Confused About HST Fan Protection

TheFlatlander · Nov 14, 2009

shownuff said:
nice pics flatlander,does it interfere with the removal of the filter?it looks like its protecting the filter more than the fan

I have not tried to remove the filter yet but there is a gap that I think will allow for removal with out removing guard. But even if guard had to be removed it wouldn't be that difficult. they did design this to provide extra protection to the filter on that side, but it really does cover for the fan also.

vanb · Nov 14, 2009

I ordered the new guard, it took some explaining. The 1st generation fan guard kit showed up on the dealer's parts screen, but when we did some searching they were able to get the right fan guard and I had them order me the bolts, since I knew from earlier posts weren't included. I just picked it up yesterday and put it on my bx2350 this morning fits nice very easy to install

RMatty · Nov 14, 2009

Van b how did you mount the guard with the floor board braces on your BX2350? Reason i am asking is I have one also and was wondering if it was possible. Can you post pics?

Doug in NNY · Nov 14, 2009

I received the new-style fan guard on Friday, 6 November, from my dealer. I installed it this morning, 14 November. There is a floor support bracket on the right side of my BX2350 that is held in place by bolts that are in the place where the right side of this bracket is designed to be held to the tractor's frame.

I did not remove the tires in order to install this bracket.

The HST fan protection bracket is designed to straddle the frame. In order to do that the bracket that supports the floor pan on the forward right side must be unbolted and pried away from the frame enough to allow the bracket to be slid in between the frame and that bracket. (I hope this description isn't too confusing.) That floor support bracket is actually held in place by three bolts, the two that use the two holds in the HST fan protection plate, and one about two or so inches toward the back of the tractor.

If I were to have installed the plate with the right side squeezed between the frame and the floor support bracket, I would have had to shim the back of the floor support bracket to compensate for the thickness of the HST fan protection plate.

I chose not to do that. Instead I decided to simply bolt the HST fan protection plate to the *inside* of the frame on the right side (using the bolts that are already there that hold that right floor support bracket in place) and the outside of the frame on the left. That meant that the bolts on the left side (which I had to supply) actually served to draw the bracket in to the frame (which I supposed I could have shimmed with flat washers, but I did not have time to do that today -- I think I'll correct that tomorrow).

Anyway, it seems to fit well enough as it stands. It's not a BroTek but it is a quarter of the cost.

The process took maybe twenty minutes. My dog "helped" by getting his nose under there to see what I was doing, which meant that without him I could have shaved a minute or two off the twenty. He was wagging the whole time, which left me conflicted sending him away.

Doug

BX2350, and stuff.

bp fick · Nov 14, 2009

Since I have had this protector since July, as it came with my tractor, I have had the HST filter off. Yes, you remove two bolts from the protector and it tilts down or up, out of the way of removing the filter. No problem. Of course you could take out all four of the bolts, but it isn't necessary.

Actually, the protection provided is primarily for the fan and does almost nothing, that I can see, to protect the filter. Just my view. If I were a big time boon docker, which I am not, I might consider the Bro Tek. For what I do, this unit is fine.

bandonbadbar · Nov 14, 2009

Doug in NNY, thanks for the info. It,s time to order.

Tom

dodge man · Nov 15, 2009

I picked my guard up yesterday, it was about $41 after tax.

vanb · Nov 15, 2009

I never had the floor board supports installed on my bx2350 (just the new seat) so the holes on the frame weren't used, I guess that's why my install was simple.

dodge man · Nov 15, 2009

I installed mine today. It took about 45 minutes to put on. Like Doug in N.Y. said, there is a fender suppourt bracket that is in the way. I went ahead and installed mine on the outside of the frame and didn't bother to shim out the third bolt for this suppourt bracket. It didn't seem to matter and worked fine. I did remove my right rear tire. I'm not sure I had to, but it was easier to see to line up the holes. The tires get really heavy when you have them filled.

BTW, the bracket has some slots in them, which I thought was for air flow, but these slots are to fit some cross braces for the frame. It looks like this will help protect things, but not 100%.