Tractor step, for the "Not so Athletic"

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This is a simple build to take care of 3 things;    (1) To actually post a project on this forum, instead of looking at everybody else's and saying, "I need to build something".   (2) Use my wife's new camera she got from Santa.   (3) Make it a little easier to get up on the Cub, those mornings when I don't really feel like stepping up that dang high!     I've seen a few versions of "Cub Steps" on other forums, so I went for it.  1st pic is of course the "Ol' Mule" in the 2nd pic you can see it's not an impossible step, it just ain't fun after the first few times. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:This what I found to build the step with, a short pc of channel, that just happens to have 3" on center (same as mounting spot on tractor), & some left over parts from a Chuck Norris total gym, you know that's tuff stuff! Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:This is where it will mount, Look  3" on center, man sometimes you get lucky. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:1st pic, Cut the channel down to fit proper. 2nd, Bolt it up to make sure it clears.  3rd, Chuck Norris contributes to the project.   4th, Trying to get a visual, this seemed to look about right.    5th, As you can see, I'm down to 18" for the step up, much better. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Not much welding but here is a step added to a Kubota L3650. The "step" part of the pipe had zig-zags welded to the top of the step to aid traction.The welding was two short lengths of pipe to the tractor frame. The vertical legs of the step went through the larger two short lengths and a end cap put on the end of the pipes. You can barely see them through the frame.This arrangement allowed the step to slide upward in case something hit it from below. The guy I sold the tractor to sunk it to the frame in mud and the step lifted up as designed.A professional weldor would likely have much more refined ideas to make it look a lot better than several pieces of pipe screwed together. Attached Images
Reply:Looks nice.. Always helps to have a step saves on the knees!!You may have to add a support to the end of it or in the middle when you put a human on the end of the step may give abit?Last edited by power; 12-30-2012 at 10:48 PM.Miller 250DX HTP 221 DV AC/DCHenrob O-A Miller 180 MigMiller 150 Inverter   Hobart 10,000 Welder-Generator   Have a good day!!!
Reply:The work begins, 1st, cut those brackets off.  Remember, these are Chuck Norris brackets! I went thru 27 cutting discs to cut off one of these things.  Well it put up a good fight but in the end, the hammer won. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Yeah GWD, I got plans to put some expanded metal on for traction also, as far as fold up out of the way, I'm just doin straight bolt on and hope that I never get sunk up to the axles in mud."YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Originally Posted by TheBusDriverThe work begins, 1st, cut those brackets off.  Remember, these are Chuck Norris brackets! I went thru 27 cutting discs to cut off one of these things.  Well it put up a good fight but in the end, the hammer won.
Reply:Allright, the first bit of welding and so far so good, got the outer bar put on and smoothed out a little, then cut the extra off the end and folded over a tab I left so it would not be an open end, just for looks. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpWHAT no guard ??? Dude thats dangerous.
Reply:Test fit, seems to be OK. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Squared up and ready to tack, you know when I think about it, a person can never really have too many vise clamps, but anyway, instead of just welding it up solid I had a thought of making it adjust a little, just in case I needed to move it for some reason.  In the last pic this is where three holes that will be put in the angle to give it a 2" forward or back movement, depending on of course if it needs to move or not. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:A few welds here, a few welds there, and wah-lah! Yes, this is flux, Yes, I like it, all except for the clean up part but, it usually does pretty good for me, it lets my little Lincoln get the penetration it needs to get the job done. Pilot holes for the adjustment part of the step.  Also had to cut the corner of the angle off, because I for sure do not need any head gougers under there while I'm trying to fiddle with something. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:I ended up cutting the excess flange of the angle off too, it was just hanging out there and I already had the OSHA approved cutting wheel set up ready to to some damage... GONE!  Sometimes, it gets muddy or wet outside, so as GWD says, "traction assistance" is what I need, I think this expanded metal will do nicely.  Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:OK, that's all for today, tomorrow is another day full of possibilities.Stay tuned for the exciting finish of "The Step Build" "YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Nicely done.  Great use of 'parts lying around.'The only really annoying thing for me about people not using the guards on their grinders is that when they go to sell them, used, they don't have the guard on them...and I like to use them with the guard on.  I suppose, now that I can weld, I could whip up a quick guard for any used grinder I find.Looking forward to the rest of this project.  Looks great so far!  Are you planning to paint it cub red?KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Nice job on the step. This is my next tractor to own. My neighbor has 4 of them, I think they are cool. I dont know what you do with yours, but every spring I have a working tractor show here in the upstate of SC that we get a bunch of tractors togeather and plow with. I had like 68 last year with guys from Kansas Pa, Ga, Fla, Tenn, Ky and Va. Lots of guys from the Triad area. If your intrested in bringing it down shoot me a pm and Ill send you an email about it.Learning one rod at a time
Reply:Given the placement of the step in front of the tire there may be an issue with mud build-up on the expanded metal as the tractor is driven through sloppy ground (if that is ever its use).That is the reason the step was left "open", and just a pipe, on the Kubota tractor. Most of the mud just fell through but I'd still get a couple of inches of mud to have to kick off of the pipe/step when mounting or dismounting. Still, very nice design on your step. It will probably look like it was OEM after completion.
