BigSky™ Shop has been busy the last little while, taking advantage of (mostly) clear skies and warm temps (for early) March.
When we bought Maxine she had a simple home made tab / hitch bolted on the back of the axle housing,
I need something a little fancier so that I can move "real" trailers around the yard and any other attachments that fit in a 2" receiver hitch.
Our 446 (Max) came with a Sleeve Hitch and one of the first things I made for it was an adapter for a 2" receiver that would pin on the sleeve hitch
This time I wanted to build something that was more solid, adaptable for things other than just a receiver hitch and would be up and out of the way if I decide to get a sleeve hitch for the 222.
Pulled off the little trailer hitch and measured up for mounting points - decided to use the 2 upper (going into/through the frame) and the 2 lower ones
started off with a simple box made out of 2" angle iron, with a lip to rest on the one behind the fuel tank cover.
then a 2nd piece of angle iron for the two lower mounting bolts... and two diagonal bits to triangulate and brace the whole affair...
This was the exciting part for me, as I was making tack welds on the braces while everything was bolted to the axle... and the gas tank is only inches above...
Happily - no big boom
It was windy, and I put a leather welding jacket hanging over the back of the seat to make sure no stray sparks wandered off.
Once I was happy with the tack welds off it came and the final beads were laid down while it was on the bench... and yesterday it was even warm enough to splash on some Tremclad paint for that "finished" look
when the paint was dry, it went back on the 222
Final step was to bolt on a 2" receiver hitch assembly from Princess Auto.
Overall I'm really happy with the results, It's nice when something turns out looking as good in real life as it did when you were imagining it...
'68 Case 195, '84 Case 446, '88 Ingersoll 222 - and 1965 Case 530ck (fullsize backhoe)
Harry
- It was a fun project and nice to be able to take advantage of early spring weather...
That should come in quite handy! I agree, it sure is a good feeling when a project turns out as good as you imagined!
