Bro Tek skid plates

[jwatt51]

I just ordered a set of Bro Tek skid plates for my BX25 after wiping out the HST fan and breaking a couple of hydraulic lines.I also had a BX1860 that I broke the fan on also and didn't have the Kubota insurance to cover that one.The damage done on my BX25 amounted to $1120.I ended up paying the $250 deductible on the insurance.I had the shield that Kubota puts on it to protect the fan,but a stick got through that,so I ordered the Bro Tek plates.There's lines and some electrical that does run under the tractor,so I'm hoping these plates will protect most of that.I'm in the woods a lot and I do snowblowing in the winter,so the added protection will help.All the threads I read about Bro Tek have been good.Anyone who hasn't broken a fan for the HST might want to think about getting a set,especially if you don't have the insurance on your machine.

 

[Deano]

I bought the aft one for mine and made a forward one. Either way, a good idea!!:thumbsup:

Deano

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

As I mentioned in another thread, I have all THREE Bro-tek plates on my '24, along with a home-made front drive shaft seal guard.

Plain old tall grass wiped out wiring, fan, and seal.

Z.

 

[RaydaKub]

I'm confused. I have a Bro-tek pdf showing their products and there are 2 plates plus the steering bar. Yet you mentioned all 3 plates. What is the 3rd one?

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

I don't know where it shows up on their site, but here is a snip of an email that Richard sent me before I ordered one:

"For serious wood work, we made a new radiator skid plate, which sell for $100 (see photo), customers has reported that stick will go in the engine compartment while backing up. If you look under the BX, you can see how this can happen."

Here's the pic he sent me, and one of my modified install and front shaft protector.

Z

 

[ayelvington]

I put Bro-Tek plates on my BX-24 shortly after I bought it, and I've been bouncing off of them for over 3 years now.

I strongly recommend that folks add them if they do anything more than mow their lawn.

I skid wood and clear brush, and I get high-centered or punjie stabbed frequently. You could say that the plates are my tractor's "cup". (Gotta have 'em.):thumbsup:

 

[Kyuquot]

Got my plates for the bx24, and have been running it uninsured for 4 years now, wouldn't run without them!

 

[SurfriderNC]

Kubota should be putting these plates on from the factory. I drove my new tractor appox. 50 feet, from the dealers trailor to my garage. It didn't move until I had these plates installed.

I drive my tractor in the wet lands of eastern NC and never had an issue. It got a real workout after the last hurricane. (we got a direct hit)

 

[CHDinCT]

I have the rear skid plate only and I think it's doing its job. Had to loosen the u-bolts to drop down the skid plate a bit so I could change out the under deck fuel filter. Well the ends of the u-bolts sticking down were all bent and the nuts were difficult to remove. Had to replace them with new u-bolts so I must have hit something to cause them to bend. And by the way, the skid plate does make changing the fuel filter even less fun than it normally is but still worth the added peace of mind.

 

[tonylumps]

Just got my Brotek Insurance coverage Rear and Mid plates The more I looked under my Tractor the more concerned I got.I guess it's pay now Or pay Big time later.Fast delivery from Richard to. Will wait for the 50 HR. service then mount them But will be very careful until then

 

[RaydaKub]

I crawled under my BX2230 and really looked things over for the first time tonight. The rear plate appears that it would cover things pretty well, but I don't understand why the middle plate and front plate don't cover everything from side to side. It would seem to me to be a lot stronger that way and prevent sticks from coming up the sides. I have some old plywood (real thing, not this OSB stuff) and was thinking I'd cut a piece that covered the whole underside from just in front of the fan all the way up to the oil pan. Is there some reason this would be a bad idea? I would cover it all from side to side and end to end (and will probably get the rear plate from Richard).

I was curious though, if anyone has trouble with ripping off the hydraulic lines as they come down through the frame right behind the pan. That seems like a real weak point to me.

 

[Shutesbury]

I crawled under my BX2230 and really looked things over for the first time tonight. The rear plate appears that it would cover things pretty well, but I don't understand why the middle plate and front plate don't cover everything from side to side. It would seem to me to be a lot stronger that way and prevent sticks from coming up the sides. I have some old plywood (real thing, not this OSB stuff) and was thinking I'd cut a piece that covered the whole underside from just in front of the fan all the way up to the oil pan. Is there some reason this would be a bad idea? I would cover it all from side to side and end to end (and will probably get the rear plate from Richard).

Adequate air flow might be a consideration if you block the entire area?

 

[carrsw1]

Can you use these skid plates while using the mid mount PTO? I live in Ct and usually spend a lot of seat time on the tractor using a front mount snowblower

 

[RaydaKub]

Can you use these skid plates while using the mid mount PTO? I live in Ct and usually spend a lot of seat time on the tractor using a front mount snowblower

The Bro-Tek rear plate can stay on. If you went with the other 2 in front, they need to come off for a mower. I would assume the same for a snowblower, but I'm not sure.

 

[bird1968]

All the skid plates remains on with the PTO/snowblower, there's no interference

 

[DAT]

I don't know where it shows up on their site, but here is a snip of an email that Richard sent me before I ordered one:

"For serious wood work, we made a new radiator skid plate, which sell for $100 (see photo), customers has reported that stick will go in the engine compartment while backing up. If you look under the BX, you can see how this can happen."

Here's the pic he sent me, and one of my modified install and front shaft protector.

Z

Z,
I'm curious to hear more detail about how you made and what material did you use for the front shaft protector?
Thanks!

 

[DAT]

I don't know where it shows up on their site, but here is a snip of an email that Richard sent me before I ordered one:

"For serious wood work, we made a new radiator skid plate, which sell for $100 (see photo), customers has reported that stick will go in the engine compartment while backing up. If you look under the BX, you can see how this can happen."

Here's the pic he sent me, and one of my modified install and front shaft protector.

Z

Z,
I'm curious to know how you made the front shaft protector and out of what material?
Thanks!

 

[DAT]

Zoltanthegypsy,

I would really like to hear more details on the front Shaft protector you made and what material did you make it from?
Thanks!

 

[DAT]

Sorry for all the repeats, I did not think my first attempts went thru, operator error!

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Z,
I'm curious to hear more detail about how you made and what material did you use for the front shaft protector?
Thanks!

Nothing fancy, just what was on hand.

That's a 3" ID hunk of black ABS about 7" long. It's just the right size to fit over the axle casting where the shaft comes out (or goes in...).

I cut a slot about an inch wide for the length of it to allow slipping over the front drive shaft. Then widened the slot at the back to allow the shaft to exit at its upward angle.

There's bolt that holds on the (cheesy) Kubota protector and it sticks out, so I drilled a hole large enough to slip over the bolt head. It actually helps locate the protector since that bolt head keeps it from moving out of position. (The bolt doesn't clamp down on my protector - the hole is big enough for the bolt head to fit through. The bolt isn't removed to install my pipe.)

Last thing is a hose clamp big enough to fit around the ABS and hold it on.

Just duct tape and bailing wire

It wouldn't protect against a good whack, but my need was to keep tall grass from wrapping the U-joint and the shaft, and damaging the seal. So far it's done the job.

Z.