BX25D. Mod #1 and continued.

[4shorts]

I'll post this because if your into safety and you need a back up alarm you'll find this just might help you. I'm using an actual back up alarm switch and a Grote back up speaker.
I looked all around the BX to find a appropriate place to place the switch and the speaker.
The best place I found for the switch was under the right floor board toward the rear. There are two bolts there you can use with out drilling any other holes. Now just trying to let the switch hit the reverse linkage just wont do it because there's not enough sweep on the pedal so go get yourself a stiff brake spring and cut it to fit as pictured and attach it to the one nut as you see in the photo. doing it this way will give you plenty of sweep to activate the switch.

The switch come with extra hardware but in the case of the BX it's not needed. Cut yourself a piece of 1/8th aluminum like I have pictured and attach it to the two existing bolts on the floorboard and it's a very tidy looking install. Don't try and install the switch between the chassis. There's filters in the way and it's not a good place to do it in my opinion.

Mount the speaker on the right rear fuel tank support strut. You'll have to remove the one 15 mm nut and then drill or punch two 1/4 holes in the bracket to accept the speaker. When it's installed it will look like I have pictured.
Not to worry. This thing is loud enough to wake the dead. I'll also be installing a by-pass toggle switch so I can turn the alarm off when working in an area where It's not needed.
Hope this helps

 

[WaxMan]

4 shorts, Excellent job on the light, low profile looks really good.
Not that I'm fusser then you, but is there a way you can use carriage bolts on the bottom of this light with the nuts on top, (or weld some blind studs on the metal base) if the backhoe lifts up the tractor or slams you around,(like it sometimes does) one of those exposed nuts could hit your head?
Not only will it give it a more finish look on the bottom but might also protect you from a trip for stitches.

 

[PapaPerk]

Wow that's gonna be one accessorized tractor!

The photos are great to show others how things are made.

 

[mjncad]

4 shorts, Excellent job on the light, low profile looks really good.
Not that I'm fusser then you, but is there a way you can use carriage bolts on the bottom of this light with the nuts on top, (or weld some blind studs on the metal base) if the backhoe lifts up the tractor or slams you around,(like it sometimes does) one of those exposed nuts could hit your head?
Not only will it give it a more finish look on the bottom but might also protect you from a trip for stitches.

I think Paul intends to put an upholstered pad there to protect his noggin.

 

[4shorts]

4 shorts, Excellent job on the light, low profile looks really good.
Not that I'm fusser then you, but is there a way you can use carriage bolts on the bottom of this light with the nuts on top, (or weld some blind studs on the metal base) if the backhoe lifts up the tractor or slams you around,(like it sometimes does) one of those exposed nuts could hit your head?
Not only will it give it a more finish look on the bottom but might also protect you from a trip for stitches.

The ROPS on these are very high so I doubt that will be an issue but I live 45 minutes from the city and that's where I need to go to pick up a 1/2" foam pad that will be attached to the bottom of the module. I would have had to really alter my design to use carriage bolts or even countersink bolts. When the foam pad is in place you'll never know there's a nut there other that the nut sitting in the seat :laughing:

I designed it this way to try and give it a cleaner more confined look. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen one done like it before when it comes to ROPS lighting so I thought it would be a bit unique.

Wow that's gonna be one accessorized tractor!

The photos are great to show others how things are made.

Thanks Pappa. Glad you like the thread

I think Paul intends to put an upholstered pad there to protect his noggin.

You got it perfectly right Matt. I usually NEVER post anything until its 100% complete but the shops been so busy this week I broke my own rule and posted this during a small lunch break. I said to my wife" If I don't post it now I might not get a chance later on today"
This is the main reason I'm quitting posting my work. It takes up WAY to much of my time.

 

[WaxMan]

The ROPS on these are very high so I doubt that will be an issue but I live 45 minutes from the city and that's where I need to go to pick up a 1/2" foam pad that will be attached to the bottom of the module. I would have had to really alter my design to use carriage bolts or even countersink bolts. When the foam pad is in place you'll never know there's a nut there other that the nut sitting in the seat :laughing:

I designed it this way to try and give it a cleaner more confined look. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen one done like it before when it comes to ROPS lighting so I thought it would be a bit unique.

It looks really good. Sorry,I missed the part about the foam, I like the low profile. Really nice lights, fits the tractor just right.

 

[radioman]

thats a slick location.

 

[4shorts]

Not to worry my friend. I might not have included it in the write up. When the shops busy I did not to be great at multi tasking and tend to forget things

thats a slick location.

Thanks. I took the brackets off for the back up alarm that I made and they are now painted. When everything is done I'll do a video to so all the additions :thumbsup:

 

[4shorts]

Well I took off a few hours early today to head to the city to look for some foam to cover over the bottom of my light module. Couldn't really find exactly what I was looking for but ended up at Wal-Mart and found some lockable foam that would work. also bought some spray glue.
I cut two pieces to the correct size then used my punch wad set to punch the holes in the first piece so it would fit over the nuts and flush with the bottom of the module. I then glued the two pieces together and only left two holes going through both pieces so I could gain assess to the two 1/4 bolts just in case I needed to remove the top of the module for servicing. Worked out nicely. I also removed the aluminum bracket that I fabbed up last evening for the back up alarm so I could etch prime it then paint it. Here's a few pics of the process. 11,000 views for a few BX mods. I would have never tunk it

 

[WaxMan]

Perfect, excellent job with the foam, Best light bar I have seen. Thats going to be one bright light if it's anything like your other tractor.
With the number of BX owners out there, I think you would have a nice little internet business selling Bx after market accessories. Send me 2 % of all sales for suggesting it. I'm a business man you know. (titanic)
We would both be rich.

