Cast iron or cast aluminum cyclops nose replacement?

[Sam Mac]

Pics of the two different bulb styles.

[Group_44]

I have been following this thread with some interest since I have replaced two of these grilles in the past couple of months. I gave the old ones and the new replacement a good look and here is what I found. The older round headlight style and the new round headlight replacement appear to be identical in construction including the material thickness. The halogen headlight style is close but lacks an important re-enforcement on the bottom near where it bolts to the frame, and most of the ones of this style that are cracked are always cracked in that area.

[Diesel Krazy]

Great info guys. I will definatly be buying one of the newer year grills. The last two posts show it's the better design in my eyes. With the lower mounting area being so small no wonder they break. It would be so much stronger if it could be metal. What about the idea of not making an entire grill and just making only the lower mounting area out of metal and having the factory grill with the old lower mounts cut off bolt on to the new lower mount. I'm not sure it would be possable but just a thought. It would be cheaper to make just the lower mounts than the whole grill.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by Group_44

I have been following this thread with some interest since I have replaced two of these grilles in the past couple of months. I gave the old ones and the new replacement a good look and here is what I found. The older round headlight style and the new round headlight replacement appear to be identical in construction including the material thickness. The halogen headlight style is close but lacks an important re-enforcement on the bottom near where it bolts to the frame, and most of the ones of this style that are cracked are always cracked in that area.

Great job of showing and explaining the differences in the grill styles.

[Group_44]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Great job of showing and explaining the differences in the grill styles.

That means a lot coming from the master. This thread inspired me to really take a look at the different grilles I had been working with. Since I had all three styles in the shop at one time a few pictures seemed in order.

[markmdz]

I don't have access to my tractor at the moment. If someone has access to their, can you measure the approximate dimensions of the grille?

[Group_44]

Originally Posted by markmdz

I don't have access to my tractor at the moment. If someone has access to their, can you measure the approximate dimensions of the grille?

What are you looking for as far as far as dimensions, the grille isn't exactly a rectangle? I have a couple on the workbench if there is a specific dimension you need I can try to get it.

[markmdz]

Basically just rough outer dimensions. Kind of like setting it face down and looking at the longest length and width, as well as the highest point. This is all to determine how large of a casting box would need to be used to make the piece.

I've been looking mine over, as well as your pics, and there's a few spots that I'd want to reinforce, as well as just making the wall thickness a bit more if I were to have it done in aluminum. Again, this would all be solely to make them more stout and allow someone to be able to push the tractor from the nose, as well as not have to worry about it being too fragile when doing anything with it.

(No, I don't intend to beat the tractor up, but when I'm mowing close to thick brush or near small tree limbs with my 100, I don't even concern myself with what brushes in front of the grille. Having said that, I'd never use the nose of the tractor to push something, nor intentionally put any stress on the nose.)

[bugeye]

Rough 19" high, 19" wide, 7" front to back.

[markmdz]

Originally Posted by bugeye

Rough 19" high, 19" wide, 7" front to back.

very cool. thank you.