Home built linkage guard skid plate

[Border Dave]

I got tired of waiting for someone to sell a linkage guard/skid plate, so I made my own from a very thin (3.5mm-4mm) high density polyethylene (HDPE) cutting board.














EDIT: Now that I've had time to think about this I can see the flaw with this design, i.e. the bolts are going to get ripped off by a big rock. I'm going to see if there's a way to mount the guard under the factory skidplate instead.

 

[Anders]

I applaud DIY solutions.
However, Dowatek is actually selling something like this:

Plastic Link Guard (Stark Varg MX, SM and EX)

We really recommend this link guard, because it helps you a lot to get over trees and rocks without damaging your linkage. Also the link…

www.dowatek.de

 

[Border Dave]

I applaud DIY solutions.
However, Dowatek is actually selling something like this:

Plastic Link Guard (Stark Varg MX, SM and EX)

We really recommend this link guard, because it helps you a lot to get over trees and rocks without damaging your linkage. Also the link…

www.dowatek.de

Unfortunately, Dowatek does not ship to any country on this side of the pond.

 

[Anders]

Unfortunately, Dowatek does not ship to any country on this side of the pond.

That too bad.
But his idea for mounting the link guard above the skid plate could be an idea to copy, if you feel that your solution will get ripped off.

 

[Border Dave]

That too bad.
But his idea for mounting the link guard above the skid plate could be an idea to copy, if you feel that your solution will get ripped off.

I'm already planning something. I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow.

 

[Theo]

Remember that Stark has stated that using an aftermarket skid plate would void the warranty; I don't know about a modification like this one.
You could try countersunk screws to avoid having protruding heads.

 

[Border Dave]

Here are a few more photos test fitting the skid plate above the factory skid plate:







I still need to buy two shorter bolts and a flexible socket extension so that I can tighten them. I should be able to finish up with this on Sunday.

The way it's now mounted it doesn't even touch the factory skid plate. The bolts that attach the new linkage guard are screwed into the top of the threaded bosses that are used to hold the factory skid plate on. I'll take final pics on Sunday.

 

[AL_V]

Here are a few more photos test fitting the skid plate above the factory skid plate:

View attachment 15932

View attachment 15933

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I still need to buy two shorter bolts and a flexible socket extension so that I can tighten them. I should be able to finish up with this on Sunday.

The way it's now mounted it doesn't even touch the factory skid plate. The bolts that attach the new linkage guard are screwed into the top of the threaded bosses that are used to hold the factory skid plate on. I'll take final pics on Sunday.

Great idea for mounting, but how much thread engagement are you getting?
Ideally you should have a length of 1.5*the thread diameter, but could probably get away with one diameter of length.

 

[Border Dave]

In the first pic you can see there are about five full turns left. The factory skid plate bolt takes up about the same amount.

EDIT: I just went back and checked. With the longer bolts there are only about 3 1/2 full turns until it bottoms out. At 1.25 threads per mm, that equals 4.375 mm of thread engagement. I wonder if that would be enough if I used blue thread locker? I'll try it and find out...