 

[3v0]

Now you have done it. That BX is TOO NICE to use.

 

[cschulz]

Hey Paul, could you tell us specificly which lights you used for the ROPs. Very much would like to build that one. And I cant wait for the light show.

Chris

 

[mjncad]

You got it perfectly right Matt. I usually NEVER post anything until its 100% complete but the shops been so busy this week I broke my own rule and posted this during a small lunch break. I said to my wife" If I don't post it now I might not get a chance later on today"
This is the main reason I'm quitting posting my work. It takes up WAY to much of my time.

I'm glad to hear business is good, even if it cuts into your time sharing your latest and greatest things to come out of your shop.

Well I took off a few hours early today to head to the city to look for some foam to cover over the bottom of my light module. Couldn't really find exactly what I was looking for but ended up at Wal-Mart and found some lockable foam that would work.

The backside of that lockable floor mat foam makes for a great mousepad.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/ShopComputer#5848345147525173026

 

[JD6400NZ]

WOW, VERY VERY NICE! Every thing you do is up to high quality standard! If you didn't tell me, I would think that light bar was OEM!

 

[4shorts]

Perfect, excellent job with the foam, Best light bar I have seen. Thats going to be one bright light if it's anything like your other tractor.
With the number of BX owners out there, I think you would have a nice little internet business selling Bx after market accessories. Send me 2 % of all sales for suggesting it. I'm a business man you know. (titanic)
We would both be rich.

Thank you my buddy. Glad you like it. I guess we'll get the contract done up

Now you have done it. That BX is TOO NICE to use.

:shocked: oh man. I didn't think of that!

Hey Paul, could you tell us specificly which lights you used for the ROPs. Very much would like to build that one. And I cant wait for the light show.

Chris

Here you go Chris. Had to do some research to find this. You ask tough questions :laughing:
I just got an order to do one for a none TBN member in the US but his will be a little more "Extreme"
Happy to hear you like it. Looking forward to seeing some photos of yours when its done.

LED Quad - Extreme Tactical Dynamics

60W High Power CREE LED Light Bar ATV 4x4 Jeep Offroad Truck Boat Ford 20" | eBay

I'm glad to hear business is good, even if it cuts into your time sharing your latest and greatest things to come out of your shop.

The backside of that lockable floor mat foam makes for a great mousepad.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/ShopComputer#5848345147525173026

As you know Matt this is the busiest time of the year for us and on top of that there's this little beast BX. When its done to my liking then we'll be using it so that leaves very little time for anything else. I sure wish they'd come out with a 35 hour day. Each day I keep running out of time to get it all done. :confused3:
I will admit this ROPS light module was one of the most challenging items I put on a tractor. Very small area to work in yet I'm using full scale lighting. Setting goals on height and depth restrictions for myself didn't help me much either. Then there was the choice of material (aluminum). Bending it, tig welding, fitment,etch priming, painting. It all takes so much figuring out a design,the expense and the equipment. It's all factors you know all to well.
It might look simple but this one was a toughly but I wanted a ROPS light bar that wasn't done like before. I'm thinking I did it until someone proves me wrong :cool2:

Awesome job on the light mount, I love it!

Thanks Zick. I appreciate that!

WOW, VERY VERY NICE! Every thing you do is up to high quality standard! If you didn't tell me, I would think that light bar was OEM!

Well thank you JD. Happy to hear you like it. My wifey always asks me "Why do you put yourself through these mods"? Some times I have to ask myself the same question BUT when their done I feel they are worth the trouble. Thanks for commenting.

Today is tractor wiring day. It's 6am and I'm heading out to the shop, turning the MP3 player up on bust and gett'en'er done :thumbsup:

 

[ScottyChip]

Wow, 4shorts, I have been up since 6 am and have just finished reading your journey on the mods to your BX. I have to agree with all the comments, great work, fantastic fabrication, and excution. I hope someone from Kubota is following this thread because they need to.

I only wish that I had 1% of the talent you have, and by the sounds of things your whole family is the same.

The pride you take in your work, comes through loud and clear through the pictures and the write-up, don't stop, it's like a good book you never want to end.

Keep her comin.

 

[varmint]

Paul, as you can see, LOTS of folks really enjoy following your projects, so please, don't stop cold in posting stuff! I imagine you are like me, in one way, in that when you get going on these little projects (or not so little, like you welder trailer) you get so involved and have so much "fun" that you almost lose track of time. Sure, they absorb a lot of time, but how else would you get what you wanted? You often simply can't just go out and buy whatever.

 

[CanuckPT]

Phenomenal work! Not to mention your efforts to keep us apprised of what's going on. We are all delirious with envy dreaming of what our tractors could like like & do with your incredible imagination & skill!!

 

[radioman]

Now its time to put scratches and dirt on your newly modded BX. :thumbsup: We can't have you having your BX look better then mine ..

 

[Big Wave D]

4shorts,

What is your preferred method of drilling the holes you have in your bucket?

The ones for the plate under your Level Indicator look like they could have been somewhat tricky to do.