Last summer I made a filter guard out of 1/4" plate for my tractor and just recently added in a L piece between the filter and PTO to protect both the filter and hydro unit from any possible u-joint failure's.Just finished making the skid plate for the trans as well out of 1/8" plate I made it so that it bolts unto the underside of the hitch plate as well to the underside of the Filter Hydro guard.Its held on by two 3/8" bolts to the filter guard and two 3/8" bolts to the hitch plate.I also made it so that I'll protect the brake shaft actuator rods as well. Both guards are removable in a matter of minutes.I leave the filter,hydro guard on year round and the trans guard will only be used when doing stuff out in the rough.Posting pictures takes awhile so I"ll post slowly over the course of the next few days.Still haven't made the fan guard but thats on the list to do shortly.Larry
Pictures of the skid plate. Haven't painted it yet due to being to cold will do that once it gets warmer out.It's held in place with four 3/8" bolts two on the rear hitch plate and two on the filter,hydro guard. I have put in a drain area for draining out the oil if its ever needed.As you can see I'va also put some protection in for the brake actuator rod's. This plate will only be put on if and when the tractors being used in rough spots. There's room under the trans for air movement so cooling shouldn't be affected.I won't leave it on as grass leaves dirt etc can build up and make a mess under there. Next project will be to make a fan guard.Been out doing some loader work and have heard small branches ratteling on the fan so this I need to do.I know its not a big deal to change the fan on the gc2300 but if I don't need to do that extra work the better for me. Larry.
this is what the oil filter hydro guard looks like off the tractor.I added in the L piece this winter that fits between the hydro filter and the mid pto. It also protects the hydro unit as well from any possible failure of anything to do with the mid pto.it was a after thought as it needs to be repainted come warmer weather.Larry Next project in the next few days will be to make the fan guard.I have a rough idea of what Ia'm going to do and once I get it made I'll post pictures of it as well. Larry
If others are interested in measurements etc; I'll have to go out and take measurements as I just make stuff up out of cardboard and fit it into place make sure everything fits.Then mark it all out onto the steel cut it out bend drill ,weld etc; and adjust to fit and thats it.But like I was saying if there's enough interested I can measure it up.Larry.
Actually I measure first get the idea and do a mock up on cardboard .It's easier to see where any inprovements need to be made.Cardboard is alot easier to work with and cut then steel. Then once it looks like what I'd like it to the I cut the steel and do the rest to get it to the finished product.
Finally got around to making the fan guard,made a pattern out of cardboard then cut out the steel,again I used 1/8" plate.After bending it to the proper degree's and welding up the added piece around the wire's and hose's I marked out and drilled a bunch of 3/8" holes to help with air flow.[I don't really think that was required as there's lots of area above and between the underside of the floor pan to get air for cooling.Will wait for warmer weather to paint.I didn't make the mid pto covered as once I put this plate in I can just leave it in place even with the mower on or the quick hitch.I have a home built 3 tph stump grinder that I'am going to mount onto the front,so need to beable to drive it.I think it'll be way better on the front of this tractor.I use it on the MF 1655 which has pto rpm of 1800 so can't use it on the back of the gc2300.Plus will be way easier on the neck with it on the front.Larry
For some reason I can't put more then 2 picture's per post,due to my computer logging out and then losing everything.This the fan guard installed and in place [no paint yet] I just bolted it to the filter guard,I don't think it needs to be bolted near the top because if anything big was to push against it all that would happen it that it would push back against the shaft that pivots that activate's the mmm lift arms.It's far enough away so that it doesn't rattle against anything.I welded nuts in place so that all I need to do is remove or install bolt's and tighten or loosen them up from underneath.Very simple to put on and take off. I did the same with the filter guard and the trans guard.I do have to put the very back bolts with nuts on into the hitch plate,[didn't want to weld into the hitch plate] in fact no welding was done on the tractor,just on the plates.Larry
On the other hand, if you've got the skill, the equipment, the raw materials, and the time...
I realize every time I take mine out into the woods I'm flirting with the possibility of undercarriage damage. It's a frequent worry, especially considering the money, time, & effort involved to repair some of those potentially-breakable pieces.
Mine at least has the factory filter guard, but I can see where that could be defeated under the right conditions. It would be nice to not have to worry about the 2300's "soft underbelly" as much.
Pictures of the skid plate. Haven't painted it yet due to being to cold will do that once it gets warmer out.It's held in place with four 3/8" bolts two on the rear hitch plate and two on the filter,hydro guard. I have put in a drain area for draining out the oil if its ever needed.As you can see I'va also put some protection in for the brake actuator rod's. This plate will only be put on if and when the tractors being used in rough spots. There's room under the trans for air movement so cooling shouldn't be affected.I won't leave it on as grass leaves dirt etc can build up and make a mess under there. Next project will be to make a fan guard.Been out doing some loader work and have heard small branches ratteling on the fan so this I need to do.I know its not a big deal to change the fan on the gc2300 but if I don't need to do that extra work the better for me. Larry.
