Grill Guard

[EddieWalker]

I'm at 20 hours now on my 2535, and I need a new front grill. I've completley destroyed the original. I'm looking for pieces and one light, but I havn't found much.

My land is very thick with vines, some an inch thick or more. I get into an area that is too thick to see, I just muscle it out.

Any idea what a new nose will run? Any good designs out there for preventing this from becoming a regular issue for me?

I'm thinking of welding some angle iron to the front bumper and covering it with heavy guage wire screen. Ugly, but it should work.

Thanks for all your assistance and ideas.

Eddie

 

[19th_VA]

My land sounds similiar and my approach to getting through some stuff has been similar too. I think the front end loader is the difference. Not only does it come with a grill guard, but the loader itself provides a lot of protection--directly with its mass and indirectly because it can help clear out and knock down stuff. I'm assuming you don't have a loader since it's not in your profile.

 

[markie61]

That's true! Nothing protects your grill like a 6ft wide 1400lb wall of steel! Arrrrrrrrrr! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark

 

[SnowRidge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm at 20 hours now on my 2535, and I need a new front grill. I've completley destroyed the original. I'm looking for pieces and one light, but I havn't found much.

My land is very thick with vines, some an inch thick or more. I get into an area that is too thick to see, I just muscle it out.
Any idea what a new nose will run? Any good designs out there for preventing this from becoming a regular issue for me? )</font>

Is there any reason you can't back into the really nasty stuff, so that you don't take out the grill?

SnowRidge

 

[Pacesetter300]

I would get a grill guard that comes with the loader and have someone weld on some perforated steel mesh as is used on some walkways. One of the downsides of not getting a loader.
Pacesetter

 

[EddieWalker]

It's been amost two weeks and I'm still waiting on my parts. I need the whole front grill assembly. Everything arrived in 2 days except for the main grill. Just to be clear, it's the red palstic front end of the tractor. My dealer is very apologetic and has volunteer to canabalize one of his other tractors when they come in. He's selling them so fast, none are in stock.

Has anybody experienced this kind of delay?

My biggest fear with going with Century was availability of parts. I was thinking mechanical parts, not body parts.

 

[frankv]

Eddie has your grill come in yet?

 

[EddieWalker]

Sorry for no update.

I had my dealer custom build me a grill to protect the front end. I also had a branch take out my power steering tank. It seems the nipple is exposed and will crack at the tank.

Century has been very disapointing in supplying parts. This was a main isssue when deciding to buy the Century and now I'm worried about the next time.

We ordered the power steering tank from the book. Three days later two tanks arrived for a different tractor. After calling them up, we learned the book was wrong. We said we really need a new tank, they said they were out. We then talked to the regonal manager about a tank. He said he'd have them take one off a new tractor and overnight it. Next day it doesn't arrive we call again and get the run around. We call the manager again and he says he'll take care of it. We ask for the tracking number of the overnight package. Turns out they didn't ship it or pull one off a tractor.

At this point my dealer is getting really mad and I'm out of the room so they can have a private little talk.

My dealer takes a tank off a brand new tractor he has for sale and hands it to me. My tractor is a month old and the new tractors already have a new webbing on the nipple where mine broke. Somebody has fixed the design problem.

If I had a loader, this might not be an issue since the loader would protect the tank. My dealer made a little angle iron shield to protect it in the future.

I've been waiting for over a month on the front end of my tractor. The whole nose clip was destroyed bush hogging blackberries. I've got some huge vines that attacked the grill and since the blackberries were over my head, I couldn't see the problem until I tore it all apart.

So far I'm not impressed with the level of support from Century, but my dealer is fighting the good fight.

 

[stnickstoys]

Eddie,
Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I sure hope they get things fixed up for you. I too had concerns about the exposed tank nipple but you are right the loader brackets do protect them a little more. So far, I have had great luck with the parts department. Very helpful and prompt. I've ordered stock parts like filters etc. as well as a headlight switch that some jerk broke off my tractor at the fair booth last week. More than likely some kid twisting it back and forth and finally broke it. Good luck with your parts, I hope they come through for you.
Nick

 

[EFC]

I stopped going to fairs....got tired of digging doughnuts out of the fuel tanks

 

[EddieWalker]

Latest update.

My front end came in yesterday. I'm just under 50 hours and my dealer wants to go over the tractor and will install the front end at the same time.

A new problem has just come up. My tractor will keep running when turned off. It's happend a couple of times now and is a warrantee fix, but I have to pop the clutch to kill the engine.

I'll bring it down next week and have the mechanic go over everything.

 

[stnickstoys]

Eddie the tractor not turning off sounds like the fuel cutoff solenoid needs adjustment or replacement. If it isn't able to pull the cut off completely when you cut the power at the key, the diesel just keeps purring. Not like killing the ignition of a gas engine. That's what I would check first. See if it moves back and forth with the key turning on and off. No need to go all the way to start to see it move or not.
Nick

 

[EddieWalker]

Nick,

I'm not familiar with a fuel cutoff solenoid. What does it look like and where would I look for it?

I'll look around the engine by the injectors.

Eddie

 

[stnickstoys]

Should be on the right side of the engine. The tractors I have in stock have the solenoid mounted at the rear of the injector pump. It's a cylindrical shape about 3 inches long with wires coming out of it, a rubber boot on the forward end covering and protecting the linkage that attaches it to the fuel cutoff lever on the fuel pump. It moves back and forth approx and inch when it operates so if you turn the key on and off it should be apparent when it moves. Could be something as simple as a fuse blown, a plug or wire that got disconnected or a linkage from the solenoid to the pump that came off. Those would be the easiest first checks that I would do after first seeing if the solenoid moves with the key on and off.
Hopefully one of those things check out for you.
Your dealer shouldn't be afraid to step up and help you out! Be sure to use them as a resource as well since it sounds like you still are under warranty. Call me if I can help

Nick

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the information.

I'll try to take a look tomorrow. I have my 50 hour service next week and if I can fix it easy, then I will. If it get involved, then it's a dealer fix.

 

[DavesTractor]

Eddie, Nick is on the right track. About 6 months ago Branson notified the dealers of a potential linkage problem on the fuel shut off motor. There was a 10 minute fix for it. You might check with your dealer to see if he is up to speed on that. I assume Century had the same issue and the same fix.