New Mods to Loretta's 284 Jinma

[3RRL]

Thanks Chris, it's coming along ... slowly but surely.
I didn't get much more done since I'm still waiting for the hydraulic fittings.
But I did get to making a mounting bracket and putting a tool box together for Loretta.
There's a little bit of everything in there including one of my trusty Zippo lighters.



Below shows the bracket and how the tool box fits.
Believe me, it's not easy making a "girlie" looking basket that can hold 300lbs.
It actually came out looking pretty good, I think.
Loretta liked it.



I also got started on making a bracket for those ammo boxes Larry gave me 3 years ago.
I know, I know Larry ... it's about time, right? They are not complete so no photos yet.
Rob-

 

[3RRL]

Here's the list now:
DONE-Add a Filter Minder gauge for the air filter.
DONE-Reposition grapple on the bucket so it will shut better & also move it forward to the tooth bar tips.
DONE-Replace all the Chinese hydraulic valves with a new 4 spool Prince SV.
DONE-Add 2 new rear remotes (replacing one that doesn't work)
DONE-Add FEL stabilizers from the uprights to the rear end.
STARTED-Add Top and Tilt with 2 hydraulic side links and DPOCV's on all cylinders.
STARTED-Add tool box(es) (including the ones Larry gave me a couple years ago).
-Fill tires
-Add Cup Holder
-Add Fire Extinguisher

It is slow going but I'm definitely making progress on that list.
I'll tell you what ... there's a lot to making all those brackets. Every one needs to fit in a certain place so it's not in the way of something else. Not only that, they have to be robust enough and all the bolt holes need consideration so they don't go through wiring or something. Wait 'till you see the one I'm making to support the ammo boxes. It is pretty cool.
I will for sure add a fire extinguisher liquid fill her tires, but not sure about adding the cup holder just yet. I saw some of the guys had added that bitchen Kubota one, but I don't have a dealer around. I may take that off the list until I find one?
Rob-

 

[Bob Rooks]

Rob,
I think it's absolutely amazing how you got the colors to match so closely with the tractor / bracket / toolbox. Nice neat job.

 

[3RRL]

Thank you Bob,
Loretta is the one who picked out her tool box and she also picked out the Marigold spray paint. We tried several colors before when we did the original grapple installation and that FEL bucket curl mod. We like the Marigold and now, almost her entire tractor is that color.

Well, today I finished up mounting the Chain holder tool box.
This was very important to me since Larry gave me these so long ago. They are excellent 25mm Bushlink Chain Cannon ammo boxes, for like what my son used to shoot in Marine Corps. He was a gunner on an LAV.
The ammo box has 2 lids which are water proof. They open form the top and bottom.



The mounting bracket I made was pretty cool I thought.
Larry would be proud of me so I'm going to share a little how they work.
I used the 2 pieces of steel Larry sent with them to clasp the ends. They fit into a recess on each end of the heavy duty box. My bracket suspends the box away from the FEL upright mount to clear the FEL disconnect pin. The bracket is made of 2 pieces. You slide the box onto the fixed end of the mounting bracket and bolt the other clasp on. I made the bar 1/16" shorter so that when the bolt is tightened, it squeezes the heavy wall plastic and holds it very tight.
Rob-

 

[3RRL]

After checking that the mounting bracket was a good fit, I clamped the bracket to the FEL upright.
Here are some photos of it all painted. Oops, looks like I missed a couple spots?
Anyway, this is what it looks like now welded in position.



As usual, finding the right spot needs attention.
I wanted to make sure it was out of the way from both her and when working the tractor, but leaving it so I could get to other stuff if I needed to. The following photos show the ammo box going on and also the clearances. It only takes one 1/2-13 SHCS to secure the box to the mounting bracket.
It came out very very sturdy!
Rob-

 

[3RRL]

So here are the final pictures of this addition.
There is enough room inside for 2 chains. When Loretta needs them, all she has to do is open the bottom lid and they will fall out. The chain box is mounted low enough so it's very easy to put them back into the box too.
One step closer now to completing the list of mods.
Rob-

 

[valley]

Nice bracket! I like the way it goes together, the easy come apart if need be and the way it grabs the box.

 

[3RRL]

Thank you Richard,
I am pretty bummed because I got only PART of the back order from Discount Hydraulics today.
That means I still can't finish plumbing Loretta's new SV valve. They are the rest of the 45 degree hose ends that attach to the new valve. All the hoses are already plumbed on the other end and waiting for the rest of them now. It's getting close to a month since I placed the order with them.

I guess I could fill the tires and look at mounting her fire extinguisher tomorrow?
My friend Ken (quikduk) said he ordered a Kubota cup holder for me. He will send it to me when he gets it. I'll bet it gets here before the hydraulic hose ends.

 

[rtdiggr]

Nice and clean Rob. but i think you are running out of room to put mods on that tractor.

Shane

 

[3RRL]

Nice and clean Rob. but i think you are running out of room to put mods on that tractor.

Shane

lol Shane,
You are right and there are only a couple things I still want to add.
I've already got my eye on the spots where they will go.