Winter Project - Tractor Cab and Snow Blower Electronic Control Upgrade!

[Andy N. 2,633]

Pretty much finished up my winter project today. 1987 418-A paired with a 1995 tall shoot 42" snow blower. It started early last year when Original Tractor Cab Co. started selling cabs again for 300, 400, & 500 series. I also wanted to upgrade my snowblower from manual to electronic control with chute rotation and deflector movement all controlled from a joystick in the cab. 

 

Cab install was easy enough. Directions were easy to follow and no missing parts in the kit. I upgraded to the glass windshield (highly recommended), all lights, windshield wiper, side mirrors, review mirror, and cab heater. I also got the switch panel kit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next was the shoot control. Big thanks to @Steve Janninck for helping design and 3D print the electronic control boxes and other various parts.

 

Joystick control:

 

 

 

 

 

Electronic switching control box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The limit switch and diode box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the most anticipated piece....Air Horns! I had purchased these 12 volt air horns a couple years ago in anticipation of installation on a tractor one day. As the project came together, it became apparent that this is was the time to install them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Easton Rich 894]

Fancy!

[kpinnc 17,068]

Very nice! 

[WHX?? 54,628]

Wow!!!! @dclarke you gotta see this! 

Edited 10 hours ago by WHX??

[JCM 10,707]

AWESOME Andy   That black roof is great looking on there as well as all your other mods. Love the horn demo and smile. Money well spent. You will never regret having an OTC. Great job !!

[ri702bill 11,175]

Looks like you are ready to take on a DOT contract!

Well Done

[SylvanLakeWH 30,509]

[Bill D 2,591]

Excellent!

[Achto 30,887]

That is SAWEEEET !!! 

[Achto 30,887]

8 hours ago, Andy N. said:

and cab heater

 

Did you go with the one from Original Tractor Cab? I see that theirs had a 25amp draw. Just wondering if you have enough charging out put from the engine to keep up with it? 

[dclarke 4,116]

7 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Wow!!!! @dclarke you gotta see this! 

Might be time for you to upgrade the 520, Jim…. Excellent work, Andy N.!! 

[Andy N. 2,633]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 

Did you go with the one from Original Tractor Cab? I see that theirs had a 25amp draw. Just wondering if you have enough charging out put from the engine to keep up with it? 

i did and to be honest, the heat output probably won’t make much of a difference in the cab. I put my digital multimeter on the battery and turned everything on one by one and it did draw down to just under 12 volts when I turned the heater on with all the lights on. The heater was free with the package as part of a promotion they were running at the time. 
 

I do plan upgrading to a digital volt/amp gauge on the tractor. 
 

Also will be looking for a reduction steering kit to put on it. I believe everything from a 520-H system should fit on a 418-A with little modification. I’m planning on the cab being a permanent install and didn’t want to put it on the 520-H that I have because that reactor was my Dad’s and has sentimental value and enjoy using it for mowing and other things. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Andy N.

[WHX?? 54,628]

1 hour ago, dclarke said:

Might be time for you to upgrade the 520, Jim…. Excellent work, Andy N.!! 

First thing I thought of Denny when I saw the joy stick! Problem is we usally did't have enough snow to justify it. This year being somewhat of a exception untill the back end of winter when we did't get any snow. Had it out for those light dustings just for the seat time. 

 

Not fammiliar with a 418 electrical sytem Andy but yes be careful of a the accesories. I did draw measurements on the high powered lighting I put on but blew the nine pin out on every 520 I modded.  Now that everyday is Saturday never blow at night anymore. Don't have to worry about blowing early AM or when I got home from work in the dark. 

 

27 minutes ago, Andy N. said:

looking for a reduction steering kit

You would like the 520 front end running gear ...makes a world of difference when using a suicide knob & turning radius. I see @Easton Rich has some for sale now. Pullstart may have a extra setup too. Might want to consider a foot motion kit too. 

 

29 minutes ago, Andy N. said:

cab being a permanent install

Bad thing is it's a pain to do maintenance on a tractor with a cab on ... 520s anyway. Can't even check check the oil decent with a deuce on. 

[Andy N. 2,633]

48 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

You would like the 520 front end running gear ...makes a world of difference when using a suicide knob & turning radius. I see @Easton Rich has some for sale now. Pullstart may have a extra setup too. Might want to consider a foot motion kit too. 

 

My 520-H is a '89 which originally didn't come with reduction gearing. A few years back, I did find a system for sale and installed it on that. It is very nice with front mounted attachments and 60" mower deck.

 

51 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Bad thing is it's a pain to do maintenance on a tractor with a cab on ... 520s anyway. Can't even check check the oil decent with a deuce on. 

 

Routine engine mx isn't as bad on a 418-A with the cab. WH went with no oil filter on the M18. Anything heavy on the rear cylinder would be definitely be a PITA. I did get pretty good at taking the battery in and out with the cab installed during this whole process. 

 

I did pick up my 12 volt power from the accessory line prior to the fuse, since I installed separate fuses for everything I installed, and just getting those wires routed was very tight. The junction box in the pic below that I mounted forward of the fuses came with the kit.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

Not familiar with a 418 electrical sytem Andy but yes be careful of a the accesories. I did draw measurements on the high powered lighting I put on but blew the nine pin out on every 520 I modded.  Now that everyday is Saturday never blow at night anymore. Don't have to worry about blowing early AM or when I got home from work in the dark. 

 

Luckily, no 9 pin on the 418-A. Much simpler electrical system.