Yanmar SA Mods

[sa324owner]

I bought my SA324 back in April and I've been scouring the Internet ever since looking for modifications to make. I wanted to share what I've done so far and I'd like to see what other people have done as well.


Fabricated 2 Inch receiver in place of original drawbar. Most accessories I already have for my truck fit a 2" receiver so this was far more useful to me. Used a cargo carrier I fabricated for my wife's old car to carry a large cooler. We would fill the cooler full of water for watering plants around the yard.


T-slot aluminum for ROPS-mounted lights. T-slot aluminum for versatile mounting for shovels/rakes/gas trimmer, etc. Wiring for lights is fully integrated into the main wiring harness at uses fused accessory circuit. Switch fits perfectly in pre-existing hole.


Obligatory steering knob.


Cross drawbar from TSC. I drilled out the two outer holes to fit some shackles. Seems to work well for general purpose stuff, including pulling small trees with the 3-point.


Last, and certainly not least, a lever in place of the brake pedal-actuated differential lock. In my opinion, this (or something like it) is how the tractor should have come equipped originally. The lever gives a MUCH improved positive feedback on whether or not the differential lock is engaged. As an added bonus, the lever will engage the lock if moved forward OR backward. The 3-point sliding lock can also be used to lock the new lever in the locked position if need be. I rebent the 3-point height control lever so the handle grip angles inboard so the two levers do not interfere with one another. The lever is currently unfinished. I will likely 3D print a handle grip similar to what's already on the machine. Since the brake pedal no longer does double-duty, I took all the slack out of the braking mechanism. The brake now operates as you'd hope/expect.

Now... show me what you've come up with!

 

[turboville]

Water in a beer cooler?

 

[sa324owner]

I don't think the plants would like beer all that much.

Seriously though, the cooler was the only thing I already had that could be used to shuttle around almost 40 gallons of water around easily. It also had a male hose fitting on the drain, so that came in handy. Next year I might strip the 50 gallon tank from our old water heater (that I hoarded) to use as a portable tank. That would likely get put in the bucket on its side.

 

[ssmith60]

Nice!!

 

[sa324owner]

Forgot this...

I ordered Security Chain Company QG2226 chains from Amazon Warehouse for $35. I actually received QG3229CAM chains. Fearing I would get a refund instead of the right chains, I tried them anyway. They are a touch shorter than what I ordered, but Peerless (the manufacturer) looked at pictures I sent of fitment and they OKed the application. I can't say whether they perform in snow/ice (I suspect they will), but the price was certainly right. The cam lock feature on the QG3229 chains is pretty slick. The QG2226 requires separate tensioners, which might have been a hassle and would have been an additional cost. I believe either of the chains I mentioned fit the rear 12-16.5NHS tires on the SA324 just fine.

 

[Kaje36]

I love your Diff Lock handle! I might have to do something like it soon!
I think besides the Steering Nob, the only mod I did was front and rear lights, everything else has been implements and a Skid steer to Yanmar quick attach. But I think I need to get a backhoe Thumb very soon!

 

[sa324owner]

I love your Diff Lock handle! I might have to do something like it soon!
I think besides the Steering Nob, the only mod I did was front and rear lights, everything else has been implements and a Skid steer to Yanmar quick attach. But I think I need to get a backhoe Thumb very soon!

I was originally going to do something different... think along the lines of a cable-drive throttle adjustment on a mower. I rigged that up to see if it would work, but I couldn't get enough leverage to engage the differential lock. The internal spring was too strong.

Honestly, it was dumb luck that the lever ended up perfectly at the midway point of the 3-point scale. I clamped the bar stock in the bench vise and started bending. I've used it a few more times since the post and it works great!

 

[rfoxinc]

With the ROPS folded down, I bolted a 12" x 2" to 1.25" receiver tube to the folding bracket.
This makes it easier to climb up onto the machine without pulling on the steering wheel and it looks like OEM.

The hole near the bottom could also be used as a mount for a work-light.
Or 1 of them on each side could be mounted facing upward as a base for a canopy frame.
Cost =$11 each from Harbor Freight.

