Making a cap w/ pics

[bandit67]

Where'd you get THAT lexan?! Not only is it all scratched up, but you can't even see through it.

 

[Regal]

You are kidding, right??? That's just a protective film on them.

 

[Knight]

Where'd you get THAT lexan?! Not only is it all scratched up, but you can't even see through it.

Now, because you said that, I will leave the film on. Matter of fact; I am going to put plastic on the seat too!

 

[bandit67]

You ought to also put plastic on the tires to keep them clean.

I was hoping to someday add a cab for winter work, but you and Regal are really motivating me to start thinking about doing as you 2 did. If I could put a decent cab together for $1000, that's a pretty nice savings over buying one. Plus, you get the satisfaction of using something you built yourself, which for some of us, is very rewarding.

 

[Knight]

I really didn't care about building a cab. Electrical Construction is slow and I need a project to keep my mind occupied.
But now I have the top, (not so much sides) I really like it. The other day it started to rain while I was working. It was great not to have a wet seat.

Don't look at the whole project as a big job. Start with a part and work your way through it. I started with the windshield, then top, then doors.

 

[Knight]

I made "Regal" Style door pulls. I liked Regal's idea so much, I had to incorporate into my doors. I used lighting fixture down rods from my junk pile, slapped them with the 1/2" EMT pipe bender and welded them in place.........thank you Mr. Regal.

I bought $8.00 HD storm door handles with latches for each side.
They have a lock with can be accessed using a small pin sized wire, if I need to lock the doors. Maybe I should have gone the extra mile mile and bought the latch with door bell button, incase I take a nap in the machine and someone stops by for a visit.

 

[gordyy]

maybe you can find a brass door knocker at home depot for cheap
that would disturb your nao
nice job

 

[Knight]

maybe you can find a brass door knocker at home depot for cheap
that would disturb your nao
nice job

That would not work, it would be knocking while driving and I would keep looking out the door.

 

[Knight]

Had a local guy match paint, it took him all day...paint has to dry and that takes time. He needs an extra day for the Bright orange 2.

I have the formula for the Rops gray. as you can see it is in the process of drying very close to original color.
Oh and $28.00 a gallon.... compared to 12oz spray can with 6 oz of paint and 6oz of propellant for $12.00.

Pick up the orange next week, let me know if anyone is interested in the orange formula.

 

[Knight]

I finished the doors. They scratch easily, but work well against the wind.
It seems to lift the noise level up, so I will take them off and just use them for plowing. I need them in place for now, so I can fit the next pieces around the back of the cab.

 

[bandit67]

Looking good.

Since you set your canopy lower than the ROPS to fit inside a 7' door, do you have to watch your head climbing on and off the tractor?

I also have a 7' door, and want to start with a canopy, but need to decide between a tool-less removable canopy, mounting it lower and in front of the ROPS as you did, or ripping out the 7' door and putting in an 8' door (that's obviously the most expensive, but I have the room to do it).

The other issue is that I'd like my canopy to cover the backhoe seat, so I may just need to build my own, or buy a large one and fabricate my own mounting brackets so I can position it exactly where I want it. But I don't know that I'm too keen on installing and removing a canopy every time I park the machine in the garage. As it is, folding and unfolding the ROPS every time has gotten a bit old.

 

[Knight]

I made this set up for my canopy. The little bracket mounts to my rops. Then I take the canopy with the large brackets and drop them into the small ones and insert a holding pin. $20 plus shipping if you want them.
You can postion the canopy over the just over the rops and therefore it can be set back a little to cover the backhoe seat, depending how far your backhoe sits. I made a custom backhoe bracket because I wanted my bachoe to sit close to the tractor. I was able to cover the backhoe seat with these brackets.

Oh and to answer your question, I have plenty of room getting in and out of the tractor. I'm 5' 10".

 

[mjncad]

I also have a 7' door, and want to start with a canopy, but need to decide between a tool-less removable canopy, mounting it lower and in front of the ROPS as you did, or ripping out the 7' door and putting in an 8' door (that's obviously the most expensive, but I have the room to do it).

The other issue is that I'd like my canopy to cover the backhoe seat, so I may just need to build my own, or buy a large one and fabricate my own mounting brackets so I can position it exactly where I want it. But I don't know that I'm too keen on installing and removing a canopy every time I park the machine in the garage. As it is, folding and unfolding the ROPS every time has gotten a bit old.

Like you I had a 7' door and I got tired of folding the ROPS and putting on the umbrella every time I used the tractor. Also, like you I have plenty of room to raise my garage doors, so instead of replacing them; my brother-in-law and I put new headers in 18" higher than the existing header. This allowed the garage door company to add a new panel to each door. They also added heavier springs and pulleys to compensate for the added weight to the doors. So I got 8'-6" doors for less money than 8' doors.

Now I have a canopy, and the ROPS is never folded, and it's a pleasure not to have to worry about door height.

 

[Knight]

I agree with "mjncad"....... raising the door if possible, is the 1st choice.

 

[bandit67]

Also, like you I have plenty of room to raise my garage doors, so instead of replacing them; my brother-in-law and I put new headers in 18" higher than the existing header. This allowed the garage door company to add a new panel to each door. They also added heavier springs and pulleys to compensate for the added weight to the doors. So I got 8'-6" doors for less money than 8' doors.

Funny, I actually thought about doing something similar. But it would be a little too tight to add another 21" panel from a 7' door, so I like the idea of the 18"-19" panel from an 8' door. No one would really notice the slightly shallower top panel. That may be the best way to go. I have a lot of drywall tearout and replacement work to do though, since the garage was finished.

Nice, oversized 3 car garage with 7' doors and the hillside so close to the doors that you could barely get a compact car in and out. Apparently, that's why this house sat unsold for a year. But I knew I could fix that little problem with a tractor.

 

[Knight]

Maybe you can work out a deal with a local carpenter who is slow.
I have 4 garage doors. 3 -8x9 and a 10x10. Still not enough.

 

[bandit67]

Maybe you can work out a deal with a local carpenter who is slow.

Right now, that would be me, but that's why I'm trying to cram in as many honey-do's as possible. Usually doesn't stay that way for long. At least I'm hoping it doesn't this time around.

 

[bandit67]

Boy, I sure could use a cab now!

Been snowing since yesterday afternoon, and is predicted to continue until tomorrow evening.

Had to get out and do the first plowing of at least 3 trying to stay ahead of the forecast 36" of heavy wet snow. Spent 3 hours plowing out a road and a bunch of driveways, and came home completely soaked through. Stuff I have is supposed to be gortex, but I guess it eventually lets water in. Could use some wipers for my goggles, too.

Wife said no shopping for cabs. I told her it's too late for that, and I'd rather build my own this summer. She rolled her eyes and said I spend too much time with my tractor. She also said I have a huge list of things to build this summer, and there isn't time for a cab, so I should buy one. What fun is that?

 

[Knight]

I sure miss Colorado. I lived in Bloomfield for seven years. Spring and fall snow storms. You will like the cab.

 

[bandit67]

That's ok, I missed CT in the winter when you guys were getting all that snow and we weren't getting anything.

We used to live not too far from Broomfield. It's changed a lot. Set up their own county, with lots of commercial tax dollars - got tired of being split into 4 different counties. All the other counties that turned down Broomfield's request to be incorporated into just one of them are kicking themselves now.

Now we're up into the "foothills" at 8500 feet. Gotta head back out to plow again.