Members home made attachments / improvements

Barryh · May 30, 2007

toy said:
My wish list reminds me of my sons Christmas list when he was young, mine just keeps getting longer and longer. I squirrel away a few dollars to keep on hand so when I get the weekly trader if one of the tools on my wish list shows up in it I can go right then and get it if it is a good deal and you can get good deals that way but you might not get the tools in the order that it is on your wish list. I also watch out for closeouts at the lumber yard on their tools and buy that way which saves a lot of money . I don't care if the package is dirty or dusty its the tool that I am buying . I've seen people pass up a good deal because of the packaging being frayed. I have also bargained with the manager of the store for a lower price[ my wife goes and hides at that point} and quite often I get it. That is just some of the ways that I accumulate tools[ often tools that I never use] . I am sure that others have better tips than these [share with us]. The tools that I like the most is when I make something that turns out to be something usable. The other day I made an attachment that I beleive would make the lightest attachment award. This attachment allows me to hook onto my utility trailer, pull the trailer up to the back of my truck and put it on the receiver ball without having to get off of my pt other than to lock it onto the ball and hook up the chains and lights. The attachment is just a peice of pipe and two plates bolted to the trailer tongue.,works great.

Great idea… sounds like something the rest of us might be able to put to good use. Got a picture?? I run my own business and though I’m not getting rich, I get by just fine. Problem is my priority list and money, goe in 20 different directions. There not all PT priorities. As my back reminds me that I’m getting older, The PT just gets handier and handier to have around.

I need to concentrate on PT priorities for a while. I have all these ideas, I collect anything that resembles steel, but no way to weld it into something usable. Take J.J. or MR for example, they collect what they have lying around and presto, it becomes a mini or back hoe. So it does get a little frustrating waiting around for things to get welded. As I watch you guys weld at will, the welder is slowly moving up on my list. There’s nothing wrong with finding good deals and saving money, if you’re smart enough to see a diamond in the rough.

NJBill · May 30, 2007

Barryh said:
I know there are many scattered threads with everyone’s home grown attachments, but I would like to see them all in one place to date, and if possible in action. If anyone is interested, and would like to show photo's big or small of your completed attachment improvements, and or handy attachment ideas. I think it would be rather entertaining for some of the new comers, and old timers as well.

Some of you guys are pretty smart, with lots of outside the box thinking. I’ll be adding some of mine very soon, as I am having some wielding done in the next few weeks. This is a really special talented group of hands on do it yourself thinkers. I think it would be fun to see what everyone has done to date.

Self-explanatary.

Rivco · May 30, 2007

Improved brush mower caster wheel setup

MuncyBob · May 30, 2007

very nice job Rivco....something like that could be next for my mower. Just makes sense to have all 4 caster wheels.

Marks481 · May 30, 2007

Great job on the mower. Almost every time that I mow and the stupid plastic wheels cut a groove in the soil because I turn when the tractor is stationary, I wish that I had four castors. I just didn't see a practical way to make it happen. I just added that project too my list (behind a new exhaust header and muffler, because I think the current design is very poor, contrributes to the engine compartment heat levels, and restricts exhaust flow unnecessarily).

It is too bad that PT doesn't seem interested in taking our ides and improving their product (although maybe they have a "corporate" lawyer who tells them not too; many big companies actively reject consumer suggestions to ensure they can avoid lawsuits from "customers" claiming that the company stole an idea from them and made money off of it without paying them).

Barryh · May 30, 2007

Rivco said:
Improved brush mower caster wheel setup

Personally, I think PT would be smart to hire you to work there, with all of the improvements you've made. Then we would have someone on the inside.

Nice job as usual.

Marks481 · May 30, 2007

Beautiful job, makes it look like you fabricate metal for a living.

How did you bend the two side beams for the caster wheel support? And where did you get the caster wheel assemblies.

Rivco · May 31, 2007

Tim_in_CT said:
Beautiful job, makes it look like you fabricate metal for a living.

How did you bend the two side beams for the caster wheel support? And where did you get the caster wheel assemblies.

I bought a Caroni pheumatic tire kit ( item#40563) from agri-supply (Agri Supply® - Where we have Something for Everyone for your Farm Shop & Home - NC, SC, GA, VA, Tifton, Garner, Florence, Statesboro, Petersburg, Greenville, Lumberton) and fitted it to my brush mower. I went with the kit for the 59"- 93" mowers. I moved the attachment plate backet on the brush mower back one hole then I drilled one new second rear hole on each side. I can still connect the hydraulic lines but I wish I had a little more play. The finished installation leaves the rear casters very close to the front PT tires, and it might be a problem at some point so I'm looking into getting four smaller wheels / Tires. I have used the new setup six times and so far I'm pleased, time will tell if I made the right choice going with this wheel kit, BUT anything is better than PT's fixed plastic wheel design.

Barryh · Jun 2, 2007

Ok got my welded receiver back today. Here is the start of my attachment collection. I’ve had this idea now for at least two years, and now just getting around to having the welding done. I think I have a few posts somewhere from last year, where I started trying these out. This is meant to help me around here not having a mini hoe. At least for now. The first as a ripper attachment for burying cable and making small trenches. The other is a hitch ,self explanatory I need this for maneuvering my 16 Foot 2400 lb trailer around the yard.

I had it welded and reinforced for extra strong hold. If I find I don’t pop any welds after using this with the extended shaft then in the end, I may try something crazy like welding on a cylinder and a small 8 inch bucket, which should help reduce the stress for starters using this 2- 1/2 x 2- 1/2 inch tubing. I may cut the shaft size down to around 3 1/2 foot I'll have to see how well it holds up.

If the stress / twist factors do not come into play then this will be my light duty mini hoe. I may even move up to a larger 12 inch bucket, if it works, and I find the for need one. I'll keep posting as I add to my little collection.

ponytug · Jun 2, 2007

Barryh said:
Ok got my welded receiver back today. Here is the start of my attachment collection. I’ve had this idea now for at least two years, and now just getting around to having the welding done. I think I have a few posts somewhere from last year, where I started trying these out. This is meant to help me around here not having a mini hoe. At least for now. The first as a ripper attachment for burying cable and making small trenches. The other is a hitch ,self explanatory I need this for maneuvering my 16 Foot 2400 lb trailer around the yard.

I had it welded and reinforced for extra strong hold. If I find I don’t pop any welds after using this with the extended shaft then in the end, I may try something crazy like welding on a cylinder and a small 8 inch bucket, which should help reduce the stress for starters using this 2- 1/2 x 2- 1/2 inch tubing. I may cut the shaft size down to around 3 1/2 foot I'll have to see how well it holds up.

If the stress / twist factors do not come into play then this will be my light duty mini hoe. I may even move up to a larger 12 inch bucket, if it works, and I find the for need one. I'll keep posting as I add to my little collection.