Cage for Kioti LB1914

[MotorSeven]

That looks really good, the welds much better than mine(still learning). Now get it painted before it starts to rust!

If you are running XP go to this Microsoft site & download Power Toys image re-sizer. Once you have it you can right click on a pic or a group of pic's, choose re-size(I use Small), click on "Advanced" & choose to replace the pic with the re-sized pic & that's it. If you have Windows 7 there is also a Power Toys program for it too.

RD

 

[gladehound]

Any recommendations on the best type of pait to use to prevent rust? I plan to paint it this weekend.

 

[gladehound]

thanks for the resizing info. I went back and resized the pictures to medium, which seemed good for an average size monitor.

RD - I've never welded so I had a professional do it. I just didn't trust my self to learn on something like this.

 

[MotorSeven]

I rattle cannned mine with rustoleum pro primer & grey . However if you want to take the time to do it right & have a paint sprayer(air or airless) go to Home Desperate & get a gallon of Rustoleum primer & a gallon of their paint ($40 total). The spray gun finish is much better and tougher than the rattle can.......but I was in a hurry as usual. I even have the air gun and the paint but didn't break it all out.

Btw, you need a belly pan or sticks can go right thru the radiatior fan if you back over them just right....don't ask me how I know this. It's next on my long long list.

RD



RD

 

[Johndeere3720]

Does the new cage make it difficult to open the hood? With that screen in front of your grill, there doesnt look like there is very much clearence to open the hood. Anyways, its lookin' great! the rustoleum gray paint is great. i just resored a 12 foot gate that was in a fire and that rustolium paint made it look like new. I used smoke gray paint.

 

[gladehound]

RD - I rattle canned it with rustolium pro primer and grey before even reading your post. So it's done. sitting in the barn and waiting until tomorrow to go back onto the tractor.

John Deer - The hood on the LB1914 doesn't tilt up. It comes apart in three separate panels. Each side comes off separately and then a panel comes off on the top. The front doesn't open up. All that's up front is a battery and you can access that from the side.

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Can't wait for the next installment. My B7800 needs to have something similar added. I've already gotten "bonked" by a falling branch and doing that once was perfectly adequate, thank you very much:confused2:

The FOPS will be done before I get back into the woods for firewood. To many possibilities for dead falls and widow makers.

I'm actually kind of surprised that there is so little information on these structures. If you live or work in a woodland setting, FOPS is really a wonderful safety addition.

Thanks for this thread

Bill

 

[gladehound]

Ouch Bill! I can only imagine.

I also was surprised about the lack of info on FOPS or forestry cages for small tractors. I guess I searched under "forestry cage" on this site and elseware and came up with very little and nothing for small compact tractors. But then I guess what I'm doing isn't really "forestry". It's more like going into the woods and selectively takeing out dead or diseased trees for fire wood. I rarely drag a log because impacts the forest too much. Instead, I cut them where they lay and can take 1/3 cord out at a time between the FEL and the carry-all. I sometimes use the tractor to push on trees and make them fall where I want when there is no room to run out a rope.

You don't need to do this for too long before you realize that you want some kind of protection.

Here are my thoughts on design and explains why my cage looks like it does:

1. By connecting the ROPS to the front bumper it creates a structural member that takes the stress off the enging/tranny connection when carrying big loads at both ends. Basically it is protection against the tractor cracking in half.

2. By connecting the ROPS to the front bumper it provides protection for the whole tractor from a falling tree rather than just the operator area.

3. The side sheilds are really only to keep branches, prickers and monkey vines from hitting me in the face.

4. The "ramped" design front to rear is to push branches up and over the tractor as you pass by them to hopfully have less of them spring back at you.

5. A grill guard is important because sometimes I lift trees by a chain and they bump against the front of the tractor.

6. Heavy 1/4" thick main rails - I've seen a lot of cages with small tubes which would be great for small stuff falling on you but I often wondered how they would fair if a tree came down on them. I can't answer that for others or myself but I'm from the more it better camp when it comes to these types of things.

What I would do differently - If doing this again I would specify to the builder not to connect the side shields to the fenders and instead connect it to the lower portion of the factory ROPS. My drawings showed both, but then I went over budget before he connected the cage to the ROPS. I think the 4 point connection to the ROPS would be a lot stiffer than the current 2 point connection, and would also help keep the cage from racking in a roll because it couldn't slide on the 2 point clamp. Of course, if money allows I would add 2 extra side supports.

Have fun with your FOPS build. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Ron,

Do you have any "painted" shots of your new FOPS?

Bill

 

[gladehound]

Here are a few... I'm thinking of repainting with a darker grey to better match the factory ROPS... I don't like the light grey.

 

[mjncad]

That turned out very nice.

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Now that is snazzy. I'm starting to mock-up my unit this weekend.
Build the mock-up in wood, cheap and fast, and then do the metalwork.
Thanks for the inspiration.

Bill

 

[gladehound]

Make sure to post pictures of the process! Would love to follow along as you creat it!

 

[dieselcrawler]

Now that is snazzy. I'm starting to mock-up my unit this weekend.
Build the mock-up in wood, cheap and fast, and then do the metalwork.
Thanks for the inspiration.

Bill

I agree... the shabby looking wood that my father-in-law got a good laugh out of is the first step to a solid 4 or 6 point FOPS/ROPS to make my lil 3005 a safer mini-ROW tractor. I understand the physics of the situation enough to properly size the materials, mounting points, and hardware. And I trust my welding skills.

Came across this thread looking for FOPS design ideas... nothing better than dragging up old threads!

 

[gladehound]

The sagga continues... I bought a Kioti DS4510HS and have a verbal agreement to sell the LB1914 without the cage. Now the transfer of the cage must begin!



I have an appoinment at my counsin's metal fab shop in January to finish the job. However, since the hood on this tractor tilts up I'm going to have to do a traditional FOPS with front uprights tieing into the loader towers.

 

[gladehound]

I agree... the shabby looking wood that my father-in-law got a good laugh out of is the first step to a solid 4 or 6 point FOPS/ROPS to make my lil 3005 a safer mini-ROW tractor. I understand the physics of the situation enough to properly size the materials, mounting points, and hardware. And I trust my welding skills.

Came across this thread looking for FOPS design ideas... nothing better than dragging up old threads!

Any updates on your progress???

 

[dieselcrawler]

Lol... lots of thoughts and plans... at least I got plywood on top shortly after that pic was taken, in time for summer shade.

Almost cut some pieces of tubeing for the frame over the weekend but Christmas lights took priority.

 

[gladehound]

Finally got over to my cousin's metal fab shop. Now I can take this tractor to play in the woods! :thumbsup:

 

[FreshRouteFarm]

You did a great job of fitting the cage to your new tractor.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Looks great... mine should come out close in design. But still no progress... busy at work, wife going back to work, 10 month old baby and 5 more kids not happy about that, and hunting for a new job of my own... lots going on. Tractor hasnt moved Iin weeks.