Started yesterday on installing the three piece skid set.
Doing my best to "read" the instructions first, then dive in.
Installed the rear skid, no problems. I will tell all that I am using Rivit Nuts at every fastener point to make remove the skid a piece of cake and the holes will never get damaged and the fasteners not hold.
So installed the four bolts called for in the instructions. Then discover I don't have the "extension bracket" required to tie the rear and main skids together. So having a PlasmaCam I just made my own out of 10ga hot rolled steel
Installing the main skid calls for putting in the three bolts in the center row plus the outer bolts that go through the "extension bracket". Well, the front hole doesn't line up with the threaded hole in the frame at all. So I made a triangular piece, bolted it to the frame and then drilled for the bolt, installed a Rivit Nut and good to go. Next was two bolts about half way to the outside and just about lined up with the center row, center bolt. One is out of line by almost 1/2" with the original threaded hole, the other lines up just right. Drilled one new hole and drilled out the aligned hole with a 3/8" drill. Then added Rivit Nuts and good to go.
At the end of today I got the driver's side three bolts in. The front hole aligns with a transition in the frame, so a bit hard to drill, but got it done and all three bolts installed.
D-clamps over the frame tubes at the front of the skid look to be a challenge. When D-clamp is over the frame tube, and the leg of the clamp help parallel to the top surface of the skid...there will be about a 3/4" gap between the D-clamp and top of skid. So planning to use longer bolts and a section of 1" 10ga tubing to keep the leg of the clamp and the top of the skid parallel to each other.
Have only test fit the front diff skid. Looks OK, but the rear bolts will have to be drilled, Rivit Nuts installed, then bolted. Then due to the Hilliard diff bolts and frame section that bulges out...I will have to use clamp to bend the skid up to the frame at the front and then drill and bolt. Need to do this so the bolts go in perpendicular to the skid.
Anyone else having these challenges installing the Factory UTV three piece skid set? I'm making mine work. Time consuming but coming out fine!!!
Pirate
Doing my best to "read" the instructions first, then dive in.
Installed the rear skid, no problems. I will tell all that I am using Rivit Nuts at every fastener point to make remove the skid a piece of cake and the holes will never get damaged and the fasteners not hold.
So installed the four bolts called for in the instructions. Then discover I don't have the "extension bracket" required to tie the rear and main skids together. So having a PlasmaCam I just made my own out of 10ga hot rolled steel
Installing the main skid calls for putting in the three bolts in the center row plus the outer bolts that go through the "extension bracket". Well, the front hole doesn't line up with the threaded hole in the frame at all. So I made a triangular piece, bolted it to the frame and then drilled for the bolt, installed a Rivit Nut and good to go. Next was two bolts about half way to the outside and just about lined up with the center row, center bolt. One is out of line by almost 1/2" with the original threaded hole, the other lines up just right. Drilled one new hole and drilled out the aligned hole with a 3/8" drill. Then added Rivit Nuts and good to go.
At the end of today I got the driver's side three bolts in. The front hole aligns with a transition in the frame, so a bit hard to drill, but got it done and all three bolts installed.
D-clamps over the frame tubes at the front of the skid look to be a challenge. When D-clamp is over the frame tube, and the leg of the clamp help parallel to the top surface of the skid...there will be about a 3/4" gap between the D-clamp and top of skid. So planning to use longer bolts and a section of 1" 10ga tubing to keep the leg of the clamp and the top of the skid parallel to each other.
Have only test fit the front diff skid. Looks OK, but the rear bolts will have to be drilled, Rivit Nuts installed, then bolted. Then due to the Hilliard diff bolts and frame section that bulges out...I will have to use clamp to bend the skid up to the frame at the front and then drill and bolt. Need to do this so the bolts go in perpendicular to the skid.
Anyone else having these challenges installing the Factory UTV three piece skid set? I'm making mine work. Time consuming but coming out fine!!!
Pirate