 

[Rara Avis]

If you are a smoker...
Don't smoke in your cab and don't enter your cab for 15 minutes after you have a cigarette...otherwise keep a good supply of glass cleaner on hand to clean the film off...

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

New,

I would ask the dealer to repair the wiper since it is still under warranty.

Heater, the propane unit is a great idea, before you add an electric ceramic heater make sure u have enough amps to run it. They can suck up a lot of power and drain your battery. If u go with the propane heater add a fan to blow air across the windshield.

I installed a heater off the engine, if I had to do it again I think I would have gone with the set up above. The heater stays on the tractor year round since it is connected into the engine. The rest of the cab comes of in the summer. Here is thread I did last fall on how I get my BX ready for winter.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/91339-getting-bx-ready-winter.html I did not do it yet for 2007 and what do we have today SNOW! Yesterday the weatherman said no accumulation, today 3-4" of the white stuff GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Are you going to take the cab off in the summer?

 

[newhorseguy]

Guys

Thanks for all the reply's.

I don't smoke so thats not an issue, but now that I think about it this weekend was the first time I've used the wiper. I tried repeatily to reattache it but without any luck. Even used a hammer and piece of wood to ensure it was snug. I'll give my dealer a call on monday about a replacement arm.

the rain-x idea is a good one for the short term, but I like what jdgreg has done with his heater. I also read some posts about guys wiring in a 12 volt cig lighter. I'm not overly electrically engineer inclined but what hccallihan did in work light - 12 volt thread doesn't look too complicated. If I can find more detailed how to instructions and a parts list or kit I think I'll give that and the heater a try.

If anyone ones knows of parts kit for a 12 volt connection or a thread with instructions I'd appreciate it if you'd post a link.

Regards

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

New,

Find out what the amp output of your alternator is before you hook up a heater. Ask the dealer or check the specs out on your tractor. To determine how many amps take the heater output in watts and divide by 12 to get amps. So a 150 watt heater will need about 12.5 amps to operate. Do not not forget to add up the other lights you have going at the same time. So if you have say 2-55 watt flood lights on the front of the cab and 1- 55 watt flood light on the rear you have a total of 165 watts or 13.75 amps, PLUS the heater of 12.5 amps and you now have a draw of almost 27 amps. Add a fan and now you maybe over 30 amps. Get my point??

On my BX I had to go to a bigger alternator to 40 amps to carry the load of all the lights, and other stuff a cab adds to the "need to have" stuff. Lights, fans, flashing orange light, etc etc adds up quick.

To give you and idea, I have 2-55 watt lights in the front, 2-55 watt lights in the rear, orange strobe light, fan for the heater, windshield wiper motor, chute rotator, chute deflector, and hazard 4 way lights all going at the same time when I operate at night. They have to see you and you have to see what u are doing.

 

[newhorseguy]

NY_yank,

Thanks and good point. Also something I would not have thought of

One of the things I learned early on from this site, is the standard alternator on the 2305 wasn't that impressive. I had the dealer install a 35 amp alternator prior to delivery.

That said I have 2 55 watt lights on the front of the cab, 1 55 watt rear light, factory headlights (which don't work worth a **** in my mind and not used when blowing snow), hazard lights (only occasionally used when driving on the road to get to and from the house and barn) and the windshield wiper if that works. The chute rotor on the 2305 is hydralic.

Adding the heater/defroster that jdgreg mentioned should keep me under the 35 amp limit.

regards

 

[skippy957]

I install a cab heater and a fan in my cab, those 2 functions very well all the windows are clear.