Grab handle and cart mod pics.

8154 Views 46 Replies 8 Participants Last post by engine2quarters, Jul 15, 2009

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2009

3

So I went to Lowes to pick up some lumber to make sides for my cart and while I was there I came across the handles that someone linked me to in another thread and I bought a set.

I want to post a photo and you can tell me what you think. I am not fond of them being yellow so I am thinking maybe a can of Krylon Fusion in black would do them justice.

Also posting up some photos of the sides I am working on for the cart.

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21 - 40 of 47 Posts

Tvern13

· #21 · Jul 12, 2009

Huh??? I have looked at those before for some reason didn't register - must have had a senior moment.

LLigetfa

· #22 · Jul 12, 2009

It's only 8 cu ft and not very sturdy.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...+Garden&cName=Tractor+Attachments&sName=Carts

When I really want to move a lot of wood, I use this. Same as my avatar.

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Tvern13

· #23 · Jul 12, 2009

Now that's a nice wagon. Home built ?

LLigetfa

· #24 · Jul 12, 2009

Ja, home made but not mine, my neighbor's.

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jul 12, 2009

Tvern,

Your signature says the Brinly cart is 17 Cubic feet. The JD cart is the same cart and it's only 10. I'm cornfused!

LLigetfa

· #26 · Jul 12, 2009

If you look closely, you can see they are not the same. The Brinly is wider and has wheel wells. It also has 4 stake pockets on each side.

http://www.brinly.com/lawn-care-products/carts/poly-utility-carts/PCT-17BH.html

Tvern13

· #27 · Jul 12, 2009

Brett,

Don't worry size doesn't matter :ROF :ROF :ROF

Tractor-Holic

· #28 · Jul 12, 2009

Brett,I can see if your mowing on hills,where the grab handles would be a good thing to have!..

I remebered on one cart I have with taller plywood sides I made,I used a pair of old door hinges on the upper corners on the inside to lock the side and front panels together--I'd pull the hinge pins out if I wanted to remove one or both sides..on a firewood cart I use in my garage I added higher sides too hold more wood,I didn't realize as the wood was used up I couldn't stoop over far enough to REACH the wood once it was a foot or less off the bottom of it--so I ended up sawing one side in half and hinging it,so I could unfold it and reach the wood!--I used one of those barrel bolt door catch things on it to hold it shut..

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · #29 · Jul 12, 2009

I went down to the hardware store and bought some turnbuckles, S hooks and Eye's. I put the eyes in the front corners, put backer blocks on the inside of the side rails and crimped the S hooks onto the turnbuckles. It's overly elaborate I know, but it's adjustable tension wise

My Rev 1.0 projects are always overkill and Rev 1.5a always brings me down to reality! I like the way they look now (will need to take photos) but I am a little ticked that the Brinly car is 7 Cubic Feet bigger because I WAS going to buy that cart and it would have at least matched my tractor (and was cheaper by 20 or so dollars!) *pouts*

I tested the grab handles today, I didn't mow the grass but I did drive up on the slope and they worked just as expected, very sturdy and I was able to brace myself and stay in the seat... Of course the tractor still sputtered, next on the list? Defeat seat switch.... Zip ties!

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · #30 · Jul 13, 2009

2

Here are a few quick snaps of the modified front and sides and the turnbuckle setup.

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franky14

· #31 · Jul 13, 2009

Looks really Brett. I do like the addition of the grab handle!

Tvern13

· #32 · Jul 13, 2009

Brett,

It just keeps getting nicer. Like the turnbuckles in the corners. Does it keep the rails nice and tight. I might have to rethink mine. Keep on and you'll be forced to paint the cart to match the tractor cause it'll be lookin' too good not to go all the way.

Sailingamerican

· #33 · Jul 14, 2009

They make stake side corner brackets that slip together. I have a stack of them in a drawer. I use them on my flat bed trailers. That way you can just pull the sides off with out tools. The corners stay together very well.

I still can not figure out for the life of me why one need a handle on the side of the tractor. I can never see myself needing it.

Tvern13

· #34 · Jul 14, 2009

2

Basically an OH SH!+ handle. So called because when riding on a side slope that is exactly the phrase you will use when you grab it to keep your arse in the seat. :ROF :ROF :ROF This is providing the tractor hasn't rolled on top of you yet. Here's mine on my two tractors. Note: These are factory not added by me.

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Tractor-Holic

· #35 · Jul 14, 2009

I can see using them for a good place to grab onto,to drag the tractor out of the mud or a rut if it got stuck or hung up on something,but not as grab handles really,due to reasons I listed earlier,plus I'd fear grabbing the spinning tire accidentally too,they are pretty close to it..

..

