Anyone know of better grill guard protection for an L Series?

wisconsitom · Apr 12, 2022

Yup. Have to measure and engineer this thing yet. Found a good source for custom metal sizes, for when the boneyard is lacking.

I'd use scraps too if they were available.

Smokeydog · Apr 13, 2022

Even if the guard was solid, there is significant opening around the sides for engine cooling.

Blocking sticks from coming up under the guard important. They are sneaky.

Mowing 6’+ fall weeds the guard screen prevents much of big stuff from accumulating on the nose cone grill an added benefit.

SS expanded metal from scrapyard $4. 3x5” angle iron on bottom to defend against sticks. Added the receiver hitch but really not practical for a loader tractor. Should have added ring or hooks for tie down.

cathy liebchen · Apr 13, 2022

wisconsitom said:
Sorry for old thread, searching got frustrating: What gauge expanded metal? Gonna weld one of these up soon. Looked at stores today and everything was 13 gauge. That seemed light with 3/4 inch diamond holes, but quite rigid at half-inch holes. What's good for this? Thanks

9 gauge

wisconsitom · Apr 14, 2022

Thank you Cathy, for answering the question I actually asked!

Have sourced some material, just forgot to measure my tractor yesterday when I was at place where it lives

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dstig1 · Apr 14, 2022

cathy liebchen said:
9 gauge

+1. That was what I used. 3/4" 9 ga flattened. VERY sturdy

John_Mc · Apr 16, 2022

A local fabricator made this up for me. It ended up with a "Mad Max" sort of look

wisconsitom · Apr 18, 2022

I like it John.

Cripe n heck, I can take my factory grill off, take it to a place right here in A-Town, and they'll cut the expanded to fit. Take it back up and tack the material on (welder's up north), and bolt it back on! Woohoo

Smokeydog · Apr 18, 2022

Vocational schools could probably be a good resource. They get good piles of metal donated and students eggar to lean real world fabrication.

After getting my engineering degree and job, took an evening welding class to improve my welding abilities. Other students loved and helped with the old, broken farm equipment projects I would drag in. With first permission of the instructor. One of the best educational and rewarding classes I ever took.

Think it cost $35 which was reimbursed by my employer. A grill guard would be an excellent first time fabrication project to try.

wisconsitom · Apr 18, 2022

Hey Smoke, maybe my post just above is misleading-I was trying to express gladness that I can get the stuff cut to fit the shape of existing pipe guard at local metal vendor. That cutting was the part I was unsure about. This is not a rectangle, it slims down towards bottom. Maybe I'm wrong, but I was envisioning my getting a nice clean cut on that expanded stuff might be tricky. Never cut the stuff.

We got the welding covered

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Smokeydog · Apr 18, 2022

wisconsitom said:
Hey Smoke, maybe my post just above is misleading-I was trying to express gladness that I can get the stuff cut to fit the shape of existing pipe guard at local metal vendor. That cutting was the part I was unsure about. This is not a rectangle, it slims down towards bottom. Maybe I'm wrong, but I was envisioning my getting a nice clean cut on that expanded stuff might be tricky. Never cut the stuff.

We got the welding covered.

Just adding to the many options available. Good luck on your project and please share your progress.