Grill guard improvements

[Notforhire]

After almost driving a stick through my grill while grappling brush, I decided that my brush guard could use some improvement.

A few members posted photos of their machines and I basically borrowed ideas from them.

I used a 2ft sq. piece of 3/4x 9 ga expanded metal.

 

[jmc]

Looks nice. My grill has a nice gouge in it- Pretty thin sheet metal up there...

 

[Thomas]

Nice job. :thumbsup:

 

[kenmbz]

That looks great - Jealous

 

[Smokeydog]

Should come that way from the factory.

 

[jmc]

Should come that way from the factory.

Or an aftermarket 'bolt-on' mesh. Wouldn't take much...

 

[Notforhire]

Should come that way from the factory.

You got that right!
It isn't even an option.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Ok. How did you weld it? MIG or stick. I need to do the same and would appreciate some suggested settings. I suck at welding, but it's on the short list.

 

[jonsstihl]

Nice work, looks a lot like mine.
They really should come like that from the factory or at least have an option. That grille is a really expensive part.

 

[Smokeydog]

Routinely work trees and brush.

Didn’t ever see the stick that did the damage. Able to glue back together. Then made this.

Added 125# of armor. Quarry grade screen is tough AR steel. Bumper with hooks and D-ring for tie down. Helps protect axle when bush hogging. Bonnet protecter hinges down for access is a Kubota option for the M59 and is a Handy tool table for maintenance.

 

[varmint]

That grille guard is the best looking part of your tractor... gotta beat it up, fade it some, and add some dirt!

 

[kthompson]

Smokey Dog, did about same thing second day owning mine. Knew better but had waiting long time on tractor and grapple. Have guard made, painting it now. Mine is a simple on and off unit.

 

[Smokeydog]

 

[Notforhire]

Ok. How did you weld it? MIG or stick. I need to do the same and would appreciate some suggested settings. I suck at welding, but it's on the short list.

I used a friends Mig machine. Can't tell you much about settings. His machine has a chart for heat and feed rate. I looked for the settings for 1/8 steel then tweak the settings as needed.

I'm a real amateur. I think I could have done this job with my stick welder, but it would have taken me ten times longer and it would't look as nice.

 

[Notforhire]

Routinely work trees and brush.
View attachment 653433
Didn稚 ever see the stick that did the damage. Able to glue back together. Then made this.
View attachment 653441
Added 125# of armor. Quarry grade screen is tough AR steel. Bumper with hooks and D-ring for tie down. Helps protect axle when bush hogging. Bonnet protecter hinges down for access is a Kubota option for the M59 and is a Handy tool table for maintenance.

Mad Max got nothin on you.:thumbsup: I really like the screen.

 

[dstig1]

Nice work. Now do yourself one more favor and add some expanded to the back of the grapple. I did it, and it really helps productivity. You can push into a pile and nothing comes poking through the grapple so you can scrunch up a lot more at once.

 

[Notforhire]

Nice work. Now do yourself one more favor and add some expanded to the back of the grapple. I did it, and it really helps productivity. You can push into a pile and nothing comes poking through the grapple so you can scrunch up a lot more at once.

View attachment 653472

That's a good idea! One more layer of protection.

My grapple design is a little different. It has a solid back.

The bottom tines are short, (root rake) so I do a lot of scrunching too.:laughing:

 

[oosik]

I read of potential & real damage to grill, battery & radiator before I had my grapple installed. I had a local welder do this........View attachment 653498

 

[jmc]

I read of potential & real damage to grill, battery & radiator before I had my grapple installed. I had a local welder do this........View attachment 653498

I was admiring that in another thread. Care to elaborate on what is original equipment, what is modified original equipment, and what is fabbed from scratch?

 

[oosik]

JMC - "what is OEM & what is fabbed". OEM is the frame. This includes the entire outer band and horizontal bar & vertical bar on the upper half. All the expanded metal and "tongue" were added. The welder dearly wanted to paint eyeballs on the upper two halves and paint the "tongue" red.