Much better brush gaurd for 3720

[jimgerken]

After bending up the stock gaurd while handling brush this year, and noticing how it leaves a large area of tractor grill unprotected, I decided to build an improved gaurd. Here's a pic of the accesory gaurd JD sells. You can see the lower one-third unprotected area.

 

[jimgerken]

So I bend up a tubular frame, in two halves, and joined them together with internal bushings and welding...

 

[jimgerken]

Fitted it to the tractor and added brackets. Then checked loader install/remove and hood opening operation, and made some small adjustments to the mounted position. The brackets align with the original equipment holes, and use the original bolts.

 

[jimgerken]

Then added the expanded metal. This is quite heavy (about 1/8 inch thick stock rough expanded) and tough to work with. It fought me every step of the way, but eventually was welded in place. By suppertime I had it spray primed.

 

[jayste]

Jim, Nice job. Great tools to work with as well. I've never used a tubing bender. Looks like a great tool to have. I'm sure that expanded metal was a little tough as well. Looking forward to the finished pic. It's a wonder why you even have to add this. You'd think to protect that area would be a no brainer.

Jay

 

[Baby Grand]

Nice fab job. Better than new! What size tube did you use - it looks like 1" OD?

-Jim

 

[jimgerken]

7/8" OD. Its what I have a bending die for.

 

[Baby Grand]

Really nice work, Jim. You need to show a picture with the finish coat or people, orange people, are going to ask if you're going to paint that tractor to match.

 

[jayste]

Really nice work, Jim. You need to show a picture with the finish coat or people, orange people, are going to ask if you're going to paint that tractor to match.

Yes, Jim. We pumpkin operators are like that. We see things through orange colored glasses!

Jay

 

[J_J]

jimgerken,

Nice job on the grill, should protect that radiator quite well.

 

[jimmyj]

Much better. Good design that I may steal....

 

[Low Bucket]

That's a great looking job Jim!

JD should have protected the radiator better.- You should be in good shape now.

 

[jimgerken]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I finished painting it green over top of that ugly orange primer color. Looked good, kind of like the Road Warrior movie. But it just looked like it was missing something. Finally figured it out. Here's the result...
Thats a hunk of stainless I had laying around, plasma cut the shape, with a couple studs welded onto the back and squirted with JD yellow.

 

[GeneD14]

The Deere logo is like the cherry on top of a sundae! Nice job.

 

[Low Bucket]

Thats a hunk of stainless I had laying around, plasma cut the shape, with a couple studs welded onto the back and squirted with JD yellow.

Nice job cutting out the Deere, or deer.

 

[jayste]

Looks good, Jim. Even green.

Jay

 

[tugboat-2]

Beautiful job Jim,..really nice! I spent the extra to get the deluxe hood guard like yours, and could not understand why they left the most vulnerable spot unprotected?

And yes, I poked a stick through the area while moving brush and bent up the bottom of my grill screen. (looks light and bendable but it aint easy). Have been meaning to do something about the open area but never got to it,.........yet.

You did a really nice job, it looks terrific and should most certainly save you much grief in the future!! Nice job! Take a pat on the back!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[Baby Grand]

Jim-

The deer logo was a real nice touch.
Compared to what the OEM part looked like yours is a much better design and I would think you could sell those as an aftermarket upgrade. Go ahead, quit your day job.

I have the same problem with my guard - put a stick thru the unprotected area and the plastic mesh bodywork behind it. Luckily I missed the battery and radiatior ... this time.

Jim

 

[jimmyj]

The logo looks awsome. You just added $10,000 to the value of your tractor

 

[dirtguy75]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I finished painting it green over top of that ugly orange primer color. Looked good, kind of like the Road Warrior movie. But it just looked like it was missing something. Finally figured it out. Here's the result...
Thats a hunk of stainless I had laying around, plasma cut the shape, with a couple studs welded onto the back and squirted with JD yellow.

Really nice job, and great idea to put the logo on.