BX24 and HST fan. The Gods were watching over me

[keyman1808]

Well I bought a Bro-Tek rear skid plate back in Dec. but never got around to installing it due to the fact that it was snow season. So yesterday I decide to break it out and install it. After removing the BH, which had never been removed (no fun the pins were so tight I had to pry them out), I slide under the tractor and look for the cross member to put the 2 U-bolts over and what do I find....A stick about 7 inches in lenth and 1/2 inch in diameter laying on the cross member less the a couple of inches from my fan. WOW I no realize how lucky I got.

Well the plate is now on and I have no intentions of going anywhere without it on. So I am now planning on doing a 150 service and just realize that the plate must now come off to access the filters. I guess I am being punished but at least the punishment fit the crime. I am getting away easy.

 

[BigD23]

Story with a happy ending...Good.

Don

 

[radioman]

you are lucky ! :thumbsup:

 

[keyman1808]

I do feel lucky now. I might even go buy a lottery ticket and see if it carries over.....LOL

 

[Tractor Factor]

Wow, inches from disaster!!

I recently bought the Bro-Tek front and rear skid plates for my BX25 and put them on just a couple days ago. I left the backhoe on (still easy to access the drawbar bolts) and it caused no problems at all. I started by hanging the front loose from the U-bolts but then couldn't quite get the back holes to line up. So I took the U-bolts off and installed the back bolts first (loose), attached the front U-bolts second and then snugged them all up, using a torque wrench on the rear bolts.

All good so far. It's certainly still possible for something to get in there, mainly from the side, but having nothing there is practically like inviting trouble.

 

[Singlecoil]

You'll get used to taking the backhoe off if you do it often. The pins shouldn't need to be pried out. The trick is to hold your hand on the small sliding pin on the big pin and apply constant pressure pulling it out as you slowly and gently raise or lower the stabilizer on that side as well as raising or lowering the boom. While holding constant pressure to pull the pin out there will be a sweet spot where the pin slides right out.
Come to think of it, I think I apply pressure to the pin to rotate it. When it spins, it will slide right out.

 

[keyman1808]

Singlecoil, Thanks for teh input I tried that but the first 1/2 inch I needed to put something behind that sliding pin to start it moving it was real tight. But I will try turning it while I do it.

 

[DickS]

So I took the U-bolts off and installed the back bolts first (loose), attached the front U-bolts second and then snugged them all up, using a torque wrench on the rear bolts.

I installed the front and rear Bro-Tek but eliminated the U-bolts completely. When changing the filter I loosen the two front bolts and remove the rear bolts to drop down the connected panels. Makes access to the filter easier.

 

[Tractor Factor]

I installed the front and rear Bro-Tek but eliminated the U-bolts completely. When changing the filter I loosen the two front bolts and remove the rear bolts to drop down the connected panels. Makes access to the filter easier.

Wow, that never occurred to me. So, you're saying the only thing supporting the front of the rear plate is the fact that it's bolted together with the rear of the front plate? Have you been running your machine that way for a while and had no problems? I wouldn't have thought that would be enough support, but if that works it'd be a great idea.