Cab Kit Solves Problems With Ford Versatile Tractor

Cab Kit Solves Problems with Ford Versatile Tractor TRACTORS Accessories 17-6-29 After experiencing repeated downtime caused by failed hydraulic hoses and cables on his Versatile 276 bi-directional tractor, Galen Travis, Burlington, Colo., says he finally came up with a successful modification for the tractor that totally eliminated the problem. "Hoses, cables, and electrical lines are all jammed together through an opening in the center articulation area. On my tractor - which has front and rear 3-pt.'s, hydraulics and pto - the hoses and cables are so tightly packed together you can't even get a screw-driver between them. As you use the tractor, hoses wear against each other and against the frame," says Travis. After the initial warranty period, Travis started having 2 or 3 problems a year with cables and hoses. Some of the repair jobs took as long as two days. "To replace some of the hoses, we had to drop the transmission down to get at them," he notes. When the main hydraulic hose blew out, Travis finally decided to try to modify the tractor. His solution was to raise the cab up 3 in. and run some of the lines above the articulation joint so they lay between the bottom of the cab and the frame. He says the relatively simple solution has totally solved the problem. "We haven't had any problems since we made the change two years ago." Hoses and cables beneath the cab can now be reached easily if a problem develops and Travis says there's enough room that there's virtually no problem with friction anymore. "It'll be much easier to make repairs if needed and it's now possible to make a visual check on the condition of the lines when doing routine maintenance." The modification also solved another problem which Travis had experienced with the tractor. Hay and straw would pack into the area between the cab and the main frame. "It would pack in there so tight, you could hardly get it out. Shortly after we bought the tractor, while grinding hay, we had a fire in that area caused by a spark. We got it out without doing any damage but after that we put a rubber strip around the base of the cab to keep debris out. I think you could have a serious fire caused by friction between the pto and driveshafts that run through there and crop material that builds up in that area." After raising the cab up 3 in., Travis says it's now easy to clean material out from under the cab. "You can just stick a blow gun in there to clean it out. There's no buildup at all." Mother advantage of the raised cab is that it improves visibility, especially when operating a swather on rear. Travis made steel brackets to raise the cab. He did it with no welding, using existing bolt holes, bolts, and rubber mounts. The only cutting required was to remove a bit of sheet metal around the engine compartment to make room for relocated lines. "The cab is solid as a rock. It feels no different than it did before. I'm considering marketing a kit that would make it easy for anyone to make this conversion," says Travis, noting that the kit would work on any 256 or 276 bi-directional tractor, whether made by Versatile or Ford New Holland after it took over the company. "This problem is worst on models fitted with both front and rear 3-pt.'s and hydraulics because there are so many more lines running back and forth," he notes. Travis also manufactures a quick-tach forklift attachment for Ford-Versatile bidirectionals. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Galen Travis, 44596 County Rd. P, Burlington, Colo. 80807 (ph 719 346-7680).

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