Just wondering if anyone has welded to, or changed their front bumper/grill. I was thinking about doing something custom to mine but have not figured out what I want to do yet. I was thinking of adding some expanded metal to the the bumper to protect the lights and maybe reinforce it.
If anyone has any photos please email me (any idea will help)
Thanks!!
sn2230@yahoo.com

 

I am in the process of making mine setup for fast removal of the grill. 4 screws and it's off and I can spray the Radiator. I'll post pics as I go. For now I have just cut the grill out. I am working with a good used front from a wrecked machine.

 

Code54

I have a Kimpex front bumper on my P650 and I added some wire mesh to the front to better protect the grill. I', sure that you could add some more mesh to the headlight areas to protect them.

Here is a picture to give you an idea.


Before


After

 

I am going to change mine. I do not need the bumper that kawidan has.

But, I am going to alter my grill. I am going to make my grill quick remove like the polaris 700 grill. I saw a polaris 700 stop, remove the grill and wack it against a log to clean it and I was INCREDIBLY jealous. The 650 grill stays clean, but it allows mud to fill the rad.

I am not sure how to do that yet. I can only weld steel. I can't make plastic. I am not sure how to bond the screen to the steel frame. I only do things when I can make them look professional.

I guess the only real advice I have to offer is support the stock grill, or the new grill on the bottom. I have bent my grill due to riding through deep ice puddles.

I may make an aluminum grill out of thicker bars that can flip down. I would put a screen behind that. I have to wait for the some welding equipment so I can weld aluminum.

 

Though my bumper looks alittle rough, I've fabricated one out of aluminum... but I bolted 2 pieces of 1.5" angle stock ( aluminum ) inside the stock frame, & have cut a piece of heavy gauge stainless screen, that fits onto the angle stock... I used stainless bolts from the backside, screwed into spring clips on the angle stock... plastic ***** ( with steel inserts ) hold the screen on... works great for me... ( a diamond plate insert can also be installed for mud racing, that only allows air through the plastic grill to the radiator )

 

Nyroc,
I carfully ziz wheeled the welds off my stock screen and cut the sides of it in a bit so it fits by the inside diameter of the bars perfectly. I will have my buddy that has a small wire MIG welder attach some small flat stock to the sides of the screen top to bottom and 4 tabs with welded nuts on the the bars. It will look OE except for the screws. I'll probubly use button head allens and keep a small t-handle wrench in the box. He works with me and is on vacation so I'll have everything ready for him to take home next week. I'll post pics.

 

You guys have some real good ideas, if you have any more photos please post them. I feel the bumper is a little light duty and would like to toughen up both the looks and function. Thank you again!

 

What i've done guys, is completely removed the stock mesh out front, and fabed a 1/2" angle iron frame, which is hinged to the stock bumper at the top. The hinged frame is secured with two 1/4" machine screws at the bottom. inside this angle iron frame i have a couple of different "screens" i can use. They both use the small 1/4" expanded metal mesh. One has two pieces of this expanded metal sandwiched together, but turned 90* to one another ( just to make the holes smaller). The other one....is the same...two pieces sandwiched together, but also have a metal screen (from a screen door) in between the 2 of them. I use this second one when i'm in really muddy/wet spots, and the other when running mostly roads. I've found that when using the one with the small mesh from the screen door, the fan runs a bit more....due to the lesser amount of airflow to the rad, but it cycles on and off, so it's not running too hot. It's a breeze to clean the rad....just remove the two 1/4" machine screws, flip up the hinged frame, and the screen will pop right out....also, withthe stock mesh removed, you can get a hose right at the rad really nicely. Nothing's painted yet...cause i wanted to make sure i'm all done welding on it. Don't have any pics scanned, but will try to get some..if anyone's interested.

Jeff

 

Piski - interesting idea!! Good thinking. If you do end up with some photos please do post them so we can see your work and design.
thanks

 

I moved my wench here because I spend so much time in mud and water, I also kept getting the cable backlashing because I couldn't see it wind up. It has worked great so far.

New mount location