He Rebuilds Deere Cabs To "Like New" Condition

He Rebuilds Deere Cabs To "Like New" Condition TRACTORS Cabs 28-5-20 Need a new Sound Gard cab for your Deere tractor, or a rebuild of the cab you already have? You might consult Barry Kapplinger, who installs or rebuilds used Sound Gard cabs at his implement dealership in Kiester, Minn. Kapplinger buys used Deere tractors at auctions and then parts them out. Often the tractor's cab is still in good condition, and over the years he has developed a thriving business installing used cabs on older tractors. He gives each cab a general rebuild, installing new fenders, doors, upholstery, glass, etc. He covers a six-state area and specializes in Deere 4230 and 4430 Sound Gard cabs. "Many of the tractors we put cabs on have been damaged in a rollover or fire," says Kapplinger. "In other cases the cabs are simply rusted out. The farmer wants them restored back to working condition, so we do whatever it takes. We can either restore an existing cab or replace it with another one. Typically, a used Deere 4430 cab will cost between $4,000 and $5,000 installed. When we're done we repaint the cab to look like new." He says insurance companies bring him a lot of work because they know they can save money. "Deere no longer offers new 4430 cabs, but they did up until a year ago and they sold for about $13,000," says Kapplinger. Some farmers will buy a used tractor with a damaged cab and have him replace it or restore it. "A farmer might be able to buy a used 4430 for $15,000 instead of paying $90,000 for a new tractor with comparable features," he says. "He comes to us because the cabs we buy are usually in much better condition than the ones you find at salvage yards." Kapplinger says he doesn't use cabs that have been structurally damaged in a rollover, etc. "We don't want to take the risk of stressed parts failing later on," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Barry Kapplinger, Kiester Implement, 110 S. Main, P.O. Box 249, Kiester, Minn. 56051 (ph 507 294-3387).

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