Home Made Tie Rod Boot Protector

[Redbug]

Well, so far I have replaced the larger rubber boot on the tie rods twice on my fairly new Kubota. I have been pushing tree debris and limbs, and they seem to find their way toward those boots and tear them up. They cost $10 and my time to replace. A pic or three shows my answer to the problem. So far, it has worked.

I used a piece of truck mud flap, cut to size, and bolted the flap material to the undersized metal protective tie rod sleeves on the front axles. The flap material also bends when the tire rim contacts it in a tight turn, so making the cover even longer will not hurt.

Moral of the story...Don't pass up a good truck mud flap laying alongside the road...they are good for all sorts of things!

 

[JC-jetro]

Well, so far I have replaced the larger rubber boot on the tie rods twice on my fairly new Kubota. I have been pushing tree debris and limbs, and they seem to find their way toward those boots and tear them up. They cost $10 and my time to replace. A pic or three shows my answer to the problem. So far, it has worked.

I used a piece of truck mud flap, cut to size, and bolted the flap material to the undersized metal protective tie rod sleeves on the front axles. The flap material also bends when the tire rim contacts it in a tight turn, so making the cover even longer will not hurt.

Moral of the story...Don't pass up a good truck mud flap laying alongside the road...they are good for all sorts of things!

Works for me great job.

JC,

 

[rjsmit1]

Thanks very much for sharing. I also like that loop you have hanging down from the frame - good for hooking a chain or tow strap to, I suspect.

 

[redharley]

one mans junk is another tie rod boot,enjoy the saving's.

 

[Redbug]

Rjsmit1,

About the loop, (twist shackle), hanging down from the frame...I have one on each side of the frame up front, and a large straight one attached to the drawbar in back. That's where I run the chains through when transporting. Up front, the chain runs over the loader bucket, thru the twist shackles and back over the loader bucket on the other side, then tightened. They are also a good attach point for when you get stuck in the mud. You can get them in different sizes at Tractor Supply, or Northern. They work great.

 

[First one]

Well, so far I have replaced the larger rubber boot on the tie rods twice on my fairly new Kubota. I have been pushing tree debris and limbs, and they seem to find their way toward those boots and tear them up. They cost $10 and my time to replace. A pic or three shows my answer to the problem. So far, it has worked.

I used a piece of truck mud flap, cut to size, and bolted the flap material to the undersized metal protective tie rod sleeves on the front axles. The flap material also bends when the tire rim contacts it in a tight turn, so making the cover even longer will not hurt.

Moral of the story...Don't pass up a good truck mud flap laying alongside the road...they are good for all sorts of things!

You know if half of you guys pat. your ideas you all could be living high off the hog. I don't think I've seen anything like that put out by any dealers anywhere. :thumbsup:
It goes to show that it's the people that work there tractors are the ones that really can see how to change things to make them better, and safer to work with. Great idea, I 'll be picking up the next flap I see. Come to think of it I think I have a tail gate protecter (rubber) kicking around ,might just look at that in a diff way the next time I see it.:laughing:

 

[Agrantina]

I replaced a boot today.. Pics on L3240 front boot rip... I have some old conveyor belt that I will be working on this week.. I think it will do the same thing-- great idea...

AndyG

 

[TripleR]

We are in the process of cleaning our barn out and I was going to throw an old pickup bed-liner away; maybe that will work.

 

[Baby Grand]

That's a great fix, Dave - I have liked it and wished I thought of it since I first saw your original post. I have been looking for an old, narrow tire to cut up for my L3240's front axle. Thanks for reposting this with the new Re: tag - now it will be much easier to find via the Search function.
-Jim

 

[aczlan]

We are in the process of cleaning our barn out and I was going to throw an old pickup bed-liner away; maybe that will work.

We bought a piece of 1/4" rubber bedliner to line a 3pt dump box. I took a leftover piece and mounted it using the bolts that hold the OEM metal guard. It works perfectly. I will have to post a picture when I replace the boots (they got torn up before installing the guard

Aaron Z