Don Campbell's Workshop

[Don Campbell]

Fall in Northern Michigan , I been working on the Gator and got the shift linkage all figured out and assembled. Also got the new low profile gas tank mounted. Also got the brakes all connected. Now I am working on the exhaust system . Should get that done tomorrow and I will move on to the hydraulic dump cylinder design. Then the rear wheel adaptors, then I will build a roll cage and mount the roof on . Then I will lift the front axle 6 inches for more ground clearance. Fun project.

 

[Don Campbell]

Today I made more progress on the CubGatorCadet as I fired up the engine for the very first time. I also got all the hydraulic lines redesigned and hooked up and the dump cylinder working with front re designed linkage I made. Also put the box on tonight . Tomorrow I will work on the dump box cylinder mounting brackets and get going on the rear wheel adaptors. Fun , Fun

 

[nine4gmc]

SUPER COOL and you can't beat free!

 

[taumac]

Just catching back up on your thread. Once again I'm just amazed by your work and the speed in which you do your project. I've haven't seen a harder working shop on the GJ. Keep up the great work. [emoji482]

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks !! for a old , overweight guy working 100% alone on every project I think I do pretty good putting out several projects each year. Plus the fact my tiny shop is the size of a one car garage , ha,ha.

 

[Don Campbell]

Todays progress picture shows the new axle extensions / wheel adaptors I cut out and welded and drilled out yesterday for the rear axle. This is the first time these rear wheels have been attached to this Cub Cadet Rear end. Today I will test drive it to adjust the hydro lever and back it in the shop to begin working on raising the front suspension 6 inches. Then I can get going on the roll cage design and the roof .

 

[Don Campbell]

Front lift kit , Today I removed the Gator front suspension and tweaked the swing arms, built new shock mounts and tweaked the tie rods. Now it sits up in the air in the front better and looks nicer overall . Next step is the roof !!

 

[nine4gmc]

You could probably start a Gator lift company or at least sell "kits" for those thing

 

[KAP1978]

Nice work neighbor!

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks !!
Todays progress picture shows the early stages of my roll bars being cut and tacked together. Also the first look at how the roof might set on top. Once it is all done I will paint the roll bars and the roof black. Nothing fancy but another very fun challenge.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Now all you need is a 5 point harness system and you'll be ready to race!

 

[Don Campbell]

Ha, Ha, the Cub Cadet drive system won't win any races. This is just a oversized slow go cart for me and my little grandson, ha,ha.
Today I got the roll bars and the roof painted black and I think it looks better than the green roof.

 

[Don Campbell]

Just got to have some overhead lights so I mounted four on the inside crossbar . Today the Gator gets side railings on the dump box and rear mudflaps.

 

[Don Campbell]

Working towards the rear . I got the dump box side railings built and painted and I got the extra cross bars welded in place and painted on the rear roll bar. Mudflaps , rear lights and a rear bumper still on the list. Almost done.

 

[rmalkow2]

Now some nice little upholstered head rests in matching yellow and attached to those vertical bars you aded to the roll bar would look just right and be good head protection for the back side of your head.
Nice job all around Don.

 

[Don Campbell]

Yes, nice idea , thanks .
Deb just posted a video on you-tube of the first test drive today , video number 196 at doncampbellmodels . You can now see the rear mudflaps on and the rear tailights on and you can see I have started on the rear bumper and hitch . I am also going to build a front bumper with a couple more lights . It is slowly taking shape.

 

[Bow_Extreme]

Don, what tires and wheels are you using on the rear of your tractors, size, and where do you buy from? I am looking at putting these on a couple of my Wheel Horses. I appreciate your time and. Nice work on the Gator!!

 

[Don Campbell]

I get the tires from Jed's tire on e-bay. 30 in. tall and five bolt rims from him too.
Todays progress pics show the new gator bumpers built, painted and installed. The old $150.00 Craigslist Gator is looking pretty good especially sitting 6 inches taller .

 

[rmalkow2]

Don, That turned out awesome and will be a very useful yard machine.

 

[Don Campbell]

Yes, very happy how it is looking. Putting a rear hitch and lights up at the top of the rear roof section now.
Todays pics show my ( TARP FLIPPER ) project I just built. I have 15 mini machines and two cars and a pickup . I don't like things sitting outside but when that is necessary I like to keep them covered with tarps . As I get older it is harder for me to climb on the mini loader and pull the heavy tarp over the top of the cab after every snowplowing. I made this Tarp Flipper and now I can easily pull the 14x 16 ft tarp up and over the cab in one flip . I love it !!!! One large pin on each side quickly unhooks the C-Frame and can drive away from it. Doesn't look fancy but it sure is great to cover the machine from the ground in less than one minute.

