"How I Made My Tractor Better"

How I Made My Tractor Better TRACTORS Accessories Bryan Kennedy Vance Ala recently sent us photos of three enhancements he made to his new Kubota M6040 tractor All three ideas make my tractor better says Kennedy who had help from his wife Susan Rollbar-Mounted Stereo System For about $250 Kennedy set up a stereo system with components that mount on a removable vinyl-covered box that s U-bolted to the tractor s rollbar The box supports a JVC CD/radio equipped with a remote control and Pioneer 6 by 9-in speakers all purchased at Best Buy A simple rubber radio antenna from a local parts store rounds out the package The box is made from 3/4-in thick mdf board with the joints glued with Liquid Nails and held together with 1 5/8-in sheetrock screws The box is covered with black vinyl and held in place by U-bolts û1 on each side and 1 on top I drilled three 4-in dia holes on back of the box and used pvc drain grates to hold the speakers in place says Kennedy The holes allow heat to escape and provide the speakers with æbreathing room I keep this tractor parked in a shed the chances are I won t have to worry about rain However I did install a marine shield over the radio Also I plan to keep a piece of vinyl on hand to snap over the speakers if I ever get caught in bad weather Rollbar-Mounted Gun Any time I m bush hogging there s a chance I ll come across rodents or reptiles that need to be eliminated for one reason or another says Kennedy So I bought an H&R 410 gauge youth single shot shotgun at a pawn shop for $50 and refurbished it Then I attached a plastic gun rack to the rollbar so I can keep the gun with me on the tractor Quick-Tach Grapple Bucket New 6-ft grapple buckets cost $1 500 or more but I built mine for only about $700 says Kennedy I bought a used 6-ft Bobcat bucket with the bottom severely bent I cut out the bottom of the bucket and cut the sides back at a lower angle Then I bought several feet of 2-in sq tubing 1/4-in thick and cut and welded it into place I built my own bucket teeth by cutting 45 degree angles in the tubing and closing up the ends with welding material The grapple arm is a 36-in long commercial unit called the Thumb that he bought from Greens Machine of Centralia Ill ph 618 532-4631; www greens-machine com It came complete with mounting bracket grapple arm and hydraulic cylinder The grapple arm can either be welded or bolted in place After assembly I sprayed the entire unit with Rustoleum semi gloss black paint and installed hydraulic hoses that I had made up at a local shop says Kennedy Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bryan Kennedy 20283 Hwy 216 Vance Ala 35490 ph 205 477-4906 or 205 368-7503; Bckennedy1@comcast net

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