Tractor Cane Holder
Intro: Tractor Cane Holder
My 92 year old Dad needed an upgrade on his Garden Tractor. It seems he was tired of forgetting where he placed his cane and running it over. I told him to check under his wheels before he moved his tractor and he said " yah right". He really wanted to mount it on the tractor engine cover with some closet broom hanger and though it was a good idea I thought of a better idea with what he already had. LETS DO THIS RIGHT NOW!
STEP 1: Parts
Parts:
1 Bungie Cord
1 Hook
2 Screws to mount the hook
Tools:
Drill and drill bits
Driver to fit the screws
STEP 2: Easy Stuff
This cane holder is a design I have on my kayak to hold the paddle off to one side. I made this as simple possible without buying hardware.
Remember when you drill any holes that the drill doesn't go shooting through into something important and that the metal bits don't fall into the engine.
First you need to drill holes loose enough so that the bungie hooks will slide in. I found I had to bend the hook to one side and once they are in bend them back. The distance between hooks was planed with the bungie tension in mind. If your bungie is too long you can shorten it by tying a new knot. You also have to mount the bungie on the outside or downhill side of the engine cover which makes sense when you mount the hook.
STEP 3: The Hook
This I found in my Dad's can of stuff. It is amazing what these old timers collect. It was a mirror J-bracket. Also I found these screws in the same can. I placed the cane parallel to the bungie cord and mounted the hook to the center of the bungie cord like in the picture. I bent the hook up a little more to hold the bungie cord better.
STEP 4: Thats It!
My Dad thought I was clever and I'm going to let him think that. It functions very well and he no longer misplaces his cane when he's out in the garden.
I hope this is useful to you.
13 Comments
dmwatkins 8 years ago
pcorbett 8 years ago
His dad lived till he was 94. Rufus gardened right to the end. The last 4 years my dad roto tilled for him but before that he turned by shovel by himself little by little........and this is why these guys live so long. That and their wives drive them right out of the house and into the garden.
dmwatkins 8 years ago
pcorbett 8 years ago
I'm not sure but maybe over 40. The John Deere was something my sister painted for him. This aint no John Deere. I've been keeping it running for him for as long as he's had it, maybe ten years.
baudeagle 8 years ago
I was looking for an idea like this. This would be great for holding one of those hand grippers to pick up junk without getting off the mower.
dmwatkins 8 years ago
wsround 8 years ago
Not that I need a cane at the moment but I have often thought about bringing along one of those grabbers when I am mowing rather than having to stop turn off the mower and pick up the item and then restart the mower.
neo71665 8 years ago
On my zero turn I have one that I slide in a piece of PVC pipe screwed to the side of the mower. Squeeze the jaws shut, slide it in, and the jaws expand holding it from bouncing out.
neo71665 8 years ago
http://www.elecdirect.com/images/productimages/0-S...
I use some of those. I'm an electrician so I it falls in the stuff I have laying around.
pcorbett 8 years ago
Are those for conduit or are they ground clamps?
neo71665 8 years ago
Conduit stand off clamp. I screw it down, leave the clamp screw out of it, and pinch the metal "fingers" in so it holds by friction. It will hold a cane just fine but after a few dozen times of removing it you might have to pinch them back in a bit. If its a wooden cane or something you don't want scratched you might wrap it in tape or heat shrink. Dad's "round the house cane" is one of the metal adjustable ones and he doesn't care what it looks like so I left it as is. I have his on the back of his tool box on his truck and it stays put with him driving like a madman down dirt roads.
caitlinsdad 8 years ago
Nice. I would have tried to stick some super magnets inside the cane so he could just mount the cane anywhere on the hood...(or else put a shotgun holster on the side)..and it would make a great magnetic picker-upper.
pcorbett 8 years ago
I like the magnet idea. We thought of a quiver but this is what we had at hand. It stays put with the bungie.