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Bettesworth Construction
compact tractors

How One Compact-Tractor Owner Used a Loader Torque Tube for Storage

Kent Fratzke used painted 3½-inch expandable rubber plugs as end caps for his compact tractor’s open loader torque tube, creating space for chains, tools and other items.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read
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A loader torque tube with open ends can double as a small storage space: in a reader-submitted idea, Kent Fratzke of Cottonwood, Minnesota, capped the openings with painted 3½-inch expandable rubber plugs and used the cavity for chains, tools and other items. It is a practical idea to inspect on your own machine—not a universal fit recommendation.

How the torque-tube storage idea works

Fratzke noticed that the loader torque tube on his new compact tractor was open on both sides. He painted 3½-inch expandable rubber plugs to serve as matching end caps, then used the space inside the tube for chains, tools and other items. Successful Farming Staff published the reader-submitted idea on April 8, 2019, in its Agriculture.com article.

The basic concept is to use an existing hollow space rather than add a separate box or holder. The account describes one owner’s solution; it does not establish that other tractors have accessible, hollow torque tubes or openings that accept the same plugs.

What to check before trying it

  • Inspect your tractor’s layout. Confirm that the torque tube is actually open and that using its interior will not interfere with the loader or other equipment. The article does not provide machine-specific compatibility guidance.
  • Measure the opening. The reported plugs were 3½ inches, but that is the contributor’s stated plug size—not a guaranteed fit for another machine. Measure your own opening and check the plug’s dimensions and suitability before buying.
  • Verify fit and retention. The account gives no fit procedure, retention information or load rating. Do not assume a plug will stay secure under your operating conditions.
  • Choose contents cautiously. Chains and tools were the items Fratzke reported storing, but the article gives no load limit, safety guidance or assessment of vibration, weather exposure or effects on equipment operation. Check that anything stored is secure and cannot create an operating hazard.

What the account does—and does not—establish

The reported approach is straightforward: use painted expandable rubber plugs as end caps for the torque tube’s open sides, then use the resulting cavity for storage. The article does not name a plug brand, validate a particular product listing, or provide manufacturer approval. Treat it as an individual storage idea and assess your tractor and plug independently rather than assuming the same dimensions or performance will apply.

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