Confused About HST Fan Protection

[bp fick]

As a new BX owner, I have read with interest/concern here about the protection for the HST fan. I don't do anything, really, that would place it at risk, but still. My dealer even mentioned the issue during my very first visit to the dealership.

Here is my confusion. Were/are there some models made with ZERO protection for the fan? I don't know if this is recent, but Kubota has a stragicaly placed cross metal protection on the '09 BX1860. On the parts pages at Messick's website, it is called an optional "Fan Cover Kit". part no. 20 on the diagram.

Do all BX's come with this? Second question. Is this new? Finally, does it really offer any genuine protection?

 

[radioman]

NOPE! I believe the new fan protection if any only came out this spring i think. I am surprised to hear that yours came with it as standard option whereas most of us don't even have anything. count your lucky stars. However, you should still consider the full skid plate. I seen the pics that brotek makes and I seem to like the way its made.

 

[CHDinCT]

If you NEVER take you're MMM off, except to do maintenance, or you NEVER drive your BX off your lawn, and even there I suppose there could be risks, then you could get away without a true skid plate. But, if you ever plan to venture off of your nice lawn area without the MMM on, which becomes necessary to remove to keep it from hanging up on just about anything, you really need the protection of the Bro-tek skid plate. Not only does it protect the fan, but it also protects your vulnerable HST filter. This was the first add on I got for my BX, even before additional attachments.

As that old add said, "you can pay me a little now, or a lot more latter"

 

[bp fick]

Hey, I hear ya, guys about the BroTek.

So, this "part", gosh I wish I could clip it from Messick's site, but cannot, is NEW? As in, not previously installed on machines? hmmm...

 

[TripleR]

Agree with CHDinCT, but will go even further because if your lawn is like mine, you will occasionally have limbs come off the trees and all it takes is one to flip up into your fan to cost you hundreds of dollars. I don't have anything yet on my BX2660, but will have before I take my deck off for the winter.

 

[bp fick]

OK, here a photo of my underneath 'Bota.

Sorry the photo is what it is, but you can see the part anyhow.

 

[thavil]

I don't know about anyone else, but your new Kubota skid plate looks much different than the "new" one we saw a few months ago. This skid plate looks like it might actually protect something. Still not as good as Bro-Teks but much better.

 

[thavil]

Finally found the picture of a Kubota fan cover that was posted a few months back. Your newer version looks much different than this one attached.

 

[bp fick]

thavil,

so you think Kubota has taken note?

 

[thavil]

thavil,

so you think Kubota has taken note?

Sure do or your dealer fabbed their own version. Here is a post of the ultimate picture of the Bro-Tek skid if you have never seen one installed http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/104558-bx-step-kit-skidplate-photo.html. You can make your own decision on whether your version will protect as well as Bro-Tek's and whether you want to spend the extra money.