Grille Guard, hinged, loader frame mounted

OkieG · Jan 16, 2003

You're right. The bolt doesn't quite go to the end of the nut, but it is also a bit deceiving. Despite not threading all the way to the end of the nut, the bolt is a couple turns into the locking material (teflon?). The brush guard pivots fine on the bolt, but it still takes a wrench to loosen the nut. Good observation!

Speaking of observation...I didn't realize the nut on the loader bucket was in these pictures. That was my first tractor welding job. It was placed long before I knew about TSC or TBN. Nice weldable hooks would be more mainstream, but I didn't even know that stuff was available at the time.

OkieG

ronjhall · Jan 17, 2003

OkieG
Your grille guard looks great. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Changing the color of paint to <font color=green>JD Green </font color=green>would improve it looks, but not its performance. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

JDGREEN4ME · Jan 17, 2003

Looks great...I am still trying to figure out what the stock grille guard on my 4110 guards.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

accordionman · Jan 17, 2003

OkieG,
nice looking project.
can you tell us what thickness the outside frame is made of?
it looks like it is 1/2inch. i have a grill guard in progress for my
L3000DT, but i made the frame out of 1/4 X 2. still have not
found the time to finish it.
accordionman
william l. brown

jmattox1 · Jan 17, 2003

Looks good to me.

OkieG · Jan 17, 2003

accordionman,

The outside frame is 1/4 x 2' flat bar...same as you are using. How do you like your new tractor so far? Good luck on your grill guard project!

OkieG

accordionman · Jan 18, 2003

SIR,
i like my L3000DT just fine. looking at the pics that you have posted
it sure fooled me, i thought the metal was much heavier than 1/4inch.
you had to make the guard so it would fold, because the hood on your
tractor tilts forward. my design will not need this, because my hood
does not tilt, and the fuel cap is toward the back.
good luck with your projects
accordionman
william l. brown

soarkrebel · Jan 19, 2003

accordionman i have a L3000DT also. i didnt think i needed a heavy grill guard until today. put a good dent in that soft deco grill while pushing some sticks and limbs. (really trees). easy fix after taking everything off the front end and doing a little bending and straightening and a little paint(touch up). you can't tell it happened this time.
hey if you have a camera and can post a picture i would love some ideas . i don't think i need a hinged one just expanded metal to keep those sticks away.
i did notice how venerable the radiator is from below. may have to work on that.

accordionman · Jan 19, 2003

SOARKREBEL,
did you get an fel with your L3000DT? i did, they are sure handy.
i have made a set of wheel weights for mine, using the HACKERS
plan. i have a few metal working machines, so it is easy to do.
i have not done anything to the grill, other than bend the frame.
if i can ever get a digital camera i will be able to post some pics.
only camera i have now is a 35mm. i was on a welding site, and
tried to post pics of an old hacksaw i have. found the reason i
could not post pics was i had them in the wrong file. after i transfered
them, i was able to post a pic of the hacksaw.
good luck with your projects, and take care everybody.
accordionman
william l. brown

soarkrebel · Jan 19, 2003

Accordionman yeah i got a FEL, couldnt imagine one without it. thats what got my dent. i was pushing a small pile of small trees and brush . a ceder tree came over the bucket and pushed my grill leaving me with a nice dent. i also was using a box blade to move stuff. (still cleaning after a ice storm two year ago. )
The grill guard that came with the FEL is kind of a joke. so i am going to build something that won't let the stuff through. the expanded metal like on okie g's is what i need. and next a skid plate.
i like to use my tractor but not tear it up.

Fixed it so you can't even tell it there. but it could have been worse.
enjoy your work!