Hood Guard…Head Guard

[DAP]

Bill ... that looks like a fun project. Well .. ummm .. how do I say this without offending ...

that last pic has me squirming a bit. if 1. that tractor went rubber up on uneven terrain, that 'head cover' might become a guillotine. 2. Build it strong enough so that a stout tree limb can't also bend it down and into your nostrils either.

I would be worried about this in a canopy tractor somewhat also, but they're usually plastic and would breakup with heavy forces on them. This metal square tubing will bend and I'd hate to see it bend into a life altering moment.

Perhaps I'm being a lil finicky .. but it threw a spook into me it did.

And expanded metal on the belly would rapidly become the largest lint catcher you could find .. only mother nature would supply the lint. Make up some skid plates outta sheet steel or buy one and modify it is my suggestion.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

Bill,

I'm not going to make any comments about your construction methods, or your choice of materials, or even your design setup.

Mainly because I wouldn't have the first clue on how to get started the way you did!

I just want to say that I hope when I retire next year, I'll get as good at thinking up stuff as you do! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

By the way, I will offer one suggestion! (Thought you were going to escape with just a compliment, didn't you!? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

Someone else mentioned the idea of using a tarp to make your Head Protection Device (HPD???) serve as a canopy. I think that's a very good idea, but in keeping with your design of easy on, easy off, you could use velcro to hold a tarp on. They make velcro with adhesive type tape on the back side, so you could just stick the pile side of the velcro (or the hook side, whichever you prefer) all the way around the frame of your HPD. Then you sew the other side of the velcro tape to your canopy material, that you so ingeniously made on your wife's sewing machine, thus expanding your level of mechanical skills! This way, it's a quick press in place or an easy rip it off the frame for coverage from that hot old sun! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[chucko]

Why did you mot miter the joints in the frame so not the leave the end of the tude open?

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Grill Guard...yes, I thought of that. Don't have too much worry there, but you never know!)</font> Before I read all the posts I was going to suggest the same thing, expanded metal in that "grill guard" as a lot of things come that way. I have dents in my outer grill now because of it. A standard grill guard makes little difference to a poking end of a limb. There are quite a few listed in Build it Yourself. Looks like you've done a really nice job so far on the others. John

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">that 'head cover' might become a guillotine </font>

Dap,

I know what you mean there. I had the same feeling about canopies...but I am pretty sure what I end up with will not fold more than about 45 degrees [in a major event, like a roll over], or be a hazzard. I also hope to make it strong enough that it would hold the tractor up, if the tractor tipped against a tree. As a matter of fact, I decided to incorporate supports from the front corners to the loader frame, just be sure. They will bolt on, so I can remove them and still have the top in place.

It seems to me that whaterver one had above his head, if it not supported at all four corners, it may fold down a little if the tractor rolled. But it would probably stop when at the point where a line drawn from the Rops the the grill guard is.

I am pretty sure that what I end up with will be a safety enhancement and not a liability. We will all have to look at it and decide after it is finished, I guess. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I don't know about normal canopies, but I don't think they are so lightly made that they would less of a worry really.

I do appreciate you concern and your thoughts!

Golfgar4,

Funny, but I just bought a roll of velcro at Costco the other day, without having a use in mind, but knowing that it would come in handy for something sometime... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We have a patch of bamboo, and in winter it catches a lot of snow and bends down right over the path where I have to take the tractor when I want to bring it up to plow the driveway. I think I may use your idea and put a cover over the HPD just to keep the snow off me. Even if I put a hood on, it still gets down behind me and on the seat and I soon have a wet bottom... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif So with a covered HPD, I may start living in a different world...and become a winter-time dry bottom... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Chucko,

I know I could have mitered those ends, but I just decided not to bother. I also could have welded in ends on those open tubes...but didn't...

KiotiJohn,

I was just thinking about a grill guard today. I don't think I need one, but may make one anyway, just to keep my welder busy and get a little more welding practice. Also was thinking about a guard that could be attached to the rops when using the brush cutter...just to minimize the chance of a strike by something thrown forward by the cutter...

 

[Henro]

Had a chance to get a little more done on the head protector.

Its been cold and rainy and even had a lttle snow today. Not as much fun as the warm sunny weather... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

This first shot shows the front supports that are bolted to the front corners and also down at the loader, at the point where the loader cross bar support is bolted.

I had thought about bolting these supports directly to the loader frame that remains on the tractor when the loader is taken off, but the joystick control valve got in the way.

These supports are held to the top piece by bolts that thread into nuts which are welded inside the ends of the cross tube at the front. I welded nuts inside the ends of the cross tubes at all four corners.

I think tapering the "roof" towards the front was the right thing to do. It should not get in the way when I am moving between trees too much. The resulting angles did take more time figuring out how to cut though... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It was dark and I could not really see what I was going to take the photo of, but I got a couple that show where I am at now...

Here is a side view. I stuck the tractor under the roof on the back of the house as I knew the rain was coming. Looks like we will have rain for another few days. April showers, May flowers and all that... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Henro]

Front view...

 

[Henro]

1/2 inch nuts were welded on one side of a piece of 1/8 steel, and then the steel was welded on the end of the cross tubes. One nut at each corner. 1/2" grade 8 bolts will be used.

 

[stephan]

Re: Hood Guard?Head Guard

Couple of quick comments:

1. I think the adding of the support on the front of the "head protection" was a must.
2. Consider thick aluminum for the bash plate. It's used a lot on dirt bikes and while it will deform it will stop rocks, sticks etc flinging up under the tractor and protect the softer components.
3. How much was a cab? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Henro]

Re: Hood Guard?Head Guard

Stephan,

There is one more support piece that is not there in the photos to date, so the front supports may not be a must, but certainly do make things rock solid. More pics to come...

If I make a belly protector of some type, it will be a balance of weight vs protection I guess. With only 3.7 acres I don't have much to worry about on one hand, but on the other it is really not a question of space, but a question of where the thing is that will cause one the trouble. So I may make some sort of protective belly pan for welding practice, if for no other reason... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Aluminum would work I'm sure...but when I think of aluminum I think "expensive."

<font color="blue"> How much was a cab? </font>

This went over my head...but I've never been the sharpest tool in the tool box... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif