Simple add-on's for my L4240

[dodge man]

You should be able to, it will be easier than you think. Start out with a smaller bit and work your way up. It will be alot easier if you use some kind of cutting fluid also as you drill, just have a helper give a little squirt of it every now and then as you drill. I have used WD40 in the past as cutting fluid, you just have to be carefull as it is flameable. You can also buy cutting fluid at most farm stores.

 

[Kubota Tee]

Thanks dodge man! I have a local Tractor Supply nearby. I haven't really shopped there much in the past, but I have a feeling they are going to become one of my regular stops!! I will pick up some cutting fluid and have one of my son's do the squirting when I am ready to do the drilling. Am still wondering if these are through bolted or if the holes have been tapped and the bolts are threaded directly into the bucket.

 

[4shorts]

4Shorts,

I am a new member here. Just ordered up a new L3540HST and having trouble sleeping at night waiting for it to come in! I have been really intrigued with this site and find myself getting all sorts of ideas for how I can make my new machine more productive and user friendly.

Your work is certainly top notch and I am finding a lot of my ideas coming from your posts. Thanks for all the time you (and others) put into this site to help all us newbies.

I am thinking that the first mod I will make is adding chain hooks to the bucket. I like the simplicity of how you bolted yours on (versus welding) and since I don't own a welder (yet) thought this might be a good way of getting started with my mods.

So . . . quick question for you. Will I be able to drill through the bucket steel with my standard corded Dewalt drill or will it take something more powerful / specialized to drill the holes. Did you just use a simple bolt/nut approach or did you actually tap the holes in the bucket to accept the bolts? Can you post a picture of the underside (inside the bucket?)

Thanks again for all you do to add to this site.

Thomas (aka Kubota Tee)

Hey Thomas welcome to the site and congratulations on the purchase of your new tractor. Your going to love that machine. Thanks for your kind words on my work. It was very much appreciated. I have to say that Dodge Man answered your question perfectly and I wouldn't have answered it any differently so go ahead and get to it.

You need hooks. Although I have made some modifications to my bucket and don't mind welding on it when it came to the hooks I just bolted them on. the most I'll be pulling on it is to pull a vehicle out of the snow which I have done just the other day and they work fine. the plating on the bucket is plenty strong in my opinion and don't need a backing plate. I just went out and snapped a few pics for you to see how I did mine. I used coated bolts and washers. I also used lock nuts and it worked out great. If you search my posts you'll see I enjoy working on my tractor almost as much as I do running it

Be sure to post pics of you new rig when you can. enjoy. Paul AKA 4shorts

Look through these posts and you find other ideas to use. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2948696

 

[Kubota Tee]

Paul,

Thanks for your reply and the extra pics showing the inside of your bucket. I will definitely post some pics once I get the new tractor delivered. I am hoping it comes the week between Christmas and New Years. I have been researching all your mods and I will certainly be using some of your ideas in the months ahead. Keep up the good work and keep the posts and ideas coming.

Thomas

 

[Kubota Tee]

Paul,

My tractor arrived this week and I took the time today to add the bucket hooks - similar to yours. Thanks for the idea and encouragement to just go for it. I have to admit, I was a little nervous drilling holes into a brand new bucket. I used cutting oil and stepped up 4 different sizes of drill bits. Could not have gone any smoother.

Next project will be some custom lighting. I already have a Kubota rear work light, but I am thinking of adding some LED front facing lights that will attach to the ROPS.

Thanks again and keep your posts coming!

 

[4shorts]

Paul,

My tractor arrived this week and I took the time today to add the bucket hooks - similar to yours. Thanks for the idea and encouragement to just go for it. I have to admit, I was a little nervous drilling holes into a brand new bucket. I used cutting oil and stepped up 4 different sizes of drill bits. Could not have gone any smoother.

Next project will be some custom lighting. I already have a Kubota rear work light, but I am thinking of adding some LED front facing lights that will attach to the ROPS.

Thanks again and keep your posts coming!

Hey Thomas great job! Glad it worked out. Now we need to see pics of the complete tractor Thanks for the update and be sure to post often. Paul

 

[Kubota Tee]

Hey Thomas great job! Glad it worked out. Now we need to see pics of the complete tractor Thanks for the update and be sure to post often. Paul

Paul,

Thanks for the reminder! We had a nice sunny day on Saturday so I snapped a few pics of my two tractors. Been using the Toro to plow snow off the ice of our lake. The ice is close to 10" thick now, but I still don't trust it enough to bring the new Kubota onto the ice. The Toro does a nice job and is better than using a shovel.

 

[4shorts]

Paul,

Thanks for the reminder! We had a nice sunny day on Saturday so I snapped a few pics of my two tractors. Been using the Toro to plow snow off the ice of our lake. The ice is close to 10" thick now, but I still don't trust it enough to bring the new Kubota onto the ice. The Toro does a nice job and is better than using a shovel.

It's a beauty, You must enjoy seeing that by your door The little Toto is nice as well. Makes the Bota look like it had a kid Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[jimbo64]

Paul,

My tractor arrived this week and I took the time today to add the bucket hooks - similar to yours. Thanks for the idea and encouragement to just go for it. I have to admit, I was a little nervous drilling holes into a brand new bucket. I used cutting oil and stepped up 4 different sizes of drill bits. Could not have gone any smoother.

Next project will be some custom lighting. I already have a Kubota rear work light, but I am thinking of adding some LED front facing lights that will attach to the ROPS.

Thanks again and keep your posts coming!

quick ques. where did you buy the hooks-looked at lowes, home depot and tractor supply-these look almost like tow hooks on the front of my pickup

 

[Kubota Tee]

quick ques. where did you buy the hooks-looked at lowes, home depot and tractor supply-these look almost like tow hooks on the front of my pickup

I found the hooks at the local Tractor Supply. They were in the automotive section and I had to have them order in a 2nd one as they said they only ever keep 1 in inventory. I do think they are the same as the ones use on SUV's. My Suburban has 2 very similar hooks mounted to the frame at the front.

Hope this helps,