OK here it is - the "no-weld" skid plate.
I used 2" angle iron, some 3/16" x 3" steel, a bit of 3/16" x 2" steel , 2 1/2"-13 grade 8 bolts with jam nuts and regular nuts, a piece if 1/16" sheet steel and a lot of 1/4-20 bolts, nuts and washers. If any one is interested I'll post the drawings with dimensions at some point. It's not the design I originally had, but after crawling around under the beast, I realized that attaching it to the mower arms was the right thing to do. The secret was making the front brackets that attach to the 1/2" bolts installed in an existing hole in the frame. Once I figured that out the rest was just a matter of figuring out what materials I had on hand and how I would use them. It goes on fairly easy and is solid once it's up. The 3/16" steel provides protection for the filter and PTO. The sheet steel covers the existing "guard" as well as the wires up front. I could add another front piece if it seems necessary, but for now this will work. I'll paint it later but need to get some projects finished! The long 1/4 bolts will all get cut off after I get the painting done. I was in the midst of moving some brush when I heard the dreaded bbrrrrrrrrt sound of a stick hitting the fan! I immediately shut down and took a look. No damage but the was a mark on the fan made by a fresh cut pine branch...lucky! So I put the tractor in the shed, and worked on the plate until done! Here are pics of the plate and my shed/shop.
I used 2" angle iron, some 3/16" x 3" steel, a bit of 3/16" x 2" steel , 2 1/2"-13 grade 8 bolts with jam nuts and regular nuts, a piece if 1/16" sheet steel and a lot of 1/4-20 bolts, nuts and washers. If any one is interested I'll post the drawings with dimensions at some point. It's not the design I originally had, but after crawling around under the beast, I realized that attaching it to the mower arms was the right thing to do. The secret was making the front brackets that attach to the 1/2" bolts installed in an existing hole in the frame. Once I figured that out the rest was just a matter of figuring out what materials I had on hand and how I would use them. It goes on fairly easy and is solid once it's up. The 3/16" steel provides protection for the filter and PTO. The sheet steel covers the existing "guard" as well as the wires up front. I could add another front piece if it seems necessary, but for now this will work. I'll paint it later but need to get some projects finished! The long 1/4 bolts will all get cut off after I get the painting done. I was in the midst of moving some brush when I heard the dreaded bbrrrrrrrrt sound of a stick hitting the fan! I immediately shut down and took a look. No damage but the was a mark on the fan made by a fresh cut pine branch...lucky! So I put the tractor in the shed, and worked on the plate until done! Here are pics of the plate and my shed/shop.
