Now I need a HD top link bracket...

[torch]

... because I lucked into a great deal on a B4672 backhoe today.

The HD bracket for a B7100 is part #70050-93214. Kubota seems to think they should be worth $300.

I think I have a welder.

Does anyone know how thick the steel is that was used to make this bracket?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

3rd party places list for $200+.....yeesh
I haven't found a picture of one but...found a BL4690 PDF, shows 5-6 'top link brackets'.
I had them made for my D-14s 'clones' of the 3 hole version. Steel is 3/8" plate,CNC,lasered,tigwelded.
I made a wooden version first,confirmed it fit, then off to shop. Next day had 3 brackets delivered.
it's a whole lot easier drilling/fittin wood than steel !

 

[RCW]

Torch - Nice find!

I do recall a couple pictures of HD brackets posted here. Seems wasn't that long ago - -within last year? Don't recall tractor models, etc. Seems like one was a good, clear, close-up too.... didn't look like a $300 part....

Did a quick OTT search for "HD top link bracket". Found many hits - maybe good place to start?

 

[mikester]

... because I lucked into a great deal on a B4672 backhoe today.

The HD bracket for a B7100 is part #70050-93214. Kubota seems to think they should be worth $300.

I think I have a welder.

Does anyone know how thick the steel is that was used to make this bracket?

The steel thickness required depends on the grade of steel you are using.

Somebody at Kubota did the engineering, manufactured the brackets in quantity, then are keeping money tied up storing the brackets on some shelf somewhere, then they ship it to your dealer and the dealer gets their cut. You are paying $300 to cover the cost of all this.

The nice thing about Kubota is you will probably get that part within a few days of ordering...you will probably get the finished part in hand faster than you posting on an anonymous user group asking someone to engineer the part for you, then finding someone to fabricate, paint and deliver your finished part.

Support Kubota and your dealer network and thank them for providing all of us a good service.

 

[torch]

I've seen this picture of the one I want. Looks like 1/4" for the base plate and 3/8" for the two bits that the top link pins to. I just wanted confirmation if possible.

 

[torch]

Support Kubota and your dealer network and thank them for providing all of us a good service.

With respect, I supported the Kubota dealer when I paid $400 for the entire clutch assembly, including all springs, fingers, bushing, friction and pressure disks. That had a level of complexity, engineering and specialty materials.

What we're talking about here is 3 pieces of bent CRS welded together with some drilled holes. That little plate above that is about 3" or 4" long and 3/4" wide? It's a shim for the front of the seat to level it off after installing the bracket under the rear seat bolts. Kubota thinks that's worth another $50. I'm having trouble believing it is any great feat of engineering and science.

As for the fabrication, I think I've got that covered. Coupled with some experience, I have a reasonable home machine shop, including a mill, lathe, various saws and grinders, a couple of welders, plasma torch, etc. I've saved hundreds in parts by buying thousands in tools. Some of my projects have even been posted on this "anonymous" forum.

 

[mikester]

With respect, I supported the Kubota dealer when I paid $400 for the entire clutch assembly, including all springs, fingers, bushing, friction and pressure disks. That had a level of complexity, engineering and specialty materials.

What we're talking about here is 3 pieces of bent CRS welded together with some drilled holes. That little plate above that is about 3" or 4" long and 3/4" wide? It's a shim for the front of the seat to level it off after installing the bracket under the rear seat bolts. Kubota thinks that's worth another $50. I'm having trouble believing it is any great feat of engineering and science.

As for the fabrication, I think I've got that covered. Coupled with some experience, I have a reasonable home machine shop, including a mill, lathe, various saws and grinders, a couple of welders, plasma torch, etc. I've saved hundreds in parts by buying thousands in tools. Some of my projects have even been posted on this "anonymous" forum.

If you have the tools and skills to make the parts then why post the question in the first place? If you said "I'm using XXXX steel with YYY cross section and ZZZ applied load and 2.0 safety factor does anyone see a problem with this design?" you'd get a more meaningful answer.

