cab project

[600rider]

So is 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/8 a strong yet light enough tube to go with? We will be starting our cab in the spring, once it is warm enough.

If I had it to do all over again I would use 1x1x1/8 square tube or 1.5x1.5x1/8. But with more bracing it would be alright. I got most of the tubing from work free as it was drops from a job we did for a customer.

Dirt, your cab looks great I used wiper motors from a "K" car station wagon from the salvage yard. I also agree that 1/8 steel is over kill for the roof, I used 1/16" aluminum with 90 degree bends down the side and cross brakes to stiffen it up.

I wish I could figure out how to post pics the way you guys do.

 

[WilliamBos]

You need to use a photo hosting site, like webshots, or photo bucket. You upload the pics to the site, and then you post the link in your message like text, and whammo the pic is up.

We will NOT be removing the ROPS, but will build a canopy, and the add sides/back/front that are irremovable, with canopy permanent.

 

[Dirtnut]

finely after 3 days of ,measuring,cutting,grinding,& dredded do overs, i got the front skinned around the fuel tank,valve,hoses along with 6 filler panels made. they will go down around the petals & floor boards.they will go on when cab is installed. those panels sure took a long time to make,(lots of detail cuts)the cab is off of the tractor now for finish work & wont go back on till it is done.still need to do the roof,make door & window latches & finish the back.i did get most of the back done but need to make 2 shallow removable boxes that will cover the rops mounts that stick out.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Glad your back at it Dirtnut, was starting to wonder if you got hit
by that ice storm. that measuring, cutting, welding,____etc..
would give anybody a headache.

The cab is really looking good!

 

[mjncad]

What are you using to lift the cab on and off your tractor? I'm guessing a gantry crane on wheels.

 

[nedly05]

What are you using to lift the cab on and off your tractor? I'm guessing a gantry crane on wheels.

My buddy has a curtis cab that he takes off in the summer, he has a pully through a beam in his shop and made up a sling that he uses to pick the cab off with his 4-wheeler winch. It works slick.

Dirtnut, Great job!!!!!!!

 

[Dirtnut]

no ice mainly all snow.i didnt post pics for a few days because progress was slow,it took 3 days to do what little i did. yep that is what i do,i have gantry made out of 5" round by 1/2" thick drill steels with a pully attached.then i use the 4wheeler with the winch to pick the cab up.

 

[Dirtnut]

got a few more things done in the last week or two,front window skin,filler plates drilled taped and bolted in,two back filler plates done.i am out of 16ga. steel and have been waiting for the steel shop to call and let me know when more is in,i need a piece for the roof yet then all the fab work will be done.so i guess i will do the door and window latches.then i need to start thinking about lights,window/door gaskets,wiper motors & all the things that need to be mocked up(mounting,wire holes,etc...) prior to paint.that will probably be all till spring because i need warmer weather to do some body filler work,caulking and all the prep work for paint. O ya any ideas on color schemes for the cab.

 

[mjncad]

That cab is sure looking good. Paint it to match your tractor, as it looks more factory that way.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

got a few more things done in the last week or two,front window skin,filler plates drilled taped and bolted in,two back filler plates done.i am out of 16ga. steel and have been waiting for the steel shop to call and let me know when more is in,i need a piece for the roof yet then all the fab work will be done.so i guess i will do the door and window latches.then i need to start thinking about lights,window/door gaskets,wiper motors & all the things that need to be mocked up(mounting,wire holes,etc...) prior to paint.that will probably be all till spring because i need warmer weather to do some body filler work,caulking and all the prep work for paint. O ya any ideas on color schemes for the cab.

Dirtnut,

That really looks good, on the color, i think the color of you tractor
would look good, but its totally up to you.

But great work and will be looking forward to the finish.

 

[Dirtnut]

thanks for the compliments.as for the paint i dont know if i want it all orange with the gray stripes carried along the sides or if i want it black with the roof line painted orange or something else that would look cool.also what do you guys think about under coating the whole inside of the cab,would there be any good/bad by doing this i thought maybe it would help with vibration. i do plan on making insulation panels to fit where ever i can covering them with some kind of fabric for a nicer look & this should help with sound to.

 

[PILOON]

On my cab I glued 1/4" foam with headliner material before attaching the roof to the frame thus sandwiching it all together.
The roof sandwitch is then between the roof deck and the frame.
Made a neet finish and no trims were required.
I fastened the roof using self tapping sheetmetal screws rather than welding.
(also no choice as I'd burn the headlining)
No 'drumming' noises at all.
Also I used galvanised sheet stock to totally eliminate rust issues.

In cutting/forming the roof I created 'eyebrows' front and rear as well as incorporated 'rain drips' on the sides to prevent water from entering door and window joints. (like 1" 45 deg folds slightly wider than cab frame) This also stiffened the roof deck nicely.

My aux lighting is slung under the 'eyebrows' thus element protected as well being snag proof from branches stc.

An idea that I wished I had thought of at the time is that using grommets all the aux wiring could be fished through the cab tubing for a cleaner inside look. Think of using connectors when you wire lighting as at some point the cab might need remouval.

Nice work, keep it up!

 

[2manyrocks]

Don't think I'd put fabric on the inside unless you're thinking of some kind of vinyl material you can wipe down. You can get vinyl material at the local sewing goods place. Maybe there is some spray adhesive that could be used to glue the fabric to the foam board and then stick the foam board to your tractor cab panels? Seems like there are some kinds of foam board insulation that you can "glue" in place with the spray foam stuff. Some of this stuff will eat the foam--would have to figure out which products would be suitable.

You've done a great job on the cab.

 

[Dirtnut]

update on cab. i got my steel for the roof today had the sides bent & put it on.turned out pretty nice,will weld the drip edge on when i get the 1/2x1/2 angle.now i need some warm dry weather to do some finish work and paint. it is really starting to rust.

 

[WayneB]

I have been told that warm dry weather is on it's way, although we had another 6-8 inches of snow yesterday and looking at another front moving in tonight.

Just wondering if you are keeping track of the hours and money invested in the project?

Wayne

 

[Dirtnut]

no track of time,about $250.00 for steel i had to buy.i had all the square tubing already.hope to keep it around a $1000.00 when done.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

update on cab. i got my steel for the roof today had the sides bent & put it on.turned out pretty nice,will weld the drip edge on when i get the 1/2x1/2 angle.now i need some warm dry weather to do some finish work and paint. it is really starting to rust.

Looks great Dirtnut,

I hadn't seen you post in a while.

Yea can't wait till spring hits and turn the ground to get the garden going.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Dirtnut]

i was waiting for my steel,plus got called back to work beginning of feb.picked up my drip edge last night will weld that on over the weekend.

 

[Dirtnut]

update on tractor cab,
sorry for not posting in such a long time, job is killing me.I have been working on the cab, painted it last week. (pics to come) just ordered my door & window gaskets tonight from McMaster-Carr,if they get here by the weekend i will be putting the cab on the tractor this weekend.if all goes well i will have pictures sunday night.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Glad your back at it Dirtnut.

Looking forward to seeing your cab finished.

Thanks for the update!