Kubota B2650 Cab Fabrication

[RCW]

I see you have a MM tractor. I grew up on Dad's old "U" plowing on our vast 160 acres way back when. Dad would get quite mad when he'd see us jerk the ol' hand clutch lever to raise the front wheels off the ground at the start of the next round. (Can't understand why!!)

"My" Moline is still at my Dad's but needs to come here "or else." It's a long story and process, but it needs some governor tweaking to load it.

I grew up with this one also. Narrow front end; we used it in the woods for firewood for years after selling the cows. It means so much to me from my heritage....my grandfather bought it in the late-50's, when my Dad was a teenager.

I still drive my 2017 Silverado with my thumbs on the outside of the steering wheel...Dad yelled at me about the thumbs....I didn't listen until that time when I was 12 or so.....43 years later, I still remember....

 

[bird dogger]

I thought I might as well add these pics regarding my cab heater install. I purchased a Jegs heater (Part Number: 555-70601) after the engine temperature was maintainable in the midrange from applying the weather fronts to the front grill and hood sides. It’s a nice 28000 BTU heater that comes complete with mounting frames, wiring harness, built in fan, and mountable 3 speed fan control switch. I didn’t use the included mounting brackets because I wanted to be able to both select or mix inside air with outside air. To do this, I built this light gauge steel boxed frame which was then bolted to the front cab corner. A control rod with handle on the side operates a plate on the cab’s outside to open and close a hole allowing outside air into the back of the heater enclosure. Although I don’t have a pic of it, the sliding handle on the bottom of the heater box opens and closes a port on the box bottom for letting inside air into the enclosure.

 

[bird dogger]

The three speed fan switch is mounted beside the box on the window framework. At first I was thinking that it would be nice to be able to mix inside and outside air but have since found out that the heater will do almost as well heating just the outside air. There’d be no real need for mixing the two sources. It puts out plenty of heat! I bet it would raise the inside temp to + 80 degrees or more with the fan on high. It’s definitely short sleeve shirt weather inside with the heater going. Breaking into the plumbing was easy. First, the coolant was drained by loosening the drain plug (lower right corner of the radiator) and letting it drip into a container. I made this little tool with a piece of metal that fit the drain plug snugly and added it to a short piece of pipe. Turning the tool with a slip joint pliers worked great. 3/8 inch heater hose was installed and run to the outside of the cab. This Jegs heater core used ½ inch hose connections so ½ inch heater hose connected to the heater was run to the outside of the cab and with a coupler joined with the 3/8 inch hoses. The smaller hoses were much easier to install and run to the heater location and still allowed plenty of flow to the heater. As simple as it was to unhook and replace the bypass hose after draining the coolant I haven’t bothered with any fancy fixtures or valves. I’ll just drain the coolant and reinstall the bypass hose when the cab is removed in the spring. There is virtually no coolant loss or mess in doing it this way. (I expect to have to be somewhat careful when removing the heater hoses to lower them into a catch container to let the coolant run out. Or….just have a couple of plugs ready to put in the hose ends and leave the coolant in the hoses.) I think it took way less than an extra quart of coolant to fill the hoses and the heater core.
All in all, the heater works great. If I make any changes it would be this: I may enlarge the outside air intake hole and cover just to allow more outside air in when not mixing it with inside air which wasn’t necessary in the first place. Now, with everything working, I can start to clean up the wiring for appearances and making it easy to separate and remove the cab this spring.

 

[sundown57]

I mounted mine outside the cab so I can tilt or remove the cab without dealing with hoses. Going to try blocking the bypass hose tomorrow

 

[jnschnit]

I have to say I am super impressed. Not only with your workmanship, but with your ability to explain your design and the reasons you did what you did. I spent last weekend fitting my old B2620 vinyl "Original Cab Co" cab to my sons B1860. The info you supplied about the clear vinyl will help him out. Thank you

 

[bird dogger]

I have to say I am super impressed. Not only with your workmanship, but with your ability to explain your design and the reasons you did what you did. I spent last weekend fitting my old B2620 vinyl "Original Cab Co" cab to my sons B1860. The info you supplied about the clear vinyl will help him out. Thank you

jnschnit, thanks for the compliments! the cab is certainly nothing fancy....just "form follows function" to keep it simple, light weight for on/off, roominess and visibility, and low cost (cuz of the Norwegian in me) Its impressive just how clear and tough that clear vinyl window plastic is in that thickness. It's comparatively very cheap and really keeps the weight down.

You should take some pics and post them of your son's new cab. I'd sure like to see them. any cab that keeps you out of the blowing/driven snow and wind is a great cab in my book! I just put together a heavy duty sewing system for relatively cheap that might help in modifying or form fitting that enclosure to the B1860 if needed. If interested, let me know and I'd be happy to share!!
Best of luck,
David

 

[DustyRusty]

For you guys building cabs, I have an assortment of weatherstripping that may help seal your projects. Here's some pictures.

In your first picture, is the type of weatherstripping that I have been looking for. Might you have the name of the company that sells this product? Thanks Dusty

 

[sundown57]

For you guys building cabs, I have an assortment of weatherstripping that may help seal your projects. Here's some pictures.

do you have any links to where you can buy these ?