I'm a mid 70's geezer who recently bought a Ford 960 to play with. I added a step so that I can now get onto the foot
rest/running board fairly easily.I also added to piece of 3x5 tubing under the seat to raise it and move it back.
Stepping over the transmission hump is more of a problem. I wear size 15 EEEEEEEEE shoes, so the running board provides
little more than a toe hold while trying to step over the transmission. I am somewhat bent over, and right knees isn't the
best, so taking a high step straight up is a problem for me.
I also have a Ford 640 with somewhat the same issue. However, on the 640, I am able to lean back and partially sit on
the fender while I am stepping over the transmission. Raising my right foot is much easier from this position. I tried to
do the same on 960 and was quickly reminded that the running board to top of fender height is about 7 lower on the 960.
When I lean back, the top of the fender is at mid thigh level (not at cheek height).
I don't see any good places to attach a grab bar in a helpful location, so have been considering various options.
One thought was to attach a 2 block to the running board so the step over the transmission would be lower. This didn't
seem very practical because it is in the way for other movement.
Another thought was to put some sort of about 7 riser block under the fender attaching point. This would look quite odd,
and might diminish the function of the fender---but it might provide a seat for me to use while stepping over the
transmission. Perhaps a fender from some other model might function better for my purposes.
I also have a late 70's John Deere 301A with a roll bar and canopy. I use the roll bar as a grab bar of sorts while
climbing on and off the tractor. This made me consider adding the equivalent of a stub portion of ROPS to my Ford 960 as
the basis for a grab bar and/or seat over the fender. The commercial versions of a ROPS for this model seem to bolt a
heavy steel plate where the fender attaches and weld tubing to the top of the plate inboard of the fender. Something like
this should be rather easy to make.
Has anyone seen any similar adaptions or have any suggestions to offer?
900 ROPS
rest/running board fairly easily.I also added to piece of 3x5 tubing under the seat to raise it and move it back.
Stepping over the transmission hump is more of a problem. I wear size 15 EEEEEEEEE shoes, so the running board provides
little more than a toe hold while trying to step over the transmission. I am somewhat bent over, and right knees isn't the
best, so taking a high step straight up is a problem for me.
I also have a Ford 640 with somewhat the same issue. However, on the 640, I am able to lean back and partially sit on
the fender while I am stepping over the transmission. Raising my right foot is much easier from this position. I tried to
do the same on 960 and was quickly reminded that the running board to top of fender height is about 7 lower on the 960.
When I lean back, the top of the fender is at mid thigh level (not at cheek height).
I don't see any good places to attach a grab bar in a helpful location, so have been considering various options.
One thought was to attach a 2 block to the running board so the step over the transmission would be lower. This didn't
seem very practical because it is in the way for other movement.
Another thought was to put some sort of about 7 riser block under the fender attaching point. This would look quite odd,
and might diminish the function of the fender---but it might provide a seat for me to use while stepping over the
transmission. Perhaps a fender from some other model might function better for my purposes.
I also have a late 70's John Deere 301A with a roll bar and canopy. I use the roll bar as a grab bar of sorts while
climbing on and off the tractor. This made me consider adding the equivalent of a stub portion of ROPS to my Ford 960 as
the basis for a grab bar and/or seat over the fender. The commercial versions of a ROPS for this model seem to bolt a
heavy steel plate where the fender attaches and weld tubing to the top of the plate inboard of the fender. Something like
this should be rather easy to make.
Has anyone seen any similar adaptions or have any suggestions to offer?
900 ROPS
