Filter Guard Trilogy (final installment.)

[Runs With Scissors]

So I had one more filter to protect, so off we go....


After some initial measurements, I came up with the basic shape that I wanted to use.

I must have made an error in my measuring or got things backwards in my head, because I thought for sure the right rear part needed a cut out to avoid hitting a rib on the underside.

It turns out that I needed to trim the left side in order to miss the rib.

So I decide to patch the initial cut out and trimmed the proper side.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

As others on the internet have done, I decided to use the existing hole in the tractor as the rear attach point so I need to cut out a small piece and attach it vertically to use that hole.

The rear tire was blocking my ability to use the hoist arm to hold up the piece as I have done in the past. Therefore I was having a hard time holding it up, and eyeballing it.

(in hind sight I should have moved the tractor to a more favorable position)

So it ultimately took me 4 attempts to finalize that rear attach point.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Onto the welding.

Since I am not a professional welder, I like to experiment with different techniques and different positions or go left handed.

Recently I had been trying to weld "vertical up" as well as using a technique called "walking the cup", and I had some limited success. Since this project is non-critical, (and under the tractor) I tried both of them as well as left handed.

WOW...What sh!tty looking welds. For the life of me I could not keep steady left handed and the 'walking the cup' thing turned out to be a nightmare. (LOL....It looks so d@mn easy on the internet)

 

[Runs With Scissors]

First pic is what I thought would be the final attempt at the rear mounting point. (NOT)

Of course, as per usual, I want to be able to see the filter for some reason, so bring out the expanded metal. This of course leaves sharp points, so I have to top them off, but I'm outta the square stock I normally use........off to the scrap pile to find something. Pic 2 is what I found, but I could not picture a way to make it look good as is, so to the band saw we go and I end up with pic 3 and 4.

Now that I am basically all done I decide to actually bolt it up. (should have done this long ago.)

When I do, that MotherF****** rear attach point is all Kadi-Wampus and about 1/2 inch off. So instead of cutting it off AGAIN, I decide to make a "stand off" out of some pipe scrapes I had, so we end up with pic 5.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Vinegar soak to loosen the mill scale and break out the trusty Bed liner coating and we end up with the final product.

This one seemed to give me way more problems than the others. I think it had to do with me trying to 'muscle it' into place instead of finding a good way to hold it in place in order to take better measurements.

Either way, it's done and should work well.

 

[Heehaw]

Vinegar soak to loosen the mill scale and break out the trusty Bed liner coating and we end up with the final product.

This one seemed to give me way more problems than the others. I think it had to do with me trying to 'muscle it' into place instead of finding a good way to hold it in place in order to take better measurements.

Either way, it's done and should work well.

Very nice job on your filter guards and the great write up and pictures!
I really like the mesh you used to be able to see the filters. With the price for the filter guards available on the net you saved yourself some coin.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Very nice job on your filter guards and the great write up and pictures!
I really like the mesh you used to be able to see the filters. With the price for the filter guards available on the net you saved yourself some coin.

Thanks for the compliment.

 

[Yooper]

Great posting! I never mastered that walking the cup either. The people that do make it look so easy!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Great posting! I never mastered that walking the cup either. The people that do make it look so easy!

My grandpa used to say "your built wrong...Your feet smell and your nose runs".....and that may be why I can't walk the cup. It actually hurts my shoulder and elbow after a very short time.