CH570 Harvester Motion Retrofit
Budget: $100 – $800 AUD
I’m retrofitting a John Deere CH570 cane harvester and need a practical design that splits the elevator’s functions—its vertical travel must stay under simple manual control, while its left-right swing should operate automatically. The topper also remains on a manual mechanism. Because the machine works in dusty, cane-field conditions, the solution has to be sturdy yet as economical as possible.
Here’s what I’m after:
• A complete mechanism layout showing how the elevator can be raised and lowered manually, and how the same elevator can pivot left and right with an automated drive.
• A manual topper movement system that matches the elevator’s vertical control in feel and cost.
• Basic cab and exterior detailing so the operator area and bodywork look tidy and service-ready, but no show-level polish.
• A parts list and sourcing notes that clearly favour the cheapest viable option—hydraulic, mechanical lever, or electronic—whichever meets the brief for the lowest cost.
• Assembly drawings, control schematics, and concise step-by-step instructions I can give the workshop crew.
• A quick ballpark of your labour and expected material spend, keeping the total project under the $800 ceiling I’ve set.
If you’ve engineered farm machinery or similar field-tough equipment before, this should feel familiar. Accuracy, clarity, and a design I can build without exotic components will win the job.
Here’s what I’m after:
• A complete mechanism layout showing how the elevator can be raised and lowered manually, and how the same elevator can pivot left and right with an automated drive.
• A manual topper movement system that matches the elevator’s vertical control in feel and cost.
• Basic cab and exterior detailing so the operator area and bodywork look tidy and service-ready, but no show-level polish.
• A parts list and sourcing notes that clearly favour the cheapest viable option—hydraulic, mechanical lever, or electronic—whichever meets the brief for the lowest cost.
• Assembly drawings, control schematics, and concise step-by-step instructions I can give the workshop crew.
• A quick ballpark of your labour and expected material spend, keeping the total project under the $800 ceiling I’ve set.
If you’ve engineered farm machinery or similar field-tough equipment before, this should feel familiar. Accuracy, clarity, and a design I can build without exotic components will win the job.