Grill guard improvements

jmc · May 1, 2020

oosik said:
JMC - "what is OEM & what is fabbed". OEM is the frame. This includes the entire outer band and horizontal bar & vertical bar on the upper half. All the expanded metal and "tongue" were added...

Thanks, oosik. My frame is solid and yours appears to be hinged. I had assumed you fabbed the hinge as well.

oosik · May 1, 2020

The OEM guard IS hinged. I have to tip the guard forward when I lift the hood. That's why the "tongue" is tipped forward also. It allows the guard to tip forward sufficiently.

BTW - I DO NOT do brush very often. Almost completely big rocks and big lengths of Ponderosa pine trunk. However - the few times I have done brush - that expanded metal addition has save me two times - that I know of.

The OEM guard, as it came on the tractor, is just great for stopping things such as garbage cans, 55 gallon drums, large root wads, etc.

Smokeydog · May 3, 2020

With all the different variations it would be hard to make and market bolt on grill guards. Fortunately welding technologies and cost make doing DIY an interesting skill to learn. A skill I find somewhat addicting and rewarding. With some basic tools you can yield impressive results. Some very good tutorials on utube. Back in the day almost every farm had a blacksmith shop to take care of horsey iron and repair projects. Metal sellers can usually help you with finding someone who can help.

Notforhire · May 4, 2020

Here is the factory (optional) grill guard on my JD. It wasn't great, but it did cover most of the grill.
It's actually sold in two parts!

Without the screen it's pretty worthless.

moship · Jul 22, 2020

For those that have added expanded metal mesh to their brush guards and other. What size did you recommend and thickness (weight)?

Example: 3/4 #9, 3/4 #16, 1/2 #13 or other?

Looking to modify the stock brush guard on the L4740-3.

Thanks