ACCESSORIES

I have come to realize that I am a little obsessed with tractor accessories. Fenders, Mirrors, Lights, Steps, Toolboxes etc. When looking at tractors I'm always drawn to the options and accessories the owner has added to the tractor. How good or bad it is mounted, trying to guess if its just for fun or serves a purpose, whether its the same vintage for that machine or from a newer tractor. Personally I have put 4020 fenders on an A and a tool box step off a 3010 on a B. Would like to put front fenders on the 4230, 4430 someday. Am I the only one who looks for these things? What do you guys like to put/see on tractors?

Does putting a backup camera on a combine count? I originally wanted just to be able to see what I might be backing into but after having it on the combine for a while I realized it makes a very good rear view mirror and a monitor for the straw chopper.

Lights! Now that we have LED lights so amp draw isn't the limiting issue that it was, I LOVE to actually see where I'm going, where I'm backing up, and what I'm trying to work on!

I've seen some combines that look like a lit up Yankee Stadium moving the field these days. Things have 360 degree lighting from the factory it seems. I took my cue from them...

The best thing is that I mount backward facing LED lights so that you can actually see the hitch/pto area as well as if it were daylight out. It's so damn nice not fumbling around back there with a flashlight clutched in your teeth trying to find that pin you dropped....

Grouse

Rather than lights, I went a different route with my little skid loader. I have a permanent neck injury so is really difficult to turn my head. Bought a bunch of tiny little cameras and (3) monitors that mount on the top front of the cab. I made magnetic mounts for some of the cameras so that I can move them around for different views or attach them to various implements (if I ever get more than the bucket! *lol*). Provides me with up to 6 different views; (2) selectable per camera. As they have night vision (weak, but enough), no need for more than the original work lights -- though I also want to upgrade those older lights to LED some day.

What's nice about the cameras is, without even having to adjust in my seat, I can know EXACTLY what's going on all around the machine, including the work being done. Imagine how handy it'd be to be able to SEE how close you are to a wall )or pickup, or ???) when a large load blocks your view. Comes in real handy!

One of my future "additions" will be a long-arm limb cutter. I'll be able to have a rooftop view of the action, as well as another camera right there near the cutter for pinpoint precision. Can't believe similar systems haven't made it onto these newer, fancier equipment already. What, [i:7ae7c2b049]just[/i:7ae7c2b049] a backup camera? For shame! *lol*

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WFRKGSC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do cameras on a combine stay dust free enough at the lens to be of use for very long?

Even though I am not a particular fan of John Deeres, I do think that the 4020 style fenders are some of the BEST looking fenders of all makes. Many years ago, a neighbor installed a pair of those fenders on a Farmall M. Painted them red to match the tractor. It looked very good.

I don't think there is any crop more dusty than red clover and I might (only might) clean the camera lens once a year.

I like to add or design accessories of the era of the tractor (or might have been on the tractor). I have a personal rule that I will not torch or weld any original part and that includes in order to add new parts. I like to maintain the ability to convert it back to ff the assembly line capacity"

On my Case 2 bottom plow I added a 50cal ammo can to hold tools (painted to match the plow). In addition to this I added coverboards and sealed bearing coulters painted to match. My 300 has an aftermarket Kneodler Easy-Ride seat with the toolbox mounted (currently) by the engine. I also changed the oil bath air cleaner to dry element and added JI Case front wheel weights and a front bumper drawbar.

On my Case one bottom plow I am adding a coverboard and a yetter disc coulter.

On my VAC I built and added a "Deluxe" style seat and rebuilt the seat mount to be fully grease-able. A remote valve was also added that is not factory but looks like it might have been. A larger step was added (made out of a CIH magnum step) to help get on easier. I am currently in the works of building a removable buddy seat that my wife can ride with me on my VAC/300 with parts that are somewhat from that era.

Both tractors had receiver hitches added to the drawbars (I know it breaks my welding rule but I have 2 extra drawbars that are factory that I can still use if I want).

I could go an with other modifications around our farm equipment but we would be here for a long time. I will attach pictures of the accessories for those who like to see them. The seat cushions on the VAC are actually reproduction John Deere that I custom made a frame for. Very comfy!

The DC Wheel weight on the VAC was temporary. Now I have 2 sets of rear VAC weights on the tractor.

On my fathers 730 you can see magnum steps bolted in place of the original steps to ease mount and dismount.

Has anyone ever accidentally called you Loren Jr.? (ACG) Although I don?t think Loren would post a picture of a nice painted up tractor with a rusty wheel weight. Lol! Those mods all look real nice and well thought out, that air cleaner especially. Happy tractoring! Maybe some day I?ll worry less about money and/or functionality to place more focus on prettiness. In short I?m jealous.

good work. Let's see some more!

No, ACG really puts some elbow grease into his equipment and comes up with some great designs. I go for cheap and easy changes!

Here are some more pictures of my fathers equipment:

DC with fabricated drawbar lever and hydraulic lever on his plow.

Also are pictures of a conversion for Case coulters to kinze sealed bearing coulters.

Finally is a picture of a homemade extended landside I have been working on for my plow.