Don Campbell's Workshop

[Don Campbell]

The Steiner tractor had small tires when I got it and I wanted bigger tires so I started the process. Buying the 8 brand new tires and rims was very exciting
I had so much fun on this project and it is still fun plowing
snow with it

 

[Don Campbell]

I got the roof cut out and weld on the cab now .
Rain is stopping today and 8 inches of snow in the forecast so maybe I can use my new jd afterall
Todays steiner pics show the tires and frame before I extended the frame
and me starting to stretch the rear frame .

 

[914forme]

Oh that is sweet!!!!! I almost got one yesterday, it went a little over my max price. I really want to build one of these machines for my work time. If you stumble into a deal on one please let me know, your about 8 hours from me. Close enough I would drive up and grab it. And check your workmanship out in person. As a JD that looks great, but it looks good even with the big tires in Steiner colors. The frame extension was that easy. Oh

 

[Don Campbell]

That's funny because I am always checking out Craigslist in Ohio for used Stieners.
They are pretty rare in Northern Michigan . I agree it did look cool in red but I just had to build my dream machine in green . The whole project was easy compared to starting from scratch. But not cheap , Better set several thousand aside for the project.
Hand built tractor cab progress today shows it sanded and painted. I still have to work on the front light bar . I might get the Lexan tomorrow for the windows. I priced used cabs for my other jd 455 tractor and they are rare and expensive so I will build a cab for that next . Then it would be fun to build a cab for the Ranch/Cat Tractor . We got 6 inches of wet , sloppy snow this morning . Don't think I will get the new tractor dirty in that nasty , heavy wet stuff.

 

[Don Campbell]

Todays pics show more of the Stiener/deere process. I was very excited when I got to this point and started seeing the finished shapes.

 

[Don Campbell]

Scratch Built Tractor Cab progress today shows the Lexan cut out for the windows and ready to start installing them. Also the overhead lights are now attached.

 

[Don Campbell]

I got the rear window installed along with the side window and the first curved door window. Also attached the rear lights.

 

[Jon69RagTop]

You sir have some "crazy good" skill sets. Awesome work, love the updates.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks for the kind words.
Today the pics show both curved door cab windows now installed. I still have to box in the area by the brake pedals and finish the center folding window so the hood can be raised and lowered.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Does lexan scratch easily over the years?

 

[Don Campbell]

Yes, the downside is that it does scratch over time.
I got the cab door handle built yesterday .
Todays pic shows the Stiener/deere at night , I wanted the lights to look to scale so I just put reflective tape on them. It actually looked almost like lights ,

 

[Don Campbell]

To finish off my Steiner / Deere project I just had to build a Silage blade for the front.
I did use the Steiner blade but I had to redo the mounting brackets but I used the same lift and angling cylinders. I also bolted on extensions on both sides.

 

[Don Campbell]

Todays handbuilt cab progress shows me tweaking the paint with some stripes. It is starting to look pretty good, far from perfect but I am happy with it for a home made cab. I got some more tweaking to do yet.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

I like it!

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks ,
I did more pin striping today on the cab and pulled it out for the first test drive.
I still have to hook up all the lights . Deb is downloading the you tube video of me driving it first time with the cab. I am pleased how it turned out for a home made cab.
I will start the next cab for the jd 455 aws next week.

 

[rmalkow2]

That cab looks great. I expect JD to be taking ideas from you for their product line up.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks ,
Todays picture shows the new jd tractor in the workshop for the first time. I will install the linear actuator for the snowblower spout. They delivered the tractor 3 weeks ago today and I have not used it yet.

 

[Rockcam]

Don:

I always enjoy reading your thread. I'd love to drop by for a quick visit next time I get up your way.

Two questions for you. First, what is in your machine inventory at this point, also, what made you decide to get the new JD?

Please keep the posts and images coming.

Thank you.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks for the kind words.
I currently have 16 little tractors. The only reason I bought the new JD is because I wanted four wheel drive. My jd 455 I sold last month only had 205 hours but did not do that good in deep snow . I always wanted a 4x4 version so I decided to get the 54 in snowblower too.
Todays pictures show the Linear Actuator now installed and the control switch now in the dash. There is a brand new can of wax on the snowblower to polish the tractor and snowblower today . Wax on , Wax off , ha,ha.

 

[Crown]

Great job on the cab!

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks,
Todays pic shows the snowblower that came on the jd 430, I have to build new mounting brackets and modifiy the driveshaft to make it work because it sits much higher now. I had already modified it once to fit on the jd 455 a couple years ago.

