Curses....Foiled Again.

[foggy1111]

OK....I considered adding some extra iron to keep the wood out of my grille....but figured I had pretty fair protection when I built my guard this winter. WRONG!! Yesterday when working in the timber, I ran a 3" diameter branch through my front radiator screen...glancing off the battery...and out the side pannel / screen. Luckily the battery deflected the branch enough to prevent damage to the radiator. It coulda been worse.

I have removed my "guard" and plan to add lots of iron to it and hopefully that will eliminate future problems when clearing brush and logs. I'm not sure what Deere gets for a new front and side grille (and I'm going to try to repair mine) .....but I'm sure it's not cheap.

 

[Ductape]

Ouchie !!! Coincidently , I've been scheming on how I'm going to modify my grillguard with mesh to prevent exactly that. Those pics are making me want to step it up a bit. At least it didn't get your radiator !

 

[foggy1111]

I'm not sure what the name of the material is...(sorta like a 1/8" woven wire fabric)...but I saw a guy with a framework similar to mine shown above, with this fabric welded on at the outside contact points. If I can find the material Im talking about...I'm going to re-build my guard with it on the front...painted green of course. Seemed like a nice solution to operating in timber. Perhaps an expanded metal would work too....but the woven wire looks a bit nicer IMHO.

 

[Harvey7]

Foggy

I think what your looking for is called "expanded mesh', at least that's what we call it.

Harvey

 

[RobS]

Ouch, makes me cringe just looking at it. Particularly as I was just in that area of my 790 hooking my sprayer up to the battery.

Yes, some expanded metal should solve your problems...

 

[foggy1111]

Hmmmm.....I know what expanded metal is....and that is not what I'm trying to say here. Its more of basket weave from 3/16 (or so) wire. Not that expanded metal wont work....the woven is just more HD and neater looking IMO.

 

[wushaw]

Wire mesh is what you are thinking of.
Woven Wire Mesh

 

[foggy1111]

Ding Ding....we have a winner. Thanks Wushaw. That's the stuff I was trying to say. Don't see much of it....but I am going to try to find a piece of it at the scrap yard. Thanks.

I am not sure how long I was operating with the limb stuck through my grill. I was cleaning out a 1/4 mile long trail of logs and trash that leads to the best deer hunting land I have. Last year I was unable to get to this spot....as its bordered by other land owners on two sides....a swamp on my land....and some of the most difficult slash to get across. Cleaning this slash on a trail is was what got my tractor....but hopefully it will be worth it.....come next fall.

A little later this same day.....I dropped my laptop computer on the floor and busted it to smithereens. Some days are stones.

 

[MikeD74T]

Round Hole Perforated Metals, Stainless Steel, Corrugated Sheets
Perforated metal is easier to apply than woven products and available in fairly heavy gauge. MikeD74T

 

[newbury]

Have you considered chain mail when you joust?
'Cuz that's what it looked like you were doing!

 

[jimmyj]

That sucks. I think the woven wire mesh is a great idea. Could you (if you are cheap like me) clamp on a steel plate when doing risky work and take it off later or would it restrict air flow too much?

 

[ChuckinNH]

I think the material is also sometimes referred to as "hardware cloth", and is available through Lowe's, Ace Hardware, etc.
Ace

 

[/pine]

If you live near a quary where they crush gravel..."woven wire mesh" is what they typically use to sieve/size gravel...they often discard worn out sieves but there is usually good sections that can be salvaged...

 

[Treemonkey1000]

That is a mighty large branch. Are you using that tractor like a bulldozer? Ouch!

 

[SPYDERLK]

That sucks. I think the woven wire mesh is a great idea. Could you (if you are cheap like me) clamp on a steel plate when doing risky work and take it off later or would it restrict air flow too much?

I like that one! I think there is enuf spacing for good air. $ is not the thing for me. Rather time and effort framing sceen and putting something there that will be in the way mostly. Just bungeeing on a prepared plate appeals.
Great origination!
larry

 

[Redbug]

When I got my grapple, I was afraid I would put a branch through my radiator from pushing, too. I took the guard off and welded some of that expanded metal over it and repainted it. So far, all is well. Also, I made boot guards out of truck mud flaps for the tie rods. I got tired of replacing torn up rubber boots from limbs. Also, added a little ovalled pipe to the valve stems after one got broken off by a limb. I guess a tractor isn't a tank! Pretty delicate they are.

 

[jimmyj]

Good work on the grille Redbug, it really looks professional.

I like the boot guards too, cheap and simple. I got a couple of mud flaps down back that I've been saving for a good use someday. Thanks.

 

[Gizmo2]

That sucks. I think the woven wire mesh is a great idea. Could you (if you are cheap like me) clamp on a steel plate when doing risky work and take it off later or would it restrict air flow too much?

Like this idea better. Looking at the tractor pictures and related wire options just leads me to believe that the branch would just push right through maybe just a tad slower.

 

[Redbug]

Yeah, you are right Gizmo. If it's big enough it will go through. Since I have made mine, it has had several dings where smaller branches have pushed into it. I am more aware of the front end and pay more attention now, (paranoid). Problem is...they put the headlights in the worst possible place and unprotected. The expanded metal keeps the lights usable. But, lights down low like that make it hard to see doing bucket work. Maybe I need lights up on the roll bar...

 

[foggy1111]

I looked for some woven wire mesh at the local junkyards / steel supply houses and other local known sources. No luck. I saw lots of expanded metals like shown above....but for my situation I am not sure if it is really heavy duty enough. So....I think I will fill in the gaps in my guard with round tube and some heavy flat iron. For me it wont work to install a removable plate when I am in brush country.....as I operate in brush at various times during any given day. I can see where that can work for some.....its just not handy enough for me.

I did see some scrap stair treads (think fire escape floor grates) which may work out pretty well. I am considering a chunk of that stuff for the larger center area of my grille.