rockyridgefarm
Elite Member
So any word if the plates fit?
skid plates for 3x20s?
- Thread starter slaveToHorses
- Start date
- Views: 7163
OP
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
I got a chance to try the plates Sunday. No dice. 
The right one was kind of close. Two of the three inside attach points lined up. The middle one did not and would need to be cut off. None of the outside and front end points lined up at all. The castings for the floor platform are different and the bracket for the loader remotes is different. The front of the skid plate would need to be rebent in a BIG brake and brackets would need to be made for the front and outside attach points and the middle inside one.
The left one wasn't close at all and didn't really cover much. It also used the step as one of it's primary attach points and my step is all bent to heck so I could't tell if it would line up.
I don't have a brake big enough to bend the skid plate or new brackets. They would have to be pretty beafy to relocate the attach points to available holes.
It's REALLY too bad because the plates are pretty nice. Good steel. It looks like they would hold up nicely. But if you are a good enough fabricator and have the tools to make appropriate brackets you would probably want to just make your own plates...
I really wish John Deere had some sort of customer channel where I could ask them if they were thinking about or planning for skid plates for the 3x20.
The worst part was some dumb lazy SOB at Deere decided to pack the skid plates in a flimsy box filled with styrofoam peanuts. The kind that crumble and stick to you. Plus I had to open it outside and the wind whipped them all over the yard!!! The plates were too heavy to be held in place by peanuts so they had banged about the box and punctured it in a number of places. I spent over an hour walking around bending over and picking up those (#*$& things. I really wanted to make someone at Deere feel my pain. I wasn't a happy JD customer!
The right one was kind of close. Two of the three inside attach points lined up. The middle one did not and would need to be cut off. None of the outside and front end points lined up at all. The castings for the floor platform are different and the bracket for the loader remotes is different. The front of the skid plate would need to be rebent in a BIG brake and brackets would need to be made for the front and outside attach points and the middle inside one.
The left one wasn't close at all and didn't really cover much. It also used the step as one of it's primary attach points and my step is all bent to heck so I could't tell if it would line up.
I don't have a brake big enough to bend the skid plate or new brackets. They would have to be pretty beafy to relocate the attach points to available holes.
It's REALLY too bad because the plates are pretty nice. Good steel. It looks like they would hold up nicely. But if you are a good enough fabricator and have the tools to make appropriate brackets you would probably want to just make your own plates...
I really wish John Deere had some sort of customer channel where I could ask them if they were thinking about or planning for skid plates for the 3x20.
The worst part was some dumb lazy SOB at Deere decided to pack the skid plates in a flimsy box filled with styrofoam peanuts. The kind that crumble and stick to you. Plus I had to open it outside and the wind whipped them all over the yard!!! The plates were too heavy to be held in place by peanuts so they had banged about the box and punctured it in a number of places. I spent over an hour walking around bending over and picking up those (#*$& things. I really wanted to make someone at Deere feel my pain. I wasn't a happy JD customer!
OP
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
Just to end in a good note
I filled my new customized JD ballast box up with concrete Sunday and it looks really sharp. Can't wait to finish painting it and use it. Lots of tool storage. I will post pics.
I also got a chance to work with my new JD HD bucket and tooth bar. Wow, this bucket truly rips. It went right through a old clay mound laced with tree roots and encrusted with ivy. No problem. Very heavy duty. I am super pleased with it.
I filled my new customized JD ballast box up with concrete Sunday and it looks really sharp. Can't wait to finish painting it and use it. Lots of tool storage. I will post pics.
I also got a chance to work with my new JD HD bucket and tooth bar. Wow, this bucket truly rips. It went right through a old clay mound laced with tree roots and encrusted with ivy. No problem. Very heavy duty. I am super pleased with it.
Neophyte
Platinum Member
If you don't mind my asking, how much did the kit cost?
Have you checked with a local fabricator to see how much they would charge?
It seems odd to me that you can get skid plates on ATVs and trucks but you can't get them for a tractor, which would need it the most. It doesn't even seem like it should be an option, it should be standard.
Have you checked with a local fabricator to see how much they would charge?
It seems odd to me that you can get skid plates on ATVs and trucks but you can't get them for a tractor, which would need it the most. It doesn't even seem like it should be an option, it should be standard.
OP
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
Neophyte said:
The kit that I got is for a 4310 and it cost $325.
If I had a trailer strong enough to haul the tractor, I could take it to a local guy and see how much he would charge but I don't, so I haven't.
It really does seem odd. But rumor has it that Deere didn't sell very many of the skid plate kits for 4310. That might explain why they haven't done one for the 3x20. Which was my point about not having a channel to communicate to Deere. Just maybe there is enough of us to get them interested, maybe, if they wanted to know...
The 4310 plates were for rental companies. Maybe they did not move to the 3x20 series? I guess there aren't enough of us ag/residental types using 3x20's to do land clearing...
dirtworksequip
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,463
- Location
- Wheeling, WV
- Tractor
- 2006 JD 3520 w/cab & 300CX loader. 1995 JD 870 w/440 loader & 8b backhoe.JD 455 w/54" mower deck.
I've found out over the years you are better off keeping your work area clean ahead of you and thus should not have to worry about damaging your tractor. Cut's damage very easy. They are not dozers and should not be used as such. If you are doing clearing work,just use extreme caution. The smallest piece of anything can do damage to your tractor. By keeping your work area cleaned up ahead,you will have less chance of damaging your machine. Putting skid plates on a CUTS while helpful may get you into more trouble than out, by making you think the belly is armor plated and inpenatreble.
Neophyte
Platinum Member
You could always rig a template up using plywood and 2x4s and then bring it to your local fabricator to build in steel. For that matter, if you drafted something up on paper, a good fabricator could build it to your specs.slaveToHorses said:
I wonder if you could possibly find a fellow 3x20 owner on this site that would be willing to fabricate one. Perhaps they would be willing to build it and ship it for a price??? There would be a good chance they could sell more than just one set.
OP
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
"Hey honey, this guy thinks I need a small dozer."
"what's a dozer, is that like the guy that finds the well water?"
I explain
"Forget it! No more spending!"
Guess I'm back to the CUT...
actually the log that crushed my step was below grade and under the edge of the loader bucket, but when the front tire rolled over the end, it flipped up and hit the tractor. I didn't even see it.
But point taken and I assure you I am a lot more careful now
"what's a dozer, is that like the guy that finds the well water?"
I explain
"Forget it! No more spending!"
Guess I'm back to the CUT...
actually the log that crushed my step was below grade and under the edge of the loader bucket, but when the front tire rolled over the end, it flipped up and hit the tractor. I didn't even see it.
But point taken and I assure you I am a lot more careful now
OP
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
Neophyte said:
I should probably trace these before I return them. In case I want to tackle the project later, when my shop is clear. They are fairly complex, more than you would expect. They scroll up the drivetrain cases. I could do it. But I can't take on another project right now.
Too many projects too little time...