Welding guard on tractor with HF flux wire welder

[NTG]

As I said, I've only ever welded a couple things. Now we're going from tacking the expanded metal in a few places to hold it in place to a complete metal working project that I'm not sure I'm capable of at this point. I wasn't planning on ever folding the ROPS, but I guess I could split the expanded metal in the middle to allow that. Bolting on a removable frame may be the answer, though as I think there are some spare holes up there I might be able to utilize. Might be able to just weld the guard onto some angle iron that is wide enough to just clear those bolt holes and bolt it on that way. It would be nice to be able to take it off when I'm not bush hogging because I often turn around in the seat and grab the ROPS to keep my fat body turned around. Thanks for all the input guys. When I go over there Friday, I'll give it another look and see what I can come up with now that I have new information.

 

[Rustyiron]

Practice, practice, practice:thumbsup:

 

[Fallon]

I'm not a fan of cutting, drilling or welding on critical or safety structures. Some agree with that line of thought, others think it's excessively cautious. I clamped my old light bar to my ROPS rather than drill it. I'm sure I could have drilled it fine with no real strength loss but clamping wasn't really going to be any harder, so I went the safer route.

At any rate, be really carefully you don't degrade the structural integrity of your ROPS. As others have said, welding flat will give you a better chance than welding vertical if you are short on experience.

 

[shadetree]

I like the idea of the square "U" bolts. This will make it easy to undo and make changes. Practice Practice Practice. But do it on stuff you can throw away. I am a beginner and am teaching myself. I didn't have scrap metal to practice on so I jumped right in and started making stuff. I figured if it turned out half way I would use it - if it failed I would cut it up and turn it into something else. So far I haven't cut anything up but I have yet to weld anything that is showable.

I am slowly making a little progress, I can already do everything my teacher can do, but I'm a long way from welding on a tractor. :dance1:

 

[stuckmotor]

You should consider making a frame that is removable. The expanded metal can be welded to the frame and the frame bolted to the ROPS.

+1 On that idea. There will probably come a time when you'll want to take the screen off.

 

[newbury]

I have one of the cheap HF flux wire welders and I've only welded a couple things with it with decent results I thought. Now I want to weld a piece of expanded metal on the ROPS bar on my tractor to keep from getting my brains busted out. My questions are, where should I connect my welder's ground cable and do I need to be concerned about shorting out the electrical system on my tractor if I connect something wrong? Tractor is a 2016 NH Workmaster 33.

Yes, be concerned about shorting.

You should consider making a frame that is removable. The expanded metal can be welded to the frame and the frame bolted to the ROPS.

This is the best. Flat U bolts can be gotten from Home Depot online for moderate cost. I buy a lot of them. I put together an enclosed trailer with about 60 of them

As I said, I've only ever welded a couple things. Now we're going from tacking the expanded metal in a few places to hold it in place to a complete metal working project that I'm not sure I'm capable of at this point. I wasn't planning on ever folding the ROPS, but I guess I could split the expanded metal in the middle to allow that. Bolting on a removable frame may be the answer, though as I think there are some spare holes up there I might be able to utilize. Might be able to just weld the guard onto some angle iron that is wide enough to just clear those bolt holes and bolt it on that way. It would be nice to be able to take it off when I'm not bush hogging because I often turn around in the seat and grab the ROPS to keep my fat body turned around. Thanks for all the input guys. When I go over there Friday, I'll give it another look and see what I can come up with now that I have new information.

Making a frame and welding the expanded metal to it ON your welding table will be far simpler than repairing it when the tacks fail. And fastening with flat U bolts will be simple.
But I would first try just fastening the screen on with U bolts

 

[OkieDave]

After further thought, a bunch of zip ties might be the best solution. Plenty strong when used in sufficient number, dirt cheap, easily removable, and require no particular skill.

Any impact strong enough to break loose, say, 18 zip ties will be strong enough to break a few tacks, and if the impact would have been enough to puncture properly-welded expanded metal, I'd rather get hit with the whole large panel than whatever was forceful enough to penetrate.

 

[crystallake]

Here is what I was able to do on mine. When welding the expanded metal, just wash the puddle on to the wire or else it will melt thru. I have also used thick washers to hold the expanded metal and weld the washer to the frame.

 

[Sodo]

This looks like a temporary shield from weeds/rocks/sticks thrown by a rotary cutter.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...tary-885999-kubota-sunshade-protective-screen

This is more serious (Dieselcrawler) but bigger holes.
23_13445_zpscuc2qk1g.jpg Photo by wvdieselcrawler2 | Photobucket

I bet there are a LOT of rear screens on tractors but wasn't able to find many on TBN.

 

[NTG]

Yep, I like the idea of clamping, bolting, zip tying something in place. Info on structural integrity of the ROPS is received, I had not thought of that. It's probably best that I use one of these solutions until I get a little more welding experience under my belt before I start trying to weld something directly onto my $20K tractor. I like your frame there Crystallake. I think my final solution will be something like that, but for now, I think y'all are right, a temporary bolt up will work just fine. Thanks for all the suggestions!