Bent my brush guard CK30

[IslandTractor]

I bent it back using Rick's method. Man it was easy, that metal is not nearly as strong as I thought.

I'd say the metal is plenty strong but the necessary design to protect the grill while still allowing the hood to open incorporates a long lever arm. Consequently, if you press on the top of the grill guard you will exert quite a lot of force on the bottom of the bracket. There is enough strength in the bracket to prevent brush from pushing on your grill but certainly not enough to use the guard for any sort of "bulldozing" activity whatsoever. To do so would be kinda like using your car seatbelts to tow another vehicle...it may look strong but only do what it's designed to do.

 

[contdevelop]

This is good info on the factory brush guard. I almost pulled the trigger and bought one. Now it is confirmed that I will just make my own.

 

[VictorW]

This is good info on the factory brush guard. I almost pulled the trigger and bought one. Now it is confirmed that I will just make my own.

I thought about buying one also but may just make it if I would have to do some reinforcing anyways. Not that I would use it for pushing things but would like to know the front is well protected. As previously said, grill, headlights and hood are expensive.

 

[IslandTractor]

It's a BRUSH guard not a bulldozer blade. It works fine as designed if used properly and not abused. It is intended simply to keep brush from contacting the vulnerable grill, hood and lights while mowing without a loader. It isn't supposed to be heavy duty or abused anymore than your car windshield is designed or built to be used to push logs or expected to stop a moose. Use the thing properly and there is no reason to reinforce it or build some over engineered contraption on the front of your tractor.

 

[GeneD14]

Last year I bought my tractor used and the brush guard was bent back and tweeked up on one side. I used the loader and a strap to gently pull it out. Then I used an 8' long 4x4 post to push down on one side with the loader. It came out perfect.

 

[jimmyj]

I am still very glad that I have this guard. It has saved my grille many times from brush and branches. I have been thinking about this and I think the only place that I could have bent the guard was pushing a round bale along a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Dmace]

The only reason mine bent was from loading the dump truck and getting too close to the side while trying to dump in the middle of the bed. Not paying attention, I would sometimes lightly brush against the truck and then continue driving forward until I realized that I was pushing the truck.

I actually didn't realize it was bent until I tried to open the hood. I am still glad I have it and it's definitely perfect for it's intention.

 

[MichiganIron]

Remember bumpers on cars before the NHTSA started regulating front collision requirements? Now the bumber works well, but you destroy $1k worth of plastic everytime you look at it wrong.

What a scam that is.

 

[jimmyj]

Hey Michigan, you got that right! I like big ole' metal bumpers that look like they have the same amount of steel in them as a bridge I beam!!!

 

[IslandTractor]

Hey Michigan, you got that right! I like big ole' metal bumpers that look like they have the same amount of steel in them as a bridge I beam!!!

I liked the 50's Cadillac bumpers with the pointy DDD cups.