 

[duwem]

Wow! That is just "Way Cool" I really enjoy getting my Don Campbell updates while enjoying my morning coffee

That's a lot of money ******* in tires!

 

[Don Campbell]

Todays progress shows the new hitch /plate cut out , welded and attached . Also I built a right side lower storage box . And a picture of the upper rear three lights below the roof . I am now designing a left side storage box to hold the exterior Cub Cadet Fuel tank. So I will put a small low pressure electric fuel pump to get the fuel back up 12 inches to the carb. It will have two fuel tanks , one gravity feed just in case the electric fuel pump fails.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

You're having too much fun.

 

[Don Campbell]

I got the Gator done and been working on a quick removeable cab attachment for the Steiner/Deere articulating tractor. Very unhappy with the look of it but it will be nice to keep the cold wind off me while playing in the snow . 15 minutes it all comes right off and back to the nicer summer looking version. I just received notice I made it in ( The Best of Farm Show ) with this project and it talks about me liking to keep custom cabs looking the right proportion?? I hope Mark doesn't see this and change his mind, ha,ha.

 

[rmalkow2]

I like Santa's new Gator!

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks , my 5 year old grandson arrives tomorrow and he is very excited to drive it for the first time. I'll share a video of it in action, ha,ha.
Todays progress picture progress shows me cutting out three pieces of 1/4 inch steel with the plasma cutter and building three steps for the rear of the Steiner/Deere . The cab is rear entry so i wanted nice sturdy steps for it. Here is the Farm Show picture too. I plowed snow today !!

 

[Bears Fan]

Congratulations on the article That Steiner/Deere really is cool and well deserved

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks !,
Today Deb downloaded a You Tube video today of me trying out the new cab addition for the first time. It is very cozy and keeps the wind off me. Not very pretty but it will be nicer when plowing snow.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

It is very cozy and keeps the wind off me. Not very pretty but it will be nicer when plowing snow.

Are you going for form or function?

 

[1969]

Subscribed.......

 

[Don Campbell]

Today Deb posted my 200th You-Tube Video !!!! This one shows my latest invention I call the Tarp Flipper. The last few days I have used it several times and I love it !!
I used to have to climb up on the slippery fenders and drag the heavy canvas tarp over the roof . Now you can see in these new photos and the video how easy it is . I hope to design something on the same idea this summer for our motorhome when it is not in storage just to keep the roof from getting all the black streaks.

 

[Don Campbell]

I have taken a break from the workshop and enjoyed plowing some snow. Here is the pile in my backyard in just the last week. Fun, Fun. I just finished shoveling 15 inches of snow off my roofs, not so fun.

 

[xtremek]

Sounds like you need to invent some kind of shingle friendly roof plow.

 

[Bears Fan]

That's one good looking Deere

 

[sean Buick 76]

Amazing projects, nice work!!

 

[Don Campbell]

I have already got a idea for a roof rake that attaches to my mini Wheel loader. I'm sure in the next couple years as I get older I will build it. I have seen them on wheel loaders before. Mine would be built out of thin wall steel tubing .

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks , It has been too cold to work in the shop lately and I have been plowing a lot of snow the last ten days in a row. But I did manage to put together two clips and several progress photos showing the steps to converting the electric JD Gator to gas powered Hydro Gator. It is video number 202 at doncampbellmodels on you-tube for anyone who might enjoy seeing it step by step in the workshop.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Don, I am stunned by what you can do in such a small shop, I love your work...keep it up

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks , I have put out a lot of projects out of my workshop with my few tools and small space , that is for sure.
We may get more snow tonight so I pulled the little tractor with the new cab in front of the garage today . I also put the snowblower on and will try it for the very first time.
32 in Snowplowing video , Deb posted today a new video from Wash. D.C. of a John Deere Grader plowing their street of 32 inches of fresh snow. Very cool to watch.
It is you-tube video number 203 on my videos.

 

[Don Campbell]

I spend 90% of my time building things in my workshop and only 10% actually playing on the projects I build. Today we got a few inches of wet snow but I decided to finally try out the brand new 54 in. snowblower I bought Nov. of 2014 . It worked pretty nice but now the snowblower is used, ha,ha. Deb just added a You-Tube video of me trying out the snowblower the very first time. It took a few minutes to get used to the reverse pto switch clicking off but then I got it .