Glad to see your thread back. While I don't really need any of the mods you did I do like to see what others do to customize their tractors.
Have you thought about modifying your front camera mount (in the future) so it's extendable? Kind of like how a pole for a swimming pool vac can be adjusted. A few feet could make quite a bit of difference. You might even be able to make it so you would never have to remove it. Just collapse it all the way down were a metal guard would protect it. Just a thought.
Thanks crazyal, Yes I have thought of that, You can buy 12 volt lift gate openers that extend. They have them in many different sizes and have the ability to retract and extend as needed. It would be much more involved and the cable would have to run on the outside but it can be done. I agree it is a good Idea to be able to retract it.
What I did, for now, keeps it simple, the camera works great in a fixed position, and as you know can be removed in seconds for work that does not require a camera.
I'm just going to keep it on until I see where the problems areas are then improve it. Maybe do what you suggested.
After I tried it for three hours last week, I found no need to make any changes, at this time. but like everything else there is always room for improvements.
I also thought of a remote pan and tilt for the camera, but again all that I can't see, is only right in front of the bucket so the fixed camera head covers that area. So pan tilt is out.
I know it looks like it sticks out, but what is it going to hit past the front fork cage, or the bucket for that matter, it always stays with the curl of the bucket.
Now that my Bucket Cab idea is out there, I'm sure you will see many new ways of doing it. I love getting ideas from other people and using them, thats what makes a successful project. Same with life, Successful people surround themselves with people with ideas. Thank you for your input and great Idea. Any other ideas I would love to hear them.
This is the part I thought of
11 8" Stroke 107 lb 12 Voltdc Linear Actuator 5 1577 12 | eBay
I actually emailed the guy asking if the shaft rotates when it extends, but never got a reply back. Don't think he knew the answer.
This is what I said on my last post after actually using it.
Yesterday I used the front bucket for the first time with the camera on it, for three hours. Filling in a low spot on my lawn with five bucket loads of top soil and leveling out my dump down in the woods. It works really well, l I don't think I would ever use the tractor without the camera now, you always know what your bucket is doing. With the monitor right in front of you it's hard not to look at it. No problems at all with anything hitting the camera, not even a close call. I'm not going to waste my time hooking up some sort of spring mechanism. If I was going to hit it, I would have hit it today. In the woods, grass and brush no problems.
What the camera really comes in handy for is cleaning up the rocks after finish grinding. Now when I float the bucket down to get the rocks and debris off the grass I can see if I'm digging up some turf before it happens, I caught myself a number of times yesterday starting to peal the turf, the monitor lets me stop and correct the bucket to fine tune what I'm doing. I know this could be done without a monitor but if the ground is uneven like mine most times is, the bucket could be digging in on one side and not the other. I'm really impressed with it, I can't believe this hasn't been done before. You guys remember where you saw the first front bucket cam. Basically the monitor lets you double check what you're doing as you're doing it. To me this is going to get a lot more use then my back up camera is. It's an expensive mod I know, but so is my tractor.
The first picture is on my lawn. I should have taken more pictures. I have never been able to grade and clean up all the rocks before without getting out of the tractor at some point and pick up the rocks by hand. I could just skim that bucket along the grass watching for any problems in the monitor. I just wish I had a better way to show what I'm talking about. I have a video line out on the monitor but not a video line in on my HD camcorder. Otherwise I could show you one unbelievable video. I guess I'll try holding the video camera and see how that comes out. Sorry about the pictures they were an after thought. I wish I had 4shorts car cam that would show how well it works.
