Oil & Fuel NX series exposed fuel line

[ArchonOSX]

TL:dr = Check under the left side of your tractor to see where the fuel line exits the fuel tank. It is exposed without protection from brush and saplings.

The long version: Thanks to all of you for posting here. I have been lurking and reading your posts and wish I would have done this before this season.
I have just a few acres to take care of but it has not been tended in about 10 years and I wanted to get it cleaned up this year. So, I since I retired last fall I decided to get to work on it. I started this spring brush hogging everything smaller than 1 inch or so in diameter. This ended up costing me about $1,300 in repairs to have the fuel tank replaced after a sapling (or something) snagged the fuel line and cracked the nipple where it exits the tank.
This started the fuel leaking. I took it apart and attempted to patch it with JB Weld but this did not hold and it continued to leak. I gave up and just called Farm Depot and had them come and get it and repair it and bring it back. That was expensive but they replaced the fuel tank.
So, here is my NX Tractor Hack #1. I hacked together some parts I had laying around and put some protection below the fuel line since the skid plate does not protect it. Just a short piece of strut attached to the frame rail with beam clamps and an ell bracket that sticks out right under the fuel line. I think this is a pretty bad design flaw on Kioti's part leaving this exposed. Check out the photo. Maybe some of you have a better solution or maybe someone makes an aftermarket part to protect the fuel line.

I have used the tractor quite a few times since adding this and it has not budged. Also, I have tried to train myself to always pass trees and brush on the right side of the tractor instead of the left.
Anyway, I hope my misfortune helps someone else avoid this problem in the future.
Happy Day!

 

[oosik]

The engineer who designed that never worked out in the bush. The only way it might be improved - some heavy gauge flat metal wrap around "thingy".

My M6040 has a full metal plate on the bottom. Wraps up in front and behind the tank. The fuel supply comes out of the top of the tank. Under the floor pan - on the left side of the drivers seat.

 

[ArchonOSX]

"The engineer who designed that never worked out in the bush."
Agreed. The skid plate for the fuel tank should extend another several inches to protect the fuel line. I will revisit this at some time and improve the design from the prototype.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have the same thing happen to me in the first few days of work.

I have another video shiowing how to repair a broken nipple on the tank, but here is a portion of a video where I make my version 2.0 skidplate.

 

[ArchonOSX]

Thanks MinnisotaEric. That gives me some good ideas. The U bolts over the frame rail is a good idea. I have some to those lying around and some plate steel.