On Board Tool Box JD 790

[BFPGW]

I sure could use a small tool box mounted to the tractor in a convenient, or not so convenient, spot. I went to the New Holland dealer this weekend to look at rear finish mowers. While there we crowsed the tractors and found tool boxes mounted on the rear. The NH box was pretty cheesy, just plastic and mounted on one small pin.

Anyone have a suggestion on where I can pickup a small tool box to mount on the tractor? I'm only looking to put in it a pair of gloves, a couple spare hitch pins, and the clevis from my Speeco quick hitch (for neighbor's non-quick compatible attachments I borrow). I'd like it to be a "sanitary" looking installation so cobbled home made items are not an option.

 

[RoyJackson]

When I read this post, I had to run out a look at my 790.

There's not a lot of room, but if the box was about the size of a ammo box, one could mount that to a fabricated cross member between the ROPS vertical sections. You'd have to mount the SMV placard on the box.

Also, just visualizing this, there may be some mods required to the top link catch...not sure about that though.

This would also be a good place to stash a water bottle.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm not really familiar with the rear end of a 790, but I mounted a large tool box (pick up truck box) behind the seat of my tractor. I used the base of the ROPS, and removed 1 bolt from each side, then took a piece of flat steel stock to run from one side of the ROPS base to the other. I did bend the flat stock to lower the toolbox. I drilled holes in the bar stock that lined up with the holes in the base of the ROPS and bolted it into place with the original ROPS bolts. I mounted the tool box on top of that new platform. I glued a SMV emblem to the back of the tool box.

If I had a regular toplink I would have had to have repositioned the toplink hook, but I use a hydraulic top link with quick disconnect so if I need to I can just pop the hydraulic cylinder off, or I can hook the toplink hook to the metal quick attach points to hold it up.

Here is a picture: Toolbox behind the seat

 

[RoyJackson]

That's a good looking set up, Bob. And, rigging the cross member to the ROPS attach bolts seems to be a good idea.
One must consider the length of the bolt and thickness of the cross member, however. Longer bolts may be required to ensure correct thread engagement.

I'm not sure if the 790 has as much room behind the seat as the TC24, but it's sure worth investigating!

I do have a .pdf file (Adobe) of the 790/990 tractors the shows a toolbox one can buy from the Dealer. The way I read it, this is for the 990 machine only. The toolbox mounts on a bracket in the grab handle holes of the fender. This looks like a good location too, for a smaller box. If one goes this route, remember those fenders are pretty thin (1 mm) sheet metal. Also, consider the movement of the loader joystick when mounting a tool box on the fender. If the mounting bracket (from the 990 box) fits the hole spacing, it's probably cheaper to buy one then fabricate one, unless you have all the required tools at home. The bracket could probably be modified to mount a smaller tool box then that shown in the attached file.

I've attached the page from the file. This requires Adobe reader to view it.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green">
That's a good looking set up, Bob. And, rigging the cross member to the ROPS attach bolts seems to be a good idea.
One must consider the length of the bolt and thickness of the cross member, however. Longer bolts may be required to ensure correct thread engagement. </font>



Roy, excellent point about the bolt length, I inserted a fairly thin piece of stock so it was not an issue, but if the bolts are not long enough, it would be important to buy the proper 'grade' bolt to replace the old ones, I'm sure putting in the wrong grade bolt would void a warrenty and could cause a ROPS failure if it was tested in a roll over.

I used the ROPS based because it was the most stable thing I could find for a mounting point that would not be subject to flexing, stress cracks, etc. If that is a possible mounting point on the 790, it would be worth considering. Also my tool box is very large and I'm glad of that fact. I keep mid size pruners in there (a 16" anvil pruner & an 18" bypass pruner) plus some basic tools, plus assorted lynch pins, top link pins, etc. There is also a hatchet, a couple heavy duty tow straps, etc. And there is room for LUNCH should I decide to pack it.

