Grab Handles - A quick and easy mod

22667 Views 22 Replies 17 Participants Last post by POENY, May 13, 2011

Forward Look

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2010

4

Just in case any of y'all want to add grab handles to your rear fenders, for the look, the utility, or any other reason -- the handles from the 425/445/455 series are a quick and easy addition. You'll need the following from your favorite dealer:

(2) AM118928 HANDLE
(4) 14M7303 FLANGE NUT

I made a template out of paper, but eventually just put down masking tape on the fender, positioned the handles, and pressed down hard to ident the tape. I then centerpunched the indentations, and drilled the holes with (IIRC) a 1/4" bit. I put a dab of silicone at the base of the screw for some rust protection, and bolted them down.

I may "back" them with a piece of 1/2" flat stock just for some extra stability, but they are actually already pretty sturdy. I was able to rock my GX345 with 4 suitcase weights around by these handles when I got a little stuck blowing snow (that was higher than the top of the chute!) on Saturday.

Total cost was around $30, total time was less than 10 minutes. Should work on just about any tractor with relatively flat rear fenders.

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KHodges

· #2 · Feb 7, 2010

Those look great ! I use the grab handles on mine a lot when mowing across a hill. I think it's an add-on worth the effort.

stladrill

· #3 · Feb 7, 2010

Great job, sure come handy.

PA318Guy

· #4 · Feb 7, 2010

Very nice, I can see some in my 318's future!

HydroHarold

· #5 · Feb 7, 2010

But they're NOT CHROME!:ROF

Nice job, they look good. I always wondered why JD couldn't afford to add them to the GX line. I'd had an idea to add them to my GX for a while now and just never got around to it. Maybe the lack of snow higher than the tops of my moccasins (envy, envy

) had something to do with my lazyness...

Forward Look

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 7, 2010

HydroHarold said:
But they're NOT CHROME!:ROF

Well, my 'hood isn't "the 'hood"; no need for bling for my whip to roll phat style, yo. =)

Seroiusly though, if you really did want chrome, there are some really great marine grab handles I saw a while back that would also fit the bill. IIRC they were roughly $20 each.

This rig is a working girl -- she's going to be field-modified, hardened-up, worked hard, and pushed to the limits (occasionally) -- but she will be rewarded with frequent preventative maintenance, a clean dry shed, and a weekly wash. (Which is more than my Caddy, which has been washed twice in the last 3 years...)

Glad others found the information useful!

x595

· #7 · Feb 8, 2010

KHodges said:
Those look great ! I use the grab handles on mine a lot when mowing across a hill. I think it's an add-on worth the effort.

:ditto: !!! Nice work ...

Later,x595

littletractorguy

· #8 · Feb 8, 2010

Those are SLICK! If I could figure out where to mount two of those puppies on the FRONT of my unit as well, me and one other person could just pick the whole thing up when it gets stuck! :sidelaugh

rrmccabe

· #9 · Feb 8, 2010 (Edited)

Looks really good. If I did not have the arm rest I would put them on too.

Before arm rest I used to have my hand on fender a lot while mowing.

slkpk

· #10 · Feb 8, 2010

I think I will order a set for my Ingersoll 318LGT. slkpk

Grateful11

· #11 · Feb 8, 2010

Nice job! I will say this they are really handy, most people probably think
they would never use them but once they're there you won't want to be
without them.

KATT

· #12 · Feb 8, 2010 (Edited)

Great job I use the ones on my X520. like mccabe, I used to hold onto the fender. also use them to get my old butt off and on.

Forward Look

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 10, 2010

2

I forgot to add into my original post, that there are other grab handles available from Deere that may also work well for customizing your rig.

I had also picked up two M130667 grab handles which I thought would work well for my GX345. I had forgotten all about them until I ran across them yesterday while digging out some parts for another MTF member. These handles were used on the following models:

x465, X475, X485, X495, X575, X585, X595, X700, X724, X728, X729, X740, X744, X748, X749, 3032E, 3038E, 3120, 3320, 3520, 3720, 4120, 4320, 4520, 4720

Turns out that these were too wide at the base to use on my GX345, as there was not enough room on the fenderdeck due to the cup holder and toolbox.

They are a nice, meaty handle and will also mount to any flat fenderdeck, using (4) 24M7298 washers and (4) M56384 screws. I imagine they would work well and look great on many tractors.

The bonus is, these handles only cost $4.30 each!!! Hope someone out there can use them on their machines.

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Forward Look

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 10, 2010

Additionally, the AM135650 Grab Handles (priced at $7.99 each) from the X500, X520, X530, X534, X540, and 4105 may also be a good choice.

I haven't seen one off of a machine to know how suitable they would be to mounting on a flat surface, but perhaps another MTF'er can share his/her experience. They would mount with (4) 14M7396 locknuts.

Flintlock1776

· #15 · Mar 11, 2010

Forward Look said:
I made a template out of paper, but eventually just put down masking tape on the fender, positioned the handles, and pressed down hard to ident the tape. I then centerpunched the indentations, and drilled the holes with (IIRC) a 1/4" bit. I put a dab of silicone at the base of the screw for some rust protection, and bolted them down.

.

Neat tip!

:thanku:

[email protected]

· #16 · Mar 11, 2010

Forward Look said:
I had forgotten all about them until I ran across them yesterday while digging out some parts

I do that all the time, glad it's just not me :sidelaugh

pgtr

· #17 · Mar 11, 2010

Would anybody have a part# for the handles on say an X500, X520, X540 etc?

I think these might fit some of the older more 'curved' rear fender decks on some models OK.

Forward Look

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 11, 2010

[email protected] said:
I do that all the time, glad it's just not me :sidelaugh

No, it's not just you. =)

We have a bunch of old cars, and whenever I go to the swap meets, I try to remember what we need to get for them. Since I hardly have any time to work on the cars, I never get a chance to put the new parts on, so it still registers in my head as a "needed part" when I see one -- even if I have already bought 10 of them over the last few years. Only when I go to pack the new part away in the appropriate storage crate, do I realize that I already bought one (or two, or eight).

I fear how large our Deere herd may grow once we get the new garage built... I might forget that I already bought a 318 or 140H3 and buy two or three more...

Forward Look

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 11, 2010

pgtr said:
Would anybody have a part# for the handles on say an X500, X520, X540 etc?

I think these might fit some of the older more 'curved' rear fender decks on some models OK.

The AM135650 Grab Handles (priced at $7.99 each) are the ones from the X500, X520, X530, X534, X540, and 4105. They would mount with (4) 14M7396 locknuts.

Schmitty

· #20 · May 13, 2011

Forward Look said:
The AM135650 Grab Handles (priced at $7.99 each) are the ones from the X500, X520, X530, X534, X540, and 4105. They would mount with (4) 14M7396 locknuts.

I tried to PM you on this but your box is full and won't accept anymore.

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