You can download a free version of Fusion360, design the part and do the calcs yourself. You can even try different material grades to optimize your design for least cost and easiest fabrication. Then you can output the CAD file, generate your G-Code and mill the part on your CNC, bend and weld as needed. Now that you spent 30 hours on the project, voila, your part is done! Now powder coat and install! Free parts! Cool, I'm a genius and saved $300! Now you can go into business and sell these custom parts for $30.00 on the internet.

 

[torch]

If you have the tools and skills to make the parts then why post the question in the first place?

Because it's a forum. A place to chat about this sort of thing.

If you said "I'm using XXXX steel with YYY cross section and ZZZ applied load and 2.0 safety factor does anyone see a problem with this design?" you'd get a more meaningful answer.

If I was asking on an engineering forum, I might phrase the question in that manner. This is a tractor forum. There is a greater chance that someone is willing to wander out to the driving shed and admire their bracket than there is that someone is willing to sit down and admire my math.

Then you can output the CAD file, generate your G-Code and mill the part on your CNC

Where's the fun in that? I like the hands-on of making things. If I wanted to watch a machine make parts there's lots of you-tube channels with that sort of thing going on.

I really don't understand why you are so upset about this? If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine: I would not criticize anyone for buying a part they could make (or that I could make). I may not be supporting a Kubota dealer in this instance, but I am supporting my local Metals Supermarket (who help sponsor our local high school robotics team) and my local welding supply (who help sponsor youth sports programs) and having fun in the process. If I screw it up, then it only affects me, not you. What or where is the harm?

 

[kenrevo]

I was in your exact situation last year when I pick up a BL4690 and needed the heavy duty top link bracket. I was in the progress of fabricating one myself until one of my friends pointed out it's not worth damaging a $10K+ tractor cause I want to save a little money. I looked around and found one in a salvage yard; you could call around and see what you can find.

If you want dimensions I can measure the thicknesses this weekend; it is thicker that the stock one. I have a B9200 but I assume thickness would be similar.

 

[torch]

I finally got time to get back to this project. I used 1/4" plate for the base (v-grooved and welded both sides, of course):

and 3/8" bar for the top link connectors:

A coat of rust paint on both sides:

Voila: a nice HD top link:

I had to take out the back window of my cab. (I guess I'll be modifying that into a quick-release set up before winter!) :

Gratuitous backhoe porn:

And then I went off to play in a field:

Seems to have decent performance. It didn't have any problem tearing through those spruce roots anyway.

For those that are curious about reach and depth:
Horizontal reach is about 8' from the front of the stabilizer pads at ground level. Maximum digging depth is 6' -- but that's straight down at the bottom of a curve of course. For a trench with a flat bottom, I figure at about 5' deep I could make a flat bottom 3' long. More accurately: a skilled operator could. I can't. <lol>

 

[GreensvilleJay]

NICE !! you have to be one 'happy camper' !! I always appreciate old 'bodgers' like me..making something outta nothin to do a job AND save a few bucks too !!
Jay

 

[torch]

Yes, I'm quite pleased. I've been thinking of building a backhoe for a while. There have been a number of small jobs that would have been simplified by a small backhoe, but not big enough or frequently enough to justify the time and expense. Then I stumbled upon this -- the one spec'd by Kubota for my tractor -- on Kijiji a few hours after it was listed. The price was comparable to the cost of materials to build my own.

I hemmed and hawed for an hour and decided it was too good to pass up if it really was as described. I called him and someone else was already on their way to buy it. I left my number and the vendor said he would call me if the deal fell through.

1/2 an hour later, he called back -- the buyer backed out. I scooted down there, stopping only at the bank for cash. He hooked the pump up to his PTO to demonstrate everything worked. It was obviously low hours, all original paint, no damage, all straight, cylinder chrome like new with just a faint oily smear. 3 small tears in the seat, rubber boots on the joysticks are cracked.

So I plunked down the cash and bought it. As I was strapping down to the trailer I heard him take a call and say "I just sold it". Then he told me there were 12 other calls in the 2 hours it took for me to drive down.

Some days you get lucky...

(If you are one of the 14 others who called, ignore all the above. It was a bent piece of rusty junk that wasn't worth the price of scrap to haul away. It didn't even come with the required HD top link bracket.

There now, feel better? )