 

[RoyJackson]

I did take a good look at the back of the 790 this morning.

Unfortunately, the ROPS on the 790 is held on by three bolts running horizontally threaded into the rear frame. Although a cross member could be installed with some thought, it wouldn't be a simple job. The cross member would have to run up and over the rock shaft valve and hardware. We 790 owner's would also have to remove the rear wheels to install such a support.

Back to the smaller fender mounted box, I suppose... Or, rig the support higher on the ROPS. That's definitely doable, but I'd probably have to mount a catch hook for the top link to the cross member support.

 

[BFPGW]

Well guys. You've found what I did. It's a nice compact tractor, but putting a box on it will require some creativity. I hate to look like a 3rd grader and wear a backpack while driving the tractor, but that's all I could find room for too. Thanks for the effort. By the way, Bob does have a heckuva tool box on that blue tractor. I'm envious.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have an idea, but I need to see the back of a 790, could someone post a picture? I think a cross member could be clamped to the ROPS uprights. A tool box could then be bolted to the cross member, or possibly cantalevered off the cross member? It presumes that the ROPS is behind the seat as opposed to being in line with the seat.

 

[RoyJackson]

"I have an idea, but I need to see the back of a 790, could someone post a picture? I think a cross member could be clamped to the ROPS uprights. A tool box could then be bolted to the cross member, or possibly cantilevered off the cross member?"

That's what I was discussing in my first response in this thread.
The seat back is a few inches forward of the ROPS (which is slightly canted aft), so there would be room for a smaller toolbox. Of course, smaller is a relative term.

Doing some quick measurements on the fender and behind the seat, a fender mounted box could be 15" long, 8" wide and maybe 8" deep. That would be large enough for a pair of gloves, a couple small tools and odds and ends (which is what the originator of this thread indicate he wanted).

A tool box mounted as Bob describes could be about 20" long, 8 to 10" wide and 12" deep (or a little more). Of course, if it rested on a cantilevered cross member such as Bob described, it could be considerably wider. Being wider might make rigging implements to the 3PH a bit of a hassle though. A tool box this size could be divided off to carry tow chains.

I normally don't have to carry any tools larger then a 12" adjustable wrench, a pair of gloves and a couple lynch and cotter pins (which I'm always losing).

Bob, I will try to get a picture of the rear of my 790. The cross member would have to set just above the sections of ROPS that bend inboard where it mounts to the tractor. Also, we'd have to consider how to attach it (clamps as Bob mentions, I suppose) without drilling the ROPS.

By the way, Bob...what are the dimensions on your tool box? Is it steel or aluminum?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Roy, not waiting for a photo, would something like this work?

 

[RobS]

Behind the seat tool box is out if you have a backhoe. All that real estate is eaten up by the hoe seat. In fact, the two seats share some space as the tractor seat has to be flipped up to bring the hoe seat down and vice-versa. Definitely a tight (or space-optimized) machine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

Hi Bob,
Yes, that design is pretty close to the 790 ROPS. You could probably use C channel to span the width, and the sections of the ROPS that slant inward would do a good job supporting the cross member. The upper link hook would still have to be moved, but the existing bracket could act as a support for the cantilevered section of the mount.

As I'd mentioned, the 790's ROPS is canted aft...about 5° would be my estimate. Not a problem, but something to consider during fabrication.

Since I don't need to carry much, I'm considering both options...the toolbox behind the seat or on the fender. One thing I will definitely do is have some way to carry a water bottle. I'm never (so far) away from home far enough to worry about lunch, but the last time I cut the 3 acres of field, I sure could have used more water!

Rob is right about the back hoe seat...but since I'm too poor to afford even a #7 'hoe, I don't think I'd have to worry about that!
Of course, what can be mounted can be removed. If I go to the ROPS mounted design, I'd probably consider using aluminum extrusions and a smaller aluminum toolbox (if I can find one).

