New LS owner with a few questions: XR4046

[lostcreekranch]

My tie down chains are 3/8" and HD ratchet binders. Use them on my LS XR4046HC and New Holland TL100A. Never had anything come loose. I usually drive a mile or two then check and tighten ratchets as needed. When I load tractors I pull on trailer, hook up rear chains /binders, the pull forward until they are tight. Then I hook up front chains and tighten everything down. Then set brakes.

I have some 3" ratchet straps, with 18" of chain with hooks, that I throw over bucket and rear implement, if attached. The chains and hooks go thru trailer stake pockets same as main chains.

 

[hd5]

Some idiot (me) managed to run my quick attach levers into my hay spear when I was hooking it up and roughed them up, made some sharp edges. I ordered some two inch heat shrink to cover them up.
Any better ideas?
I'm going to attempt a brush guard like that one, it looks great.
I've been lucky so far, but I'm in brush a lot.

 

[hd5]

Do you have fluid in your tires? Adding it made all the difference in the world on my XR4046h

 

[lostcreekranch]

Yep, I'm running mostly water with some RV antifreeze. Freezing isn't really a big issue here in most years. You're right, this makes a big difference in stability.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Some idiot (me) managed to run my quick attach levers into my hay spear when I was hooking it up and roughed them up, made some sharp edges. I ordered some two inch heat shrink to cover them up.
Any better ideas?
I'm going to attempt a brush guard like that one, it looks great.
I've been lucky so far, but I'm in brush a lot.

I'd smooth out and rough / sharp edges before applying the heat shrink or the HS might get cut from inside..

Brush guard was pretty easy once I got the expanded metal cut and bent. I added a piece of angle, at top, to have a flat plane to install magnetic base for front video camera. I posted a Sherwin Williams recipe perfect match for LS blue paint and I painted the expanded metal satin black.

 

[hd5]

Rick
What did you use for your additional bars? Black iron pipe?

 

[lostcreekranch]

I built everything from materials I already had. The two middle bars were some seamless tubing I had. Tacked a 3/8 nuts to fender washers then welded the washer / nuts to end of tubing with nut to inside. So, created captive fasteners. Used 3/8 bolts and flat washers thru the slots on side of the guard.

 

[hd5]

I have some 1" square tubing, that I was thinking of using. My thoughts were welding it to 1" angle iron then bolting that to the guard.
My welding skills are not on par with yours.

To me your guard is a work of art...

I like my tractor a lot, but LS certainly did not put a lot of effort in their guard, or maybe they want to sell more hoods and grilles

 

[hutchman]

I built everything from materials I already had. The two middle bars were some seamless tubing I had. Tacked a 3/8 nuts to fender washers then welded the washer / nuts to end of tubing with nut to inside. So, created captive fasteners. Used 3/8 bolts and flat washers thru the slots on side of the guard.

View attachment 465622

That's purty, been thinking of doing the same to mine,