Now it's woods ready!

Too many exposed parts down there for my woods. Been making this belly pan for the past few weeks. Also made a spot for the saw to ride along and room for 2 buckets for chain, lunch, beers etc. and a big nasty bumper & grill guard.

Real nice work! I especially like the Beer buckets!

That's some serious armor there! The beer is for when all the work is done right?

Very nice. I thought long and hard before buying our 5040 because of the plastic fuel tank down in harms' way. I keep the tractor on "groomed" trails most of the time, but there are the times when I would sure like more armor down there. Are you doing valve stem guards?

That looks great! I have been worried a few times with my small tractor in the brush. I need to make up a few plates like this..but unfortunately it will go on my list of projects that will probably never get done.

I use the bucket on my 1050 as a brush guard... it seems your tractor has a soft underbelly, is that a Kioti?

This series of Kubotas has a plastic fuel tank behind the left-side step, and it is half-heartedly shielded with sheet metal from below (but not on the sides). On the right side, the loader's joy stick leads down to valves/hoses also shielded by sheet metal. And the hydraulic filters are down there, too. All fine for the lawn or hayfield, but as you say, too soft for the woods.

My John Deere's underside is pretty much old school tractor... i.e. nothing but cast iron and steel... all of the hydro is run along the sides of the engine/trans... the loader valvebank is on top of the rear axle.... it's a great tractor.... except for the steering setup... ugh

that is a pretty beefy brushguard...

One of the things that sets the newer Deere's apart is that most of the hydraulic plumbing is either internal or hardline. No hoses unless it absolutely needs to flex. Makes for a much cleaner setup that doesn't get caught nearly as often. They also have the steering behind the front axle on many models where it is better protected.

711mhw: Good job beefing up that 'bota!

My 1050 was made in 1988, yep there's a ton of hard lines, and the steering is behind the axle.... I just wish they had put a bit more thought into the linear steering valve that was spliced into the drag link..... It's only broken four times... ugh!

By Yanmar Great tractors but they are getting harder and harder to get OEM parts for them. Especially major assemblies. I've used Deere parts to service Yanmar machines.

fortunately, I've got a friend who's a great parts guy.... he loves that hard-to-find s**t....

fortunately the only real issue I have had is with the steering setup.... why anyone would cut a 1" draglink and stick a linear hydraulic valve in there with 1/2" threads is beyond me...

I'll prolly get around to the valve stem guard ...after I get a flat deep in the woods, on a hill.

It's a 'bota. I had a 1050 except it was a Yanmar 336d, great tractor and I wish I had kept it.

was it manual or power steering?

Po

Power steering. And Yanmar did not give JD the powershift tranny or the slieve'd motor. Plus my neighbor was a dealer! I did "blow out" the front diff. and it took a while to get parts from Japan. This was about 8+ years ago. Still, it was a nice tractor!

I am ok with the manual trans... though I would love if it had a shuttle... I've got to spin the tires in 4wd to get it to dig into the loan pile.... it doesn't have the power of my caterpillar..... but it goes many places my cat can't fit.... as it's 8ft wide, 7 feet tall and 25 feet long... Now if there was a 4wd compact tractor with 105hp... lol

You forgot the extra, prolly 25k lbs!

my cat only weighs 19,500lbs.. give or take the attachment...