Reply:You used 27 cutting discs to cut off two brackets?
Reply:Nifty design...and Welcome.
Reply:Originally Posted by thejonn2524You used 27 cutting discs to cut off two brackets?
Reply:Originally Posted by GWDGiven the placement of the step in front of the tire there may be an issue with mud build-up on the expanded metal as the tractor is driven through sloppy ground (if that is ever its use).That is the reason the step was left "open", and just a pipe, on the Kubota tractor. Most of the mud just fell through but I'd still get a couple of inches of mud to have to kick off of the pipe/step when mounting or dismounting. Still, very nice design on your step. It will probably look like it was OEM after completion.
Reply:Back to the grind again today, first things first, I cut the shape of the expanded metal out to fit the step area.Then I attached it and brushed it to clean it up a little, it looks like it will provide plenty of grip. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:I seem to find a lot of mud while working in my tractors. A rigid step that close to the tire would stay on until spring the way things work here. But that's the kind of tractor that looks like it only comes out to work on dry sunny days.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/ANext it was time to drill the holes in the angle, so they would match, I clamped them together and drilled them.Then it was bolted together so the nuts could be tacked on the back side, that way you only need one tool to make the adjustment and not have to worry about losing anything out in the field, if that is where the adjustment was made. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Here is the adjustment that will be possible and I could also remove it if need be.In the first position I have what I think is good e nuff clearance, but as GWD says mud may become an issue, so I have a second option, just in case. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Ok, time to see what I have created, after assembly of the two pcs, it was bolted to the Cub and looks like it will work.    Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Here are a few more pics just to show different angles and clearance, I think I will be ok with it, just need to test it out in use to see if it will hold up and serve the purpose,  It cost me nothing but time, seein how everything was lying around so can't beat the price.Now all that seems to be left is paint, Machine_Punk, Cub red is nice, but I don't have any, to tell you the truth I don't think the Tractor is Cub red any way, the previous owner had painted it so it could be Kmart red or something, who knows? Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Buster, the supervisor says it looks good!I will probably paint it black, since that's what I have the most of but, I may get creative and do something different, I'll have to dig in my paint cabinet to see what colors I have.  When I test it out a little and decide to paint/modify it I will post pics, but for now that's all folks, thanks for the interest and luckily I will be able to post more projects in the future.  Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Chuck would be proud (Norris)!Pretty good pics with your wife's new camera too.It always feels good to build something useful.KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Thats a super Job, A great add on, and so easy to do But where is the guard on your grinder We don't want you losing your fingers
Reply:I noticed the welds are getting better as the project progresses.  Keep at it.  Fluxcore is hard to get used to, and especially when filling deep grooves."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well after trying the step out around the house i noticed it was twisting a little if I really put my weight on it, probably would have been ok, but I don't like to build things that do not live up to my expectations.So, I looked at what i had and how to make it stronger, my thoughts... box it in.I drew up one of those napkin type ideas on a pc of paper and it went like this. Attached Images"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:I wanted to fully box it in so holes for the socket clearance to tighten the bolts were needed, I sheared to length, formed it, added the holes and deburred it.The test fit seemed to look pretty good, so on with the plan.Tack it in place to keep it from moving.Weld it & clean'er up a little."YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Now for the paint, I did'nt have "Farmall Red" so I went with Oakland Raider, Silver & Black.  This is my cutting edge paint booth, DO NOT attempt to copy or duplicate this paint booth, or there will be serious consequences, like a bug in the paint! Well after the bugs dried up, here's a couple of views of the finished part!"YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:I have a cub and always struggled a little with the first step but never thought much of it 30 years ago, I might need one of these. Thanks for postingGeezerPower Mig 255C185 TIGBlue 175 MIGRanger 8 Kohler 20HP1974 5K Lincoln/Wisconsin Powered (Cherry)Victor/Harris O/AK 487 Spool Gun
Reply:Once the new and improved step was bolted on, there was an immediate feeling of "this is sturdy", like it should be! Mang, boxing this thing in really helped! Here's a few shots of the step on the "Mule", it really does make it a whole lot easier to get up on the tractor thru out the day.Here is a shot that shows that I still have good clearance, well enough to adjust the step if I need to, Come'on.I think Silver & Black are awesome colors.  That's a wrap on this project, Thanks for all the attention and comments, there will be more projects in the future, maybe not as fast as some of the robots that never sleep on here, but projects will happen none the less."YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Oh before I forget I have to give a shout out to my fellow Welding Web member SweetBrown..."YOU GOING TO JAIL NOW...YOU GOING TO JAIL,POW!!!"  -{the cleveland busdriver}-
Reply:Originally Posted by TheBusDriverOh before I forget I have to give a shout out to my fellow Welding Web member SweetBrown...