5-11 Grill Guard

[racerboy]

I installed the 5-11 grill guard (and side guards) today. I already did a little bit of damage to the factory screen with all the clearing I’ve been doing with my grapple, so it was worth it to me. It took quite a while to do the install, especially drilling through the factory brush guard. It makes the tractor look like it came from Mad Max!

 

[S-G-R]

5ELEVENDESIGNZ.COM makes nice stuff. I have the front guard, tie downs and third function guard.

 

[bobnic]

A grill guard is essential if you use a grapple on your tractor. I have one from Broken Anvil Metal Works on my LX4020. They make a wide variety of different styles.

 

[TheOldHokie]

If you actually need a grill guard dont spend a lot of money on "pretty". My 5-11 guard was not pretty for long.

Dan

 

[fmgsr]

My LX2620 -Broken Anvil Metal Works grill guard is nice, but they don't have the Head Light Guards.

 

[bobnic]

My LX2620 -Broken Anvil Metal Works grill guard is nice, but they don't have the Head Light Guards.

The grill guard protects the LX headlights from a direct straight back poke, but clearly does not protect from something coming from the side, but that seems less likely with grapple work.

 

[TheOldHokie]

A 5-11 grill guard after 4 years on the job. Works good

Dan

 

[racerboy]

The grill guard protects the LX headlights from a direct straight back poke, but clearly does not protect from something coming from the side, but that seems less likely with grapple work.

I also installed the side gaurds. They may not be 100% protection for the headlights, but they do cover the sides.

 

[racerboy]

Just a follow-up to my brush gaurd install. You have to drill a couple of 3/8 holes in the factory front gaurd (which is probably 3/8 steel). Following the directions, I drilled the 1/8 pilot holes and then used a new 3/8 bit. I was using a Makita hand held battery drill. Just as the 3/8 bit broke through, it got bound up and the drill rolled my wrist/arm like a Nike crocodile grabbing a zebra. I actually thought it broke my wrist. It didn’t, but it did do some damage to my ulnar nerve. My pinky and ring finger have been numb and I have a lot of pain in my forearm and my shoulder blade. I also pulled a muscle in my triceps and pectoral muscle. It was pretty violent. I went to see my orthopedic doctor who is a hand specialist. Because the x-rays didn’t show any broken bones, he seemed to think that the nerve pain will dissipate, but that it will take some time (~6 weeks). This happen on Apr 4. He put my wrist in a brace and prescribed some Celebrex.

has anyone else ever had this kind of injury? It really has been a setback because I can’t do a lot of work in the tractor because all the bouncing around really hurts my back (that hurts more than my forearm). I did go for a neuron-muscular massage yesterday and that seemed to help a little.

 

[bobnic]

Many modern cordless drills are capable of breaking wrists and doing other severe damage to hands and arms when the drill suddenly stops if the bit becomes locked up. It is best to use a side handle on the drill when drilling strong materials with the potential for suddenly stopping the bit. A side handle allows a two handed grip which is much better at preventing injury than a single handed grip. Example of a drill with a removable side handle:

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Just a follow-up to my brush gaurd install. You have to drill a couple of 3/8 holes in the factory front gaurd (which is probably 3/8 steel). Following the directions, I drilled the 1/8 pilot holes and then used a new 3/8 bit. I was using a Makita hand held battery drill. Just as the 3/8 bit broke through, it got bound up and the drill rolled my wrist/arm like a Nike crocodile grabbing a zebra. I actually thought it broke my wrist. It didn’t, but it did do some damage to my ulnar nerve. My pinky and ring finger have been numb and I have a lot of pain in my forearm and my shoulder blade. I also pulled a muscle in my triceps and pectoral muscle. It was pretty violent. I went to see my orthopedic doctor who is a hand specialist. Because the x-rays didn’t show any broken bones, he seemed to think that the nerve pain will dissipate, but that it will take some time (~6 weeks). This happen on Apr 4. He put my wrist in a brace and prescribed some Celebrex.

has anyone else ever had this kind of injury? It really has been a setback because I can’t do a lot of work in the tractor because all the bouncing around really hurts my back (that hurts more than my forearm). I did go for a neuron-muscular massage yesterday and that seemed to help a little.

BTDT:
Nerve pain can take twice as long to elevate than muscle, joint, and bone pain.
If it get's to bugging you a lot, Ice and heat alternating helps, Advil also helps.

 

[Lil Foot]

No wrist injury, but I had a similar incident years ago.
I was using a 4 1/4" hole saw in a Milwaukee Hole Hawg to cut a hole through siding, felt paper, a 3/4" PT band board, and a 2 x 10.
I was using the side handle.
Without warning it grabbed and literally picked me off the ground, rotated me around the hole, and dropped me on my head on the opposite side of the hole. During the rotation, it unplugged itself. (thankfully)
It rung my bell a bit, and bent the hole saw.
I straightened the saw, finished the hole without further incident, but had that all over vague soreness & pain like you get from a hard motorcycle crash.

 

[racerboy]

Thanks for the feedback and the advice on heat/ice. It’s weird how the pain sort of comes and goes. I’m also doing these nerve gliding exercises that are supposed to help.

I’m definitely going to look into either a drill with a handle (or if that is an option I can add to that drill). I was so surprised at how much that torqued my whole left side.