Rob, you've got a 790 and you're a Mechanical Engineer...this would be an easy CAD design. Thinking about that...I have AutoCAD on my PC too!

This thread is the kind of fun thing we TBNer's are so good at!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> The upper link hook would still have to be moved </font>

Why not just mount it on the bottom side of the new cross member or the bottom side of the tool box?


<font color="red"> You could probably use C channel to span the width </font>

Simple flat stock 1/4" thick by 2" wide or wider should also work, just measure where you want the bends, secure it to sturdy table or grab it in a vice and bang on it with a heavy mallet until you get the angles right. I'm a pretty simplistic fabricator, bang on steel hard enough and eventually it looks like you want it too.

 

[RoyJackson]

"The upper link hook would still have to be moved "

I figured on moving it to the aft end of the cross member.


"Simple flat stock 1/4" thick by 2" wide or wider should also work"

I'd like something a bit more rigid...also, the flanges of the C channel could help in locating and maintaining the location of the cross member.

Of course, I've worked in fabrication/manufacturing for many, many years. I guess I do tend to over design sometimes.

 

[Beau]

Here is a toolbox mount that I made for my JD 790 tractor. Cross bar is 1.5" square tube and end plates are .25" flat bars. There was some real tricky measuring of the angles between the ROPS.

 

[RoyJackson]

Hey Beau...now that's a great looking installation!

If you drive your tractor on the road at all, you might want to get an extra SMV sign...maybe using magnets to hold it on.

As far as measuring the angles, I'll use a digital protractor and measure the difference between the slanted and adjacent vertical sections.
It appears you're using squared off U-bolts. Do you notice any noise from vibration on your installation?

 

[Haoleguy]

My JD 5325 came with a small plastic toolbox that attaches to the right arm of the FEL. I took it off as I felt it would get wacked off when going through brush and trees. I do like the rear location that I saw from a previous poster but I'm not sure it works with a BH attachment.

 

[RobS]

<font color="blue"> Rob, you've got a 790 and you're a Mechanical Engineer...this would be an easy CAD design. Thinking about that...I have AutoCAD on my PC too! </font>

Trouble is Roy, I'm a Mechanical Engineer in a large corporation. The proper thing to do is (obviously), write a requisition for a 790 like mine. Many levels of approvals to get it in here. Write a test request to the Metrology Lab. Work with logistics to have the 790 lifted onto the CMM. Have the Metrology guys use the scanning function to capture a 3D model of the 790 (limiting it to the areas in question to save precious time). Call the CIT help desk to have the 3D Model sent to the CAD group. Write a work request to the CAD group to have the 3D model translated into Catia. Another CAD request for the actual toolbox design. Several design reviews and quality assessments later...

Another CAD request to have the final design sent to the Model Shop. A work request to the Model shop to have the parts fabricated. Cool part here is the CNC machines at the Model Shop can actually work directly from the 3D CAD Model, if it's constructed properly. One more request back to Metrology to have a final layout done and like the Model Shop they can program the CMM directly from the 3D CAD model.

Another request to logistics to have everything loaded on my trailer (heck, a company this size won't miss a 790 tractor, will they?). A battle with HR on why nothing else is getting done this week and we're done.

<font color="blue"> This thread is the kind of fun thing we TBNer's are so good at </font>

Yeah, apparently some better than others! And we wonder why cars cost so much /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Beau]

Thanks for the compliments Roy.

I do not have a need to drive my tractor on the road, so blocking the SMV sign is not a problem for me.

Here is a detail photo of the mounting that I used. The plate welded to the 1.5" square crossmember on the inside of the ROPS is drilled for the bolts to pass thru. The plate on the outside of the ROPS is threaded 1/4-20. Tightening the bolts clamps the tool box mount to the ROPS very solid without any vibration. I put a couple of shop towels inside the tool box to keep the contents from rattling.

Regards
Beau

 

[RobS]

Very nice installation Beau! Looks as good as factory. You need to find a yellow tool box though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif