I finshed installing the skid plates this weekend. on my first pass I did the left side, since the humungous hydraulic filter just begs for protection. That went very smoothly.
The right side wasn't so easy. It would have been a piece of cake, if someone hadn't bent the hydraulic lines all over. It really took some effort!
The instructions call for removing two nuts from the hydralic line bracket that is behind the quick connects. But the bolts just spun, and all that I could see to do was remove the bolts that attach the floor to its frame. I was able to raise the floor enough to get to the heads of those bolts, then. The bolts would have just been long enough, if the bracket hadn't been bent. I ended up removing and reshaping the bracket, and it finally fit together... The front bracket for the hydraulic lines was preety far bent as well, and it was a real picnic getting things together up there...
Needless to say, I cannot imagine NOT having the skid plates. After seeing the shape of things under there, I am certain that they are worth every penny. If they had been installed at original, it would have been an easy install, too.
One thing I noticed. The TEN tractors have Isolated Operator's Stations. I don't recall this ever being mentioined. I have heard of folks who thought they were cheesy because the floor "flexes" when they are mounting the tractor. Well, it should! the whole thing is riding on cushy bumpers that smooth out the vibrations, to lessen operator fatigue. That is a pretty pricy upgrade on the larger tractors. Does any one know if it is a truly isolated system? Do other brand CUTs have this?