 

[Don Campbell]

I brought the snowblower in the shop and the angle is very steep for the driveshaft. I am going to try to build a new mounting bracket with a longer driveshaft.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Don, this has probably been asked before but where do you get all the graphics, at the JD dealer or online?

 

[Therembeens]

that was great don

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks,
I get the graphics on line and at the dealer.
Todays pic shows the new mounting frame for the snowblower. Also got the new longer driveshaft installed. Today I will remove the wing extensions and build new ones that are 4 inches wider on each side.

 

[Don Campbell]

I got the new wing extensions built , attached and painted. Now I have 59 in. wide. you can see the old extensions on the floor.
Also got the new driveshaft installed so now I just need a snowstorm.

 

[Wuaname]

I like the cab for the cold weather

 

[NUTTSGT]

You must heat it somehow before bending?

No I did not warm up the Lexan , I just bent it cold at 17 degrees
I'll post some snow pics after while

I guess, I'm little dumbfounded about bending lexan. I had no idea that you could bend it like that cold.

 

[Don Campbell]

That cab should make it much nicer , yes Lexan is almost indestructible.
Yesterday I got 8 of the cab lights hooked up and today I will wire up the front four overhead lights. Todays pic shows the Ariens two stage snowblower I bought about three years ago. I tweaked it to fit my jd 455 and I added a hydraulic motor to turn the cute back and forth . I only used it one time so I will put this on the other jd 455 I have after i build a cab for it . The cabs and snowblowers will help sell these two tractors when it comes time to get rid of them.

 

[Don Campbell]

Here is a picture the first day I bought the jd 430 . I already wanted to convert it to a mini 4020 when I bought it. I was quick to get bigger tires on it . It is sure strange to look back and see the small tires on it. I built wheel adaptors for the new rear tires and welded on new spindles on the front axle.
That gave it a different look of a compact utility tractor .

 

[Don Campbell]

Putting the rear chains on today and the rear box scraper , then wait for the next snow storm to try it all out.

 

[Don Campbell]

After a couple snowstorms to make sure the blower works good I will put the whole package for sale on E-bay. With the blower, front blade, rear box scraper , cab, and rear crane I think it would make a good set up for someone. Now I have my brand new 4x4 jd x-758 I no longer need so many tractors. Today I will pull the jd 455 all wheel steer in the workshop with the Ariens snowblower and get ready to build a cab for it and get it ready to sell too before spring .
Three less tractors will give me more breathing room, ha,ha.
I had a lot of fun building this tractor, I will miss it I'm sure.

 

[Don Campbell]

I pulled the jd 455 all wheel steer tractor and the Ariens snowblower in the shop. This tractor will get a cab too before I put it up for sale . The jd 430 looks much different with the snowblower , cab and rear box scraper . It should make someone a nice little tractor .

 

[rmalkow2]

Don, That completed JD 430 package is amazing. It was interesting to watch the construction process. Someone that needs to move a lot of snow is really going to appreciate all your work.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks ,
I had so much fun customizing the tractors over the last two and a half years. This summer I think I will get back to making a few models again . I will just putter with the 15 tractors I have left and slowly sell them and not buy anymore. I built models for 18 years and it will be fun to build models again. The lift table will come in handy for building the big models too.

 

[Don Campbell]

Only four inches of new snow this morning so I just plowed the driveway with the walk behind plow . It is a crazy looking contraption but it is such a handy way to plow the driveway when there is less than 5 inches. Heavy Snow possible this Sunday so hopefully I will finally get to try out my new John Deere 4x4 for the very first time.

 

[Don Campbell]

Deb posted a new video today of me plowing with the ranch king Cat V-plow and side wing. This is the first video of it plowing snow. You can see it on you-tube at Doncampbellmodels 186 vplow . It actually did a nice job.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

That looks good Don. To me it appears that the V blade in front is rather unproductive when it "splits" the snow and puts it where you just plowed. What if you had an 80%, 20% split where the V was 80% to the right or would that cause bad tracking/steering?

 

[Don Campbell]

I agree ,
I didn't take long for me to realize the v-plow was not that great , I had already thought of modifying it . But I do like the v-plow and wing combination overall look so I will just keep it the same . Good conversation piece at a tractor show
Heavy snow still predicted for Tomorrow night , if it is wet heavy snow I will just use the mini loader and keep the brand new jd nice and shiny. If it is 8 to 10 inches of light snow I will try it out
I have so much fun plowing snow with the loader and hauling it out to my backyard. It is just plain fun . It is a great toy .

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

What about a hinge at the V of the plow?