CK20/CK30 tie rod guard? Anybody?

MotorSeven · Oct 8, 2005

Before i decided to order my CK30, i crawled under all of the other brands of tractors on the dealer lots. I found that many have lots of things that can get caught or smashed. The 'Bota has twin guards over the tie rods which are tucked up above the bottom of the front axle L3130/3830. I hope Kioti comes up with something in the future.
But for now....i know some of you fab guys are laying awake at night working out a solution! I saw and saved pic's of the CK belly pan which i plan on building when the darn tractor ever gets delivered. Seems like an extension to the belly pan...a section of diamond plate with a rolled edge covering the rod? It is hard to visualize this customization while being Kiotiless at the moment /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .
Just wondering if anyone had attacked the problem, or just ordered an extra rod /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.

RD

DrewL · Oct 8, 2005

since my "bent tie rod" post I have done it again. I just removed the rod, brought it to a press, straigtened it out and put two new $2.50 dust boots from my local CarQuest on there. A belly pan seems like the logical choice as I don't know of a material or a thickness of a rod that could support the weight of the tractor...............especially if the bucket is full of dirt. I now know how I have bent it so I'm aware to avoid those situations which is stratling a tree...........in my case

Highbeam · Oct 8, 2005

"or just ordered an extra rod"
-I did that. Actually two.

The tie rod end is 43$ and the tie rod is 28$. So consider the cost of the bellypan vs. the fix for hitting a stump. It is actually more expensive to hit the hydraulic filter that also hangs down a bit at 40$.

My grand plan is a bellypan like the dozer I previously owned was equipped with. The frame of the pan would start at the front of the tractor frame where the front weights are bolted and would wrap under the front axle and tie rod and then head back to the rear axle where there are some very stout mounts to use. Midway there are loader frame mounts that would be tied in to the frame. Then pretty much skin that frame with 3/16" plate. I like the addition of a front end guard. Pretty much like the redrocker pan but extended forward.

Several inches of ground clearance would be given up.

MotorSeven · Oct 9, 2005

Joe,

Someone else here(TBN) posted a photo of their belly pan(can't remember who). I saved the pic and will try and attach it. It looks good but lacks the tie rod protection. Keep us posted if you are sucessfull in building a pan that protects everything.
RD

Arggg....don't bother with the attachment...it didn't work properly. Sometimes this laptop w/air card can really get me blood pressure up /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. Anyway, maybe the belly pan creator will send us another pic.

R

mrutkaus · Oct 9, 2005

A couple of months ago I posted a picture of my bent tie rod. I couldn't tell if it was bent or supposed to be that way, it was neatly curved up and came down on the left side like it was made that way. Another member asked the same thing; his tie rod was bent and he didn't know if it was or not until he saw a straight one.

Point is if your tie rod is bent up out of the way, or you can turn it that way when adjusting toe in, why build a guard or replace it? Just adjust toe in and put it in a good position.

Mike

MotorSeven · Oct 9, 2005

Mike,

I plan on building the pan, just thinking of throwing in the tie rod shield while i'm at it. The Ck has alot of vunerable stuff hanging underneath...and i ain't the most "genteel" operator.

RedRocker · Oct 9, 2005

I built the belly pan, it seems like you'd sacrifice too much ground clearance to cover the tie rod. I bent mine this weekend, drove over a big pile of rocks like a dumb ***.
I hooked a chain to the bucket and pulled it back fairly straight, I'll take it off and do it right now that I'm home.

Highbeam · Oct 10, 2005

Good job straightening that redrocker. I was leary to really give it much force fearing that I would pop a tie rod end or worse yet the ears of the hubs.

Doesn't it seem odd that so many of us are breaking the same thing on this model of tractor? I mean, really now, if all of us are breaking this tie rod don't you think there may be a design flaw? I am not exactly genteel either but I think we are all pretty much the same and why then aren't all the tie rods on say a Kubota or JD bending?

I am extra careful and check it several times a day now and haven't bent a second one.... yet.

KiotiJohn · Oct 10, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I bent mine this weekend, drove over a big pile of rocks like a dumb ***. )</font>
The belly pan, or the tie rod?
John

RedRocker · Oct 10, 2005

Tie rod, belly pan did good. I think our best defense is to keep in mind that thing hangs down there. The biggest flaw is the tie rod hangs lower than any other componet, so you need to keep that in mind when plowing into things that stick up. I had a momentary lapse of reason, didn't even know it, happened to glance down later and saw it. Maybe I'll come up with some 4130 tie rods for a little added umph!! I've got them on my Jeep, also got a lathe. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif