My idea of a 8N front bumper

greywolf224 · Aug 26, 2014

Not really liking the 8N front bumpers I decided to make my own over the weekend. I needed to protect my front pump.

I got a hold of some 1/2" x 3" flat stock. Had an old 3/8" x 4" x 42" fireplace lintel that had a nice shape to it and came up with whats in the pictures. An old 100 lb table vice and an acetylene torch to heat the steel helped me bend it.

Dont mind the front hubs. Thats what she came with. I know they are not from an 8N. I have the right hubs and wheels but figure I will run these tires into the ground first.

Tall T · Aug 26, 2014

Simplicity, very nice!

Like an old master blacksmith friend's favorite words, "graceful"
and "elegant".

Money Pit · Aug 27, 2014

if i had to guess i would say the pump is safe now. i suppose you made the custom parking brake too?

Anonymous-0 · Aug 27, 2014

She is pretty, bumper.not bad

RET-N-IA · Aug 27, 2014

Only one question. How did you get Kaley Cuoco to pose with it? (jus kiddin) MJM

greywolf224 · Aug 27, 2014

Thanks...and yes its a simple design. Bending the flat stock was far from simple though.

Any time I park the tractor on the driveway or when ever any of the kids sit on the tractor I block up the wheels. Kids like to touch everything they can and I don't need any accidents. Although not noticeable that driveway has a steep incline right into the garage.

My daughter is the model.

Royse · Aug 27, 2014

I like it! Great looking bumper.
Better lock that girl up though or some lucky guy is going
to run off with her! Especially wearing a Ford shirt! :lol:

greywolf224 · Aug 27, 2014

Lol. At 18 she is still Daddy's little girl. I'll enjoy it as long as I can.

souNdguy · Aug 28, 2014

i think i might gusset the front inside angles to prevent the bumper from deflecting right or left and being pushed into the pump.

greywolf224 · Aug 28, 2014

You must be reading my mind. After looking at the picts I thought the same. I figured a run away tree may hit me side ways!

souNdguy · Aug 28, 2014

wouldn't need to hit you sideways even.

on a straight on impact, the bumper is going to deflect left or right easier than up or down, or even yeilding in the middle due to the double plate.

thus a triangle gusset on both sides , inside angle either both inside angles of the 'box' which i would not do as it takes up room in front of the pump and cound even hit the pump ina good impact.. or.. the other option.. the inside angles on the outter 2 sides joining that front long plate to the sides of the bumper running back to the axle.

at that point, then the next weak flex point will be at where the L feet hit the axle.. not much you can do there and still keep it accessable.

Ultradog MN · Aug 28, 2014

Nice job!
Is the pump for live hydraulics?

greywolf224 · Aug 28, 2014

I agree I am planning on placing gusset supports on the outside front angle created by the front plate.

What I am not sure about is how far down the arm do I want to weld one end of the gusset support or should I just weld it to form a 45 degree angle on both the side arm and front plate.

greywolf224 · Aug 28, 2014

Actually it is for my Dearborn loader. When the loader isn't mounted I have it hooked up to give me live hydraulics and a couple of remote ports off the rear to run a hydraulic toplink and other things. (Thanks to TOH)

Tall T · Aug 28, 2014

I always try to make things multi purpose just for fun.

Why not make a steel work bench/table from bracket to bracket
covering and protecting the pump even further and serving as skookum gussets at the same time.

You'd have a seat to rest on, a front carry all, a work bench with a small vise mounted on it and like that.

T

P.S.
You could cut out a steel deck to wrap around (conform to shape of) the pump (leaving the pump still partially visible) so that the deck will lay right on your present structure for a minimum of work and all the welds on the underside. Adds weight to the front end too..

greywolf224 · Aug 28, 2014

I just picked up a Sherman loader which I am re building. When I hook it up to the 8N i am going to need some front end ballast weight. Don't want to keep the loader mounted all the time. So I figured I was going to make some type of cement platform that will lay on there that weights about 300lbs or about 4 bags of 8olb premix.

I made a rear cement ballast using 9 bags of premix for the front end loader for less than $50. Works perfect.

russb wa · Aug 28, 2014

"Bending the flat stock was far from simple
though."

when I had to bend some flat stock like that, I
cut about three fourths of the way through from a
flat side n welded it after bending. not as pretty
but it does work.

greywolf224 · Aug 28, 2014

(reply to post at 22:25:08 08/28/14)

I cut about an 1/8" groove using a grinder across the width of the stock which would become the center of the the bend. It actually kept the bend from twisting.

I heated the groove on the flat stock using an oxy/acetylene cutting tip so that I was able to apply alot of heat very fast. Just needed to keep it moving otherwise I would cut through the stock.

As soon as it got red-hot, I passed the torch to my daughter who was helping me at the time and I clamped the stock in a vise with 10" jaws while she kept the heat going I just pushed/pulled on the flat stock with all of my 240 pounds and bent it as needed.

First time I worked bending 1/2" x 3" stock without a press.
It was a 2 pill Aleve night.

souNdguy · Aug 29, 2014

What material and size are those arms on that bumper, at least 3/8 I hope.

greywolf224 · Aug 29, 2014

The arms or the entire formed frame is 1/2" x 3" flat stock and the plate in the front is 3/8" x 4".

All flat stock hot rolled steel that I bought. Had to buy 20 ft length min. $55 was not bad at all. Still have 14 ft left for other plans.

souNdguy · Aug 29, 2014

1/2" will be fine to hold that front plate!

greywolf224 · Aug 29, 2014

Hoping for it to hold up a lot more than just that front plate.

That's why I decided to go 1/2" x 3".

Since I also run a dearborn loader I have a front bracket installed that the loader hangs off of when installed. I am going to form some flat stock to go from that bracket, run along the bottom of the pump and bolt it to the center bolt on the bumper. Should give plenty more vertical support to hold up some ballast weight.

souNdguy · Aug 29, 2014

will look nice

My idea of a 8N front bumper

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