1760M Skid plate help

[bglegal1]

The pics show the mangled skid plate on my 1760M. I use the term "skid plate" loosely as this thing is very light gauge metal and is in the condition you see here after shredding some moderately thick brush, well within the capability of my shredder. This plate covers the crossover between the fuel tanks, which are on both sides on this model. Anybody got any ideas on how to replace this with something substantially beefier? There isn't a convenient place to just weld some thick plate to cover it, and I guess whatever the solution is it needs to be removable in that ya might need to access that crossover some time. I have some ideas, but before I crawl under there with welder in hand thought I'd see if anybody might have a suggestion that hasn't occurred to me. Thanks

 

[MF RED in MT]

I am guessing the skid plate is removable which would be normal.

Welcome to TBN,

If it were me, I would remove the skid plate, and if it is fabricated using 1/8" material I would straighten it out to the original shape as possible, then I would add additional 1/8" to 1/4" flat bar/angle iron reinforcement to the inside/outside (welding) and reinstall the skid plate.

Good luck, and others might have better ideas for you,

KC

 

[Motorboatin]

Had the same issue with my 1750M except with mine it pushed up into the fuel tank cross over and dumped 5 gallons of diesel

I bought new parts and replaced everything but I was not impressed with the 16 gauge 3 piece "skid plate". I plan on building an actual skid plate

I had to replaced #1, 8, 46 & 48

 

[MF RED in MT]

Had the same issue with my 1750M except with mine it pushed up into the fuel tank cross over and dumped 5 gallons of diesel

I bought new parts and replaced everything but I was not impressed with the 16 gauge 3 piece "skid plate". I plan on building an actual skid plate

I had to replaced #1, 8, 46 & 48

View attachment 663249

Oh, 16 gauge material might be a skid plate on a go-cart but should not be called a skid plate on a tractor.

This is what I think about skid plate thickness:

11 gauge (1/8") should be a bare minimum, barely;

3/16" plate (7 gauge) is better;

1/4" plate (3 gauge) would be best for SCUT/CUT tractors skid plate;

5/16" plate (0 gauge) would be overkill;

and 3/8" plate (000 gauge) is out of sight for a skid plate on a SCUT/CUT tractor.

KC

 

[bglegal1]

Got under there and did a little more head scratching yesterday. I agree with Red, this set up may have been o.k. on a go-cart, but just doesn't cut it on farm equipment. I had already straightened the thing out and reinstalled it, and I'm thinking I'll fab up something out of 1/4" plate to cover up the whole shooting match. I think I can come up with something I can bolt on rather than welding to the frame. We'll see. Motorboatin, if you get yours done, post some pics, please.

 

[bglegal1]

I know it's been a while, but thought I'd post a pic of the solution to my skid plate issue.
Got my nephew to fab it out of 3/16 plate. No more worries about tearing up the fuel tank crossover.