Komatsu D20A-6 ?

GuglioLS · Sep 30, 2007

Thanks Eddie,

Sorry about the too many ideas thing, don't worry, I'm running out of them

. I figured as long as I had headlight's, I better have a rear work light. You just never know what may come up long after the sun sets that just has to get done no matter what.

Just three things left for Dozer mods:

1. Rear receiver hitch for my dump trailer. (in progress)
2. Tap into the hydraulics so as to add a valve to operate the dump trailer. (in planning stage)
3. Skid shoes for the blade to plow snow. (worry about that after the first snow)

Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

Here is the receiver hitch dozer mod I thought would come in handy to move trailers around. I need to use the dozer and dump trailer combination to haul firewood, gravel or dirt. With this setup I'll be able to use the FEL on my tractor to load the dump trailer.
On the rear of the dozer there is a bracket and pin to attach a chain for towing. I removed the bracket so as to use the hole pattern to fabricate a receiver hitch.
Many of the dozer bolts are rather large, to remove them I use a 3/4" ratchet wrench in combination with large size metric sockets.

I found a chunk of 3/4" thick steel plate to weld on the receiver tube, drill holes, then bolt up to the dozer.
Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

After laying out a pattern on the steel plate that looked good for the dozer, I started the cuts.
The band saw is a 7" tall x12" wide capacity, horizontal / vertical unit.

Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

A few angle cuts add some style to the bracket, those small cut-offs will be used as gussets to minimize waste.

Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

After drilling out the holes, the plate was counter bored to recess the washers. The plate is thicker than the bracket I took off so counter boaring was done to keep the OEM bolt length. I suppose I could have eliminated the washers, but it's fun to use my machine for this stuff, plus it looks cool.

Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

Here is the finished product after welding, priming and painting with matching Komatsu Dozer yellow:

Larry

GuglioLS · Oct 2, 2007

After installing the receiver hitch bracket I had to test it out. So I attached my 16' flatbed and moved it to a new location. It sure was easy to back up the dozer and align the hitch to the trailer tongue. All I have to do is look back and down and the hitch is right there in plain view. Not only that the way a dozer maneuvers makes it a breeze to connect.
Here are the two trailers I use -

Next is to tap into the hydraulics on the dozer and add a valve to operate the dump trailer. That's my next project to figure out.
The fittings on the dozer are "Komatsu Metric", meaning they are their own proprietary style of fitting. So now I have to find some Komatsu fittings. I called a local hydraulic shop and they stock crimp on Komatsu hose fittings. They suggested I remove the hose I need to tap into, bring it in and they will fix me up "no problem". I hope to get to that in a week or so.

Larry

3RRL · Oct 2, 2007

Hi Larry,
You amaze me. Always thinking of ways to improve what you got. That is a really nice beefy receiver hitch you are making. It should easily tow the Titanic.
Are you going to make a slip in hitch for the the grab hook too? That way you'll have both.

On the Komatsu Metrics, isn't there a Japanese Industrial standard? Maybe that's what those are? Here is a link to them at Discount Hydraulic Hose.
Japanese Industrial Standard Fittings

GuglioLS · Oct 3, 2007

Yo Rob, my buddy -
Thanks for the compliment - sometimes I even surprise myself, it did turn out pretty good. Having the band saw and a few metal working tools, I no longer hesitate to add some curves & angles for style.

Thanks for the Japanese fitting link on the Discount Hydraulic Hose web site.
Yep that's them, 30* metric.

Your grab hook suggestion is a good one, it will be incorporated. Your idea made me think of getting a weld on one that I could easily fabricate to insert into the receiver tube or maybe just weld it on that top gusset for a permanent installation? Something like this:

What do you think?

Larry

EddieWalker · Oct 3, 2007

Don't know why, but it never occured to me to use a dozer for towing a trailer. Not that I've seen you pics, I'm thinking how smart that is!!! You can get that trailer just about anywhere and never have to worry about getting stuck.

You really have me re-thinking my opinion on small dozers. They seem to be pretty handy for a whole variety of projects!!!!!

Eddie