Looking at BX grill guards.

[Tim S]

Hi, I was looking at some BX grill guards on eBay and while I was comparing them it dawned on me that I didn't know exactly why I thought I needed one. I know a lot of owners get a guard when they have a loader but why? It's not like it protects the hood or any part of the tractor if something falls out of the loader, and it adds to the length in the front which increases the likelihood of running into something like my pickup truck when dumping the loader into the bed of the truck. Am I missing something or is a grill guard just "bling"?

Sorry for the newbie question!

Tim

 

[bp fick]

I got my BX grill guard off eBay as well. I got the BX-25 style for my BX1860.
I really liked the look of the bling.

Now, to be sure, the protection offered is pretty much head on only, as you say. I guess if you smacked into something and broke that plastic, you'd wish you'd put on it. I never did "test" mine.

The protection offered by the one on my B2320, which came with the loader package, is far less, it seems to me. Not sure what it would protect and my radiator is in the front this time!!! :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Mine comes in handy when pushing through brush. I often mow without the FEL attached.

Depending on what you do, you may not need a grill guard, I have them on all our tractors made within the last ten years. Our old farm tractors offered grill guards as options and they didn't even have FEL's.

 

[racolton]

I noticed how handy it was when I was loading a trailer - when the loader is up the bucket is pulled towards the tractor, so you have to move in close to get the dump closer to the middle... After a while of going back and forth you might get a bit "comfortable" coming up to the trailer and that grill guard is nice if/when you accidentally come in contact with the trailer.

 

[devildog1]

They are really for protecting the radiator, NOW how well they do is up for a question.
DevilDog

 

[EE_Bota]

They are really for protecting the radiator, NOW how well they do is up for a question.
DevilDog

I bought one. One of the fellows here bought off E-bay, and the price was good, and I followed his lead.

You don't really need one. But, it could be nice to drape your chain from. That's what I did on old 8n Fords.

With the FEL off, it does add some protection to the BX, since the first thing past the plastic is the engine, and it is spinning. Remember on the BX, it is your flywheel, not the radiator.

And, it does look good.

 

[BXpanded]

They are really for protecting the radiator, NOW how well they do is up for a question.
DevilDog

The radiator on the BX is behind the engine just in front of the driver's knees. The guard is pretty much out of play with the radiator. The guard works great when loading a trailer that you can just bump into. A pick up truck, not so much!

 

[OrangeRidge]

My neighbour laughed when he saw my BX guard , but I know the
price of the plastic parts is protects . Anyway , he ran into a large
shrub with his BX and smashed the plastic grill and right headlight.
After visiting the Dealer for a parts quote , he's not laughing now !

 

[devildog1]

The radiator on the BX is behind the engine just in front of the driver's knees. The guard is pretty much out of play with the radiator. The guard works great when loading a trailer that you can just bump into. A pick up truck, not so much!

I stand corrected, you are 100% right. Gee I should have know that being I had a BX, hummm, brain fart?
DevilDog

 

[George the Beagle]

When I bought my BX the dealer asked me if I wanted a grille guard, and I said, "Nah." Two days after I got it home I was lifting a plow for my Farmall Cub with the FEL. Dealer welded a hook on the top of the bucket for a chain, which works well. Anyway, I picked up the plow and when I backed up it started swinging and pivoting around. The next day, I ordered a grille guard off Ebay.

 

[wawajake]

At times I will lift an item on chains hanging from the bucket, and then the load will shift or swing back, fortunately it hits the guard instead of the hood or lights.

As a side note: The guard used to make it harder to remove my hood for maintenance , but I installed it with extra long bolts and spacer washers/nuts to hold guard further away from hood .

 

[oldballs]

I noticed how handy it was when I was loading a trailer - when the loader is up the bucket is pulled towards the tractor, so you have to move in close to get the dump closer to the middle... After a while of going back and forth you might get a bit "comfortable" coming up to the trailer and that grill guard is nice if/when you accidentally come in contact with the trailer.

:thumbsup: Ditto from oldballs

 

[bellweather]

My BX22 came with a grill guard and I think it serves a purpose, other than looking cool. I never mow with the loader attached (way too incovenient) and when I mow, I'm often nosing up to brush, trees, fence posts, etc. better to bump the grill guard than the front of the tractor. Same reason why cars and trucks have bumpers I suppose...