Skid Plate

StuartDK45SE · Jun 13, 2018

VroomVroom said:
Its not being used as a tank. However, I worked on forestry equipment and use J5 bombardier tractors off road in the bush often and I jus know where sticks can poke up through everything. And the filters on those little tractors are in terrible spots. One stick to break one of those could mean disaster. I hauled a bit of wood with the little tractor but before I even attempted to drive in the trail I made the skid plate. The reason I have 1/4 steel plate is because I have to lay it on the ground, and back over it with the tractor before installing. If it was thinner metal, it would get warped and bent and probably not align as easy to install.

I can totally see that. There are many precarious things on the underside of my DK45. Linkages, hydraulic connections, wiring connections etc.

Bigrackslayer · Jun 13, 2018

StuartDK45SE said:
I can totally see that. There are many precarious things on the underside of my DK45. Linkages, hydraulic connections, wiring connections etc.

Exactly why I’d like some sort of protection for the underside, I have 140 acre with a cabin which is heated with wood. I haven’t yet done firewood with the new tractor but I’m going to have to sooner or later.

VroomVroom · Jun 15, 2018

Talk to oldpath, jsspssing, rustyiron, Gordon Gould or sawyer rob in “tractor and wood show your pics”. They use logging winches that I want. I watched my father and uncles use timberjacks or skidders, forwarders, j5s etc and you can pretty well crash through the brush and stumps right to the wood. I have a skidded but family issues I donç¨š use it. I do use j5s often. Really durable for wood collecting. But a tractor doesnç¨š have a chassis, which scares me, and no protection at all. To me, to be a good woods rig, there shouldnç¨š be anything to hook brush or sticks. But a tractor has lots. But they can carry wood out. Many people here use snowmobile primarily and atv. If you had a winch though, you can concentrate on cleaning one main trail. Cutting the stumps down as low as possible. Remove brush and debris from the trail. I even filled holes and hollows in with slivers of wood to level the path out. My little tractor is so short that if the ground is really uneven one out of 4 tires could come off the ground. I feel that must put put torque on the front axle mount or center of the tractor on the casting as thereç—´ no chassis. Or at least thatç—´ what I envision. The other boys would maybe know better. With a nice clean trail, skid plate and winch, you could drive in, park and winch all the wood around back to you. Then carry it back howvever you feel is best, wagons, trailers, skidding etc. I donç¨š like skidding so much as it muds the wood up and dulls the chainsaw. Once this garage gets built I hope to make a nice trailer. Iå£‡ winch the wood to me after taking time on the main trail, either cut up stove length there or 4 foot to carry out to the landing. Here we have so many soft spots and so much underbrush you have to take time to make a good trail. And a winch would allow you you reach wood without driving over unknown ground ( not the main trail) and reaching wood you couldnç¨š drive to anyway. Saving the tractor. The little tractor is 4x4 and only 5 feet wide so if many collect wood with atvs, the tractor should work. Just nice to know that a skid plate is getting the sticks or scratches and not the tractor. IçŸ¥ also nervous of getting the tractor stuck badly too as IçŸ¥ not sure what I would hook to to pull being thereç—´ no chassis. A winch again would help that.

VroomVroom · Jun 15, 2018

I like it as a hobbie too. Taking the time to make the trail, getting the wood and hauling loads out. Just take the time to make a nice trail and don’t push the tractor like a tank. Can pull lots out taking your time

ch47dpilot · Jun 15, 2018

Coyote machine said:
You guys do realize you own tractors, not bulldozers or tanks? :confused2:
Why the need for such a overkill undercarriage plate? :confused3:

I love my Kubota(09 L3400) but someone really needs to look at where they put filters. Cutting down some small trees I had one snap back and take out the fuel filter. When I went to change the HST filters one had a big dent in it. Haven't built a skid plate for it yet but I want to before I get damage that is really expensive. The FEL hydraulic hook-up sticks out like a big thumb waiting to get hit.

VroomVroom · Jun 15, 2018

ch47dpilot said:
I love my Kubota(09 L3400) but someone really needs to look at where they put filters. Cutting down some small trees I had one snap back and take out the fuel filter. When I went to change the HST filters one had a big dent in it. Haven't built a skid plate for it yet but I want to before I get damage that is really expensive. The FEL hydraulic hook-up sticks out like a big thumb waiting to get hit.

Yeah. My skid plate now covers the filter under there. But that power beyond or hydraulic block for the loader etc does stick out. Itç—´ difficult to cover up too. I was going to make a vertical wall that was tall enough to cover that block at least partially, and bolt it to the skid plate. I had my trail so good last year when I hauled my wood off I probably didnç¨š need any plate. But it certainly gave me a peace of mind. My plate is perfectly smooth underneath so slides over anything. It comes off in seconds and goes on in a minute. I was going to tip the “wings” up that flare out between the front and back tires so it wouldn’t hang as low but it may be better this way as it’s easier to back over and less likely to bend. We’ll see. It also goes under the front end protecting the driveshaft. As low as it sits being under the front end, I don’t think I even touched it underneath. So that tells you how well I had my trail.

But where the front wheels turn so sharp the plate has to be narrow up there. Still leaving the steering linkages exposed. But if the going is that rough, I won’t be in there with the tractor.

Bigrackslayer · Jun 16, 2018

ch47dpilot said:
I love my Kubota(09 L3400) but someone really needs to look at where they put filters. Cutting down some small trees I had one snap back and take out the fuel filter. When I went to change the HST filters one had a big dent in it. Haven't built a skid plate for it yet but I want to before I get damage that is really expensive. The FEL hydraulic hook-up sticks out like a big thumb waiting to get hit.

That’s what I’m worried about.

Bigrackslayer · Jun 16, 2018

VroomVroom what did you skid plate cost if you don’t mind me asking

VroomVroom · Jun 16, 2018

I honestly don稚 remember. I bought plate cheap years before . Other then that it really is just rectangle stock and pipe. A couple hundred I知 sure someone could also it for you. I got them to cut it. I cut s pattern out of thin sheet of wood. Miranti board. They traced it out on the sheet of steel. Too bad you couldn稚 size up s backhoe attachment and copy the subframe