 

[rfoxinc]

 

[sa324owner]

View attachment 672601

Since we moved, I tend to keep the ROPS down due to overhead clearance, but swing it up fairly often to use the worklights I have installed on the bar. I like the idea of using the existing hole for accessories.

You bring up a great point that I never thought much about - using the steering wheel as a handle to get on the machine. I do that all the time, but have never really felt like it was a great idea to be pulling on it like that. I might run with your idea a bit and add a grab handle on each side of the ROPS.

 

[sa324owner]

I think my next mod will be to shorten the length of the gear range selector. I find myself using high range more often than I used to and I often knock my leg into it when dismounting. I'm on the shorter side anyway, so I don't think reaching a shortened shifter will be an issue.

 

[sa324owner]

I've been terrible at keeping my modifications up-to-date, so I'm going to add a few things. I typically keep a 3 point hitch adapter on the rear of the tractor for general purpose work like transporting stumps and pulling saplings.

I wanted to make the attachment a little more useful. So, I decided it was time to weld on some grab hooks for lifting/dragging.

 

[sa324owner]

I've often needed a boom pole for lifting/moving things, but didn't want to purchase one. I don't use the 2-5/16" ball on top of the hitch adapter, so it had to go (for now). I added a 24" weld-on 2" receiver tube in place of the ball. I drilled an additional 5/8" hole near the bottom of the new receiver tube to accept a hitch pin for capturing the truck bed extender I made many years ago.

The truck bed extender acts as the boom pole. Considering I made it from 1/4"-wall tubing, I expect it to be strong enough for my needs. The chain/hook from my engine hoist fits nicely in the tubing and another pitch pins retains the chain. The truck bed extender also has an adjustable cross brace I can use for carrying wider loads.

The attached picture shows "high lift" mode where the top link is adjusted out for boom clearance past the lowered ROPS bar. I also plan to allow for the truck bed extender to be inserted "backwards" allowing for a "far lift" mode. I'll add removable struts that attach from mid-way down the truck bed extender back to the 3-point attachment. I'm considering having the struts drop into the grab hooks for quick attachment/removal.

 

[sa324owner]

This project is not completed yet but I'll show some progress. Like many, many others here I wanted grab hooks on the top of the bucket. However, the metal along the top lip of the bucket is thin enough that I don't trust it to take loads approaching the capacity of the loader without buckling.

For strength and robustness, I thought it best to make gussets to support the top lip. The gussets will tie the top lip back to the 3/4"-thick QA brackets on the bucket itself. I will then cut/grind through the bucket's top lip and weld the grab hooks directly to the gussets so the bucket's sheet metal should never see *any* lifting load. The load will be transferred directly back to the QA bracket.

The gussets themselves are made from 1" plate steel the previous owner of the property left behind. As a bonus rigging/lifting feature, I drilled a 15/16" hole in each bracket for installing shackles. One picture shows before and after of a plate.

The bucket top-view picture is a poor attempt to show alignment of the gusset with the bucket's QA bracket.

 

[MACflyer]

I've often needed a boom pole for lifting/moving things, but didn't want to purchase one. I don't use the 2-5/16" ball on top of the hitch adapter, so it had to go (for now). I added a 24" weld-on 2" receiver tube in place of the ball. I drilled an additional 5/8" hole near the bottom of the new receiver tube to accept a hitch pin for capturing the truck bed extender I made many years ago.

The truck bed extender acts as the boom pole. Considering I made it from 1/4"-wall tubing, I expect it to be strong enough for my needs. The chain/hook from my engine hoist fits nicely in the tubing and another pitch pins retains the chain. The truck bed extender also has an adjustable cross brace I can use for carrying wider loads.

The attached picture shows "high lift" mode where the top link is adjusted out for boom clearance past the lowered ROPS bar. I also plan to allow for the truck bed extender to be inserted "backwards" allowing for a "far lift" mode. I'll add removable struts that attach from mid-way down the truck bed extender back to the 3-point attachment. I'm considering having the struts drop into the grab hooks for quick attachment/removal.

I like this set up, the possibilities are endless. I really need to learn to weld!!

Although it's only 400ish pounds, I was concerned about the weight on the bucket when lifting with my bolt on hooks as well. However, I keep the bucket tipped down so the load is carried vertically by the top of the bucket, and it's worked so far for moving my box blade and tiller. I like your approach to reinforcement though.

 

[sa324owner]

@MACflyer, good idea keeping the bucket tipped down. I hadn't thought of that.

The placement of your grab hooks looks almost identical to what I was planning. Thanks for the pictures as they let me see what a sizable load will look like. It appears like it would be quite stable.

These are certainly beefy little machines, but they have their limits. Since I'm not a Mechanical Engineer who geeks out on load/stress analysis in SolidWorks (no offense MEs reading this!), I intentionally go a little overboard with my designs.

 

[RogerDL]

I bought my SA324 back in April and I've been scouring the Internet ever since looking for modifications to make. I wanted to share what I've done so far and I'd like to see what other people have done as well.

View attachment 573119View attachment 573120View attachment 573128
Fabricated 2 Inch receiver in place of original drawbar. Most accessories I already have for my truck fit a 2" receiver so this was far more useful to me. Used a cargo carrier I fabricated for my wife's old car to carry a large cooler. We would fill the cooler full of water for watering plants around the yard.

View attachment 573121View attachment 573122View attachment 573123
T-slot aluminum for ROPS-mounted lights. T-slot aluminum for versatile mounting for shovels/rakes/gas trimmer, etc. Wiring for lights is fully integrated into the main wiring harness at uses fused accessory circuit. Switch fits perfectly in pre-existing hole.

View attachment 573124
Obligatory steering knob.

View attachment 573125
Cross drawbar from TSC. I drilled out the two outer holes to fit some shackles. Seems to work well for general purpose stuff, including pulling small trees with the 3-point.

View attachment 573126View attachment 573127
Last, and certainly not least, a lever in place of the brake pedal-actuated differential lock. In my opinion, this (or something like it) is how the tractor should have come equipped originally. The lever gives a MUCH improved positive feedback on whether or not the differential lock is engaged. As an added bonus, the lever will engage the lock if moved forward OR backward. The 3-point sliding lock can also be used to lock the new lever in the locked position if need be. I rebent the 3-point height control lever so the handle grip angles inboard so the two levers do not interfere with one another. The lever is currently unfinished. I will likely 3D print a handle grip similar to what's already on the machine. Since the brake pedal no longer does double-duty, I took all the slack out of the braking mechanism. The brake now operates as you'd hope/expect.

Now... show me what you've come up with!

Wheel weights and toolbox I put on mine. I also have LED lights, a Piranha tooth bar, and bucket hooks but no pictures of them.

 

[sa324owner]

Wheel weights and toolbox I put on mine. I also have LED lights, a Piranha tooth bar, and bucket hooks but no pictures of them.

Those are some hefty looking wheel weights! Are they Yanmar OEM or adapted to fit a 424? When loaded, my 324 feels a bit light in the back at times even with filled rear tires. Wheel weights could be a worthwhile upgrade without needing to swap in a heavy implement on the rear. Thanks for that idea!

That's a slick ROPS mounted box as well. Do you have a link to where you got it?

 

[RogerDL]

Those are some hefty looking wheel weights! Are they Yanmar OEM or adapted to fit a 424? When loaded, my 324 feels a bit light in the back at times even with filled rear tires. Wheel weights could be a worthwhile upgrade without needing to swap in a heavy implement on the rear. Thanks for that idea!

That's a slick ROPS mounted box as well. Do you have a link to where you got it?

I actually made the wheel weights. At work we have a few low profile step deck trailers that have drums small enough to fit inside the rims on a 424. I filled them with concrete and they are fairly heavy - I'd say 150-180 lbs.

The toolbox I got off of Amazon - here is the link for that: Amazon.com: MOTO4U Motorcycle Off-Road Universal Waterproof Tool Tube Gloves Raincoat Storage Box Cap Holder Canisters Tool Repair Box Document Holder In Black: Automotive

 

[Williy]

I would have put t;he hooks on the edge of the bucket
less chance to bend something.

willy