The door hinges I used with the pins removeable, are about all the ready made stake side brackets are,for a lot less $$..I found several old doors at the dump,all I needed was a screwdriver! ..

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · #36 · Jul 15, 2009

FYI.... The Grab Handles worked FLAWLESSLY! I just mowed the grass tonight and was able to mow between the pole and guide wire (slope) and hold on....

Sailingamerican

· #37 · Jul 15, 2009

My late father inlaw once rolled a 1948 Farmall cub over backward and broke his back on a hill in Washington State. He was a ship fitter and worked on Subs.
Great guy. Had a great garden. I have driven JD4440's and other tractors. I have driven everything from there down too a little riding lawn mower. I have mowed on steep hills and never had an O S... moment. I once was on a pulled grader and dug in and got things stuck but never have gotten anyting stuck in the mud sense. I never drive a car like I am bent out of **** either. I work fast but never take chances. I have boken too many bones and had too many stiches to do anything else crazy.

Sorry everyone seems to have those O moments. I ride around on my little YS4500 mowing and if I turn my head my bum comes off the seat and starts to shut things down. Drives me nuts. I can not even puy my foot down to kick things out of the way with out it wanting to cut out. I am 6-1 and 270. You would think I could keep the seat down. LOL I still own 5 tracotors. I know what they can do and I never push my luck. For years I pulled longs off a 500 ft hill in back of my house in Washington ST. I never even came close to dumping the tracor going up or down. It was steep in parts. I would not drive a car through thick heavy mud and I don't ever see a reason to drive a tractor thorugh it. I know it is tempting just to see if we can do it but I never want to take the time to pull things out an repair them. I guess I would spend time to drain the swamp before I would go through it. I put in drains in the back 40 on my farm. It was always too wet so I took the backhoe and dug a deep trench through the field into the creek. I put in crushed rock and drain pipe. Then covered it with cruched rock and cloth. That was 30 years ago. The field is farmed every year and no longer turns to mud. If you need a grab bar you need to rethink things. I guess I got living on the edge out of my system years ago.
Nothing wrong with holding on. Both hands on the wheel works for me. It would never occure to me to put grab handles on a small tractor. What do I know.

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engine2quarters

· #38 · Jul 15, 2009

Was thinking of those 'handles' yesterday. Where could I put them on the LT1000? Not much space between the shift lever and the fender edge. But I could see a use, even just mowing the lawn. The WH211 has even less space.
I'm used to 'mowing' with a side sickle bar on an old Fordson tractor. You sat on the side of the seat to make sure you didn't leave a row of uncut hay or grass, that would bind up the cutter head, since the sickle was kinda hidden from view, if you sat up straight. You had the right fender to grab onto.
I'll have to take another look ont eh smaller tractorsd. There might be some room, even on the cup holder side.
Don't think they'd do any good when trying to go uphill. I'd rather have 2 hands on the wheel.
Now, if you DID use Armorall on the seat, like we all know that we shouldn't, maybe a seatbelt would help in that case.

Sailingamerican

· #39 · Jul 15, 2009

engine2quarters said:
Was thinking of those 'handles' yesterday. Where could I put them on the LT1000? Not much space between the shift lever and the fender edge. But I could see a use, even just mowing the lawn. The WH211 has even less space.
I'm used to 'mowing' with a side sickle bar on an old Fordson tractor. You sat on the side of the seat to make sure you didn't leave a row of uncut hay or grass, that would bind up the cutter head, since the sickle was kinda hidden from view, if you sat up straight. You had the right fender to grab onto.
I'll have to take another look ont eh smaller tractorsd. There might be some room, even on the cup holder side.
Don't think they'd do any good when trying to go uphill. I'd rather have 2 hands on the wheel.
Now, if you DID use Armorall on the seat, like we all know that we shouldn't, maybe a seatbelt would help in that case.

It has been years sense I used a side sickle bar. I have one for my Farmall. I can see a grab bar for that one.
I have gotten my JD and Craftsman garden tractors in tight places. The only time I grab the tractor anywhere is by the front bumper or rear frame. I pick both of them up by the bumper or rear frame by hand and walk them around in tight places. they are not that heavy. Under 500 pounds is nothing to move. I have a VW dune buggy that is 960 pounds and I can still pick the back bumper up and pull it around. I admit it is harder the older I get. LOL
I guess people like pimping out thier tractors. :sidelaugh
What ever spins your top. I figured everyone is drinking too much beer and needed a handle to hang onto.

Brett-JDX748

Discussion Starter · #40 · Jul 15, 2009

The handle is for mowing across slopes, not up and down them... My slope is just steep enough that when I mow across it, I slide out of the seat, and two hands on the wheel does nothing... The tractor starts sputtering and missing (seat switch). With the handles? NO Problem!

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