Hood Guard for Use With Front End Loader

crazyal · May 11, 2012

If you make something that covers the hood you may need to make it so it can flip out of the way so you can open the hood to check the engine. That'll add a little challenge because it'll need to be strong enough to protect the front of the tractor, heavy enough not to easily dent, and yet be out of the way without interfering with the fel operation while being able to flip without raising the fel up (otherwise you'll want to brace the fel so it can't come back down while working under it). That kind of means it needs to be removable. So it needs to be easy to remove, say pins and clips vs bolts.

It may be easier to see if you can find a body shop that can pound the dents out and make it look pretty good. It should only take an hour or so, much cheaper than the grill guard. Then go with a bucket mod like 4shorts or the type I like that has a rigid frame but expanded steel in the center so it doesn't completely block your view or the headlights.

npalen · May 13, 2012

Okay, guys, you all have convinced me that the hood should be repaired. But I still reserve the right to a hood guard.:laughing:
One issue with getting the hood repaired and repainted is replacement decals.
I'm guessing that a Kubota dealer could get the B9200 HSD decals but at what price. Anyone know of a vendor who makes custom decals? I doubt that anyone has B9200 available in stock.
Thanks for all your input.

dfkrug · May 13, 2012

npalen said:
I'm looking for something like this Deere Xtra Armor hood protector:

That's part of the rental kit you can buy from Deere. I have had a
couple of them for my 4300s. I also have the horizontal FEL hyd hardline
protector, but I have not seen the ones you show on the boom arms.

Anyway, the hood armor here is welded to the grille guard, and the whole
assembly pivots forward so you can open the hood. The whole thing
weighs more than 100#, so it's not that easy to pivot, but you don't
need any wrenches or to pull any pins. The hood plate is 1/8" steel.

For my Kioti, I made the top armor pivot around bolts that are attached
to the fixed grille guard. Again, no tools required.

High Compression · May 13, 2012

Reg said:
I think it takes a LOT LESS that 15 years to figure this out (-:

First time on first tractor with a loader should do it at the first lift.

It might be better if someone can actually EXPLAIN that lift also tips the bucket back and that HIGH lift a) tips it back a LOT and b) that lifting high gets the bucket over the tractor.
If self preservation doesn't stop you doing this I can't see that adding guards would - in fact they are more likely to encourage bad habits.
As so often has been said in this forum "common sense" isn't all that common.

I'm generally against such "solutions" on the grounds that they encourage bad practices, just learn how to operate a loader properly - it ain't THAT HARD.

So true! :thumbsup: