Cub Cadet Cab & Snow Plow Build - Final installment adde

[Steve_in_Mich]

Timely I guess. I see a thread by Trainman4602 using CLECOS to aid assembly of his cab - very nice indeed.

http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... highlight=

I decided to post pictures I took yesterday of my friends approach to Cab building. He has two projects going at the moment. A cab for his Cub and converting a used snow plow that previously was truck mounted to a quick hitch for the Cub tractor. On the later he will have the tilt and lift functions of the loader and will pick up the hydraulics from the rear of the tractor for angling the blade.


The cab, no CLECOS here - it's only a tractor, he uses words like 'cut and tack', 'fit and spit', 'slash and gash' and others I can't remember now but he is on his way to making his snow plowing experience a warmer one.

Most of the framework is tacked up including the doors (3/4" tube frame). He will add another horizontal tube to stiffen up for the locking latch on the left side door and the right side will only open from the inside. This cab will have lots of 1/4" polycarbonate sheet for visibility and heat will be ducted from the engine compartment. Windows will have a 4" radius on the corners and be mounted in a locking rubber molding. He will tack in the corner radi for windows and then take it off the tractor and weld, beat and grind it into shape. I imagine another fitting on the tractor to check it out before paint. For the benefit of those with dial-up, I'll post this one image directly and let you click on the others as you have an interest and time.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab04.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab09.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab15.jpg

[drivadesl]

Beautiful work! Looks pro so far. At some point I would like to attempt a cab for my TN-70 so this is good inspiration. What type equipement did you use to fab this? Obviously a welder, and a brake I would guess. How did you make the long radius bends over the rear fenders? What are the plans for the interior finish? Very nice work, thanks for showing this.

[Steve_in_Mich]

Beautiful work! Looks pro so far. At some point I would like to attempt a cab for my TN-70 so this is good inspiration. What type equipement did you use to fab this? Obviously a welder, and a brake I would guess. How did you make the long radius bends over the rear fenders? What are the plans for the interior finish? Very nice work, thanks for showing this.

The "L" shape steel was ordered pre-bent. The long radius bends were bent up cold in the vice. Bend, check, bend, check ... too much bend - hammered out straight some, check and repete. The 1/8" thick 1" by 1" angle and 3/4" sq. tube w/16 ga. wall bends pretty easy. I got a couple more photos today.

The snow blade is all assembled and welded up, primered yesterday and painted gloss black today.

I'll add a picture or two when I get them downloaded from the camera etc.

[Steve_in_Mich]

Door hinges, latch and some skin at the brake point between top and lower tapers.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... bcab21.jpg

And the front blade with quick hitch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... tplow6.jpg

[Corm]

Your are coming along nicely. Looking real good!

Nice looking tractor also.

Corm

[Steve_in_Mich]

The cab is off and as expected the continuous welding around the perimeter of the skins and window sweeps caused some warpage that is now beaten into submission. There is a lot of weld grinding to accomplish now. The top skin will be added once everything is checked and rechecked.

A couple of shots of progress.

[Steve_in_Mich]

As of Feb. 5th
Snow plow (tilting, angleing) is fully operational only lacking the skid plates now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... 205091.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/c ... 205092.jpg

The roof is now on the cab and it is moved into the paint room. Epoxy primer, sanding sealer, spot puty and final color should happen this weekend.

[Steve_in_Mich]

This is how it looks with Epoxy white primer. Coverage was a bit light in places but at $165. a qt. this is a one quart base coat. Next some spot puty and sanding sealer before the top coat matched to the Cub cream color.

[steamin10]

Nice job, from a fellow builder. I am impressed.

I am sadened too at the price of the fair to good quality paint materials. By golly, I got a qt of Silver for my (newest addition) Ranger pickup and it was 70$ !!!

We lost 3 vehicles this winter to accidents this year by 2 Daughters. I bought a Ranger 02' Model that a college girl wiped the nose on a guardrail. I had it straightened, and we put all the plastic back on the front, and she is ready to go, 'xept for a few dings and scratches. it will replace my aging Red Splash Ranger, with 130+ miles. At the moment, I have 4 Rangers, My FLEET my son says. This spring is sale time.

[Steve_in_Mich]

Well there are a few little details left on the Cab and Plow projects [work light mounted on the back of the cab, door weatherstripping, heater duct and windshield wiper install] but it is ready to work. Note the tinted safety glass windshield and cab color match. Turned out GREAT I think. That's my buddy in the pictures, his tractor and his handy work.