Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix

   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix #11  
Clever idea! Does the step not try to swing under/away from you when you put weight on it?
 
   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix
  • Thread Starter
#12  
Clever idea! Does the step not try to swing under/away from you when you put weight on it?

Yes, it does. My first attempts at using it, I was putting my foot too far in, and ended up rubbing my shin against the JD step. But I soon found that I should not use the middle of my foot at all. I just use the ball and pad area at the front of my foot (I don't know anatomy enough to know what it's called), and that works great. It swings in a little, but I'm standing over it enough that it doesn't swing that much -- not enough to swing my leg into the JD step, as long as my foot is not too far in.

After about 4 or 5 tries, I got the "swing" of it (pun intended) so that it does just what I needed: gets me up high enough for my other foot to catch the JD step without having wrenched my back to get there!

Oh, and as to color: I found that it is pretty visible in its location. So I went ahead and got some metal primer and JD green. I'll be priming the step and chains (except the quick link) today, and plan to paint it tomorrow. Probably over several days I'll add a few coats. I'm not using the tractor right now anyway. (Walnut time!)

Edit: Looking at my original photo, I can see that it is a little deceptive, because it's in the dark shop where I store the tractor. The step, to the human eye, is much more visible than it looks like in the photo. You know how that is! That being the case, I thought that yellow might look a little too "add on" or "industrial" or something, whereas the green looks like it's just another part of the tractor. Anyway, that's my thinking.
 
   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix
  • Thread Starter
#13  
Finished product. Visibility isn't really a problem, so I chose the main color to match the bulk of the tractor.

100_7298.JPG

Full tractor view (at our pond):

100_7297.JPG

Other add-ons:
The canopy from CoverMyTractor.com
Work lights from Tractor Supply
Expanded metal backing from Wheeler Metals

The latter is because I mow hay with a Massey Ferguson disc mower, whose manual states that it should only be used in a cab tractor. I wish! I have felt hard grass stalks bouncing off my head, so I decided that I would rather not feel some of our Ozark rock bounce off my head! Although the brush hog generally does not throw stuff this way, I have felt some bits of stuff coming at me from that, also. Better safe than in the hospital.
 
   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix #14  
On the swinging step, many manufacturers use a strip of belting (like round baler belts) on each side to hold the step on, easier on the shins that way.

Aaron Z
 
   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix #15  
I often see utility co. trucks around here with a rear step suspended by a couple of lengths of about 1 inch diameter steel cable. This is stiff enough to not swing with a person's weight, but it will give if the truck backs into something.

Bruce
 
   / Tractor Step - Farmer's Fix #16  
I like it, I've always been a fan of the KISS principle.
 

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