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Modifications Make Deere Tractor More User Friendly
Mark Rinke uses a super clean Deere 2030 for mowing, moving snow, dirt, gravel and other light jobs. “The tractor is a real gem that I’ve owned for 10 years. Over time I’ve added several mechanical and technical modifications that have made the tractor easier and safer to operate.”
Rinke says using the original step to reach the operator platform was inconvenient, so he built a new one with a larger footpad. “It’s safer to step on, and together with the plating that I added to the platform, it doesn’t get slippery when conditions are wet.
Rinke is an engineer by training and used those skills to improve the electrical, hydraulic and hitching functions on the 2030. He moved the battery case from a difficult-to-reach location under the hood to a holder that he built on the right side of the frame. That improved access to the battery and provided room for adding electrical relays and fuses that he needed to run an electric fuel pump, which he installed to replace the OEM mechanical version. He also replaced the OEM bowl filter assembly with a spin-on fuel filter that uses water seperator elements.
Another modification was adding a starter ring gear magnetic pickup for the electronic rpm gauge, an upgrade from the original cable-driven gauge. “The original was okay, but I didn’t really trust the accuracy, which I need to operate my wing mower at its optimum mowing speed,” Rinke says.
Other improvements included installing electronic water/oil temperature and oil pressure gauges with settable warning lights. Says Rinke, now they’ll flash and let me know if there’s a problem, just like a newer model car.”
The hydraulics on the 2030 are adequate to operate the front-end loader that Rinke uses, but he improved the controls by installing a joystick control valve and mounting it on a platform on the right fender. It’s within easy reach of the steering wheel and allows raise/lower and tilt/tip bucket functions.
Rinke also relocated the front hydraulic accumulator tank from under the hood to allow additional radiator clearance. He uses a simple swivel hitch on the front of the tractor for tie downs and to move wagons or trailers if the back 3-point hitch is in use. “The up-front hitch is a nice substitute that works just fine, and I never have to take it off.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mark Rinke, 11175 225th St. E., Lakeville, Minn. 55044


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2020 - Volume #44, Issue #4