Grown men playing with Magnets

[TonyC]

Yet another project extolling the virtues of magnetism. Harv was kind enough to offer me his invention of a tool box rack that is mounted to the ROPS and uses magnets to hold the box in place. Slick idea, I thought and I knew I had to have one. I did make some ever so slight changes to the original but it is essentially the same. I think the design is self explanatory from the photo. In keeping with my promise to also post failures, I should mention that before you undertake this project you need to raise the 3 pt hitch all the way up with an implement and the top link in place BEFORE you mount the box. I didn't and...well, you figure it out! Fortunately nothing was really damaged but I had to make some modifications. Rather than move it higher (it was getting too high up) I moved it closer to the seat. It turned out fine all the same...I think it makes for a neat mounting system and the toolbox is easily removed and/or replaced with other items. Those magnets are VERY strong...now if I could just get my tools out of the darn box!!!! At least my arthritis is better.

 

[TonyC]

Here is a shot with the toolbox in place.

Thanks for the idea, Harv!

 

[Harv]

Looks mighty fine to me, Tony! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Have you field tested it yet? On mine, even though the magnets prevented my ammo boxes from lifting straight up, enough bumping and jarring would eventually cause them to "walk" a little. I wound up putting square tubing "feet" on the bottom of each box, which straddled the rack itself (see attachment), thus preventing walking.

Feet to prevent walking??? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[TonyC]

I have done some bush hogging with minimal jarring. So far, no movement at all. I've been watching and waiting though. I have some grading to do this weekend, so we'll soon see if I need to "cripple" it with feet!

 

[fishman]

Harv and TonyC,

Looks like a great idea! I'll have to try that out shortly.

 

[john_bud]

Nice work Harv, but wouldn't it look just that much better with some pretty welds instead of those bolts?

Chirstmas is on the way....

John Bud

 

[Harv]

You sure know how to hurt a guy, John. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[billboe]

Looks good guys...

However, that design wouldn't work for me... The support would interfere with the backhoe seat. I'm thinking about mounting a toolbox on the left fender... I need to do a search and see if anyone on the board has already thought of any gottchas...

See Ya,

Bill

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>I'm thinking about mounting a toolbox on the left fender</font color=blue>

I chose the right fender (the Chalkley Cup had first dibs on the left). /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

This was intended to be a temporary measure until I got the ROPS rack finished, but it's been on there for a year now and the only reason I would remove it at this point would be to make room for some extra hydraulic controls (I still dream).

Because it was "temporary", I used existing holes in the fender to bolt it down. The box itself is plastic, so I dropped a scrap of sheet metal on the inside to run the bolts through. Makes a handy armrest, too. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pictures attached.

 

[billboe]

<font color=blue>...the only reason I would remove it at this point would be to make room for some extra hydraulic controls (I still dream).</font color=blue>

Yeah... I'm a dreamer also... That's why I plan on the left fender. I'm sure I can find room for the "Chalkley Cup" somewhere! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif


Billboe