Good morning!  Over the last few months I have looked for some kind of overhead protection for my 1956 D4.  Most of the work I have for it is in the woods and my wife is concerned (correctly) that I might knock down a "widow maker" and make her a widow!  I want to build a protective device that looks mostly correct for the tractor so I have decided to make my version of part number 8F6576 Canopy Group from steel.  In order to keep things in proper proportion, I am asking for any dimensions that might be available, especially from the top of the fenders to the bottom of the framework.  Ideas and suggestions are always welcome.  Thank you for your help!  Elton

I would suggest you worry more about how you fit in than making it "look correct". But not knowing you, maybe you are of a small stature so you will not be banging you head into a low canopy. I have a friend that is much shorter than I, for working in his walnut orchard he wanted to keep things low. He fits, I don't not pleasant for me to operate his tractor. North Americans have gotten taller over the last 100 years. So what was good for most 50 years ago may not fit you. As it sounds like you have real use for your D4 make sure your comfortable.

Again not knowing what kind of trees you're working with and how big of pieces could come looking for you, the posts could be way to small for real protection from period correct canopies. I have built several canopies out of 2 inch by 1/4 wall square tube. I consider than the very minim size. I was looking more for limb lifters in walnut trees than to keep dead pieces falling from up on top. I first tried using pieces of home-built canopies that came with tractor I bought, and they all rattled and vibrated trebly. Guistes in all the top coroners and solid top plate helped stop all that. For real brush work I like the Aussies rounded tops better than most of what I see of USA built canopies. But not period correct to what Cat had in the day. So consider how much you think of your head, the worry about looks.

Thanks Ray54, the first priority is to make it work and the second is to make it look good. Maybe I have been restoring cars too long but generally it takes very little extra effort and expense to make an accessory "look" correct than it does to just make something work. The thought and effort that goes into making an item that works well, requires little effort to make it look great too! BTW I am 5'10" soo not very tall. I would love to have the measurements for the factory canopy, at least to start with. An inch or so is not likely to make much difference in the finished appearance.

The FLECO cab looks good but I don't know if there is anyone in my area that could roll the uprights.

Elton

Had a machine/fab shop make new arches for mine, the top is 3/16" rolled sheet, the tubes are 2 1/2" schedule 40. I also have supports under the fenders on each cab leg.

Rome, thanks for the pictures and your suggestions. What did you attach your under supports to? There are some bolts here and there, but I don't remember anything aligning up exactly. Maybe just poor memory!
Neil, through the years of my D4 ownership you have been very helpful by making suggestions and offering guidance to the less experienced newby. For all that, I am thankful!

Elton

Again, if anyone has measurements for the original canopy, I would love to have them. Thanks!

Hi, Elton.
From some little experience on D4s, I would suggest that you worry less about the look of the canopy and more about the possibilty of going over a bump and being 'LAUNCHED from the seat into the underside of said canopy. I would want at least 9 - 12 inches under such a canopy to cope with both a possible ;launching' and the possibility of a branch or limb dinging the roof of your canopy down somewhat.

Unless you have the heavy fenders, reinforcing under them would be a MUST for a falling objects protection structure - FOPS. Even with the heavy fenders it would not exactly be overkill to beef the fenders up. You could start that by making brackets attached to the fender mounting bolts themselves.

The rounded tops are GREAT for deflecting falling objects.

Just my 0.02.

Mine got combined with a three point hitch...might even finish it someday....
 
 
 

Attached are a couple of pictures of the canopy on my 7U. It was fabricated in the Struthers- Wells shops in Titusville, PA in the early 1960's
The arches are 2" solid round stock, the sweeps are schedule 40 pipe, I added fender supports under each upright,
It survived a fall off the back of a low- boy at 45 mph with minor damage (not on this tractor).
It was "certified" for work of a federal project - the Kinzua Dam.

Well equipped there Will.