If you are not worried about weight I would go with steel.
What's the best material for full belly plate?
I'm in the process of making a full length belly plate. I was going to use steel plate as I already have a suitable piece on hand. I'll use alum for the front bash plate. Most aftermarket skid plates are aluminum. Looking for opinions on how the alum plates perform. Do they hang up on rocks? Is it worth the expense to use alum instead of steel? Finally has anyone made or used a swing arm plate to protect the rear end and how well did it work?
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If you use aluminum I wouldn't use checker plate as it will hang you up on logs, rocks, etc.G with the smooth stuff. Steel is good but heavy and rusts. I personally used puck board(the stuff they use around hockey rinks). The stuff is strong, slides over rocks and trees, and easy to work with and fairly light. Been bashing mine for almost a year now and it has never cracked or came off, all there is are scrapes.
Weight is not an issue. Rust is a bigger concern but can be managed. I thought about the high strength plastics but don't know where to source them, except for Lexan which is strong but not sure how it will work for a skid plate. This puck board sounds promising. What kind of supplier carries this material?
Try your local lumber yard, that is where I bought mine, several of them carry it. Buy the 1/4" stuff, 1/8 is too thin. Cuts easy with a jigsaw and bends with a heat gun or small propane torch. If you decide to go with the puckboard let me know and I can post some more pictures of where I secured it and how.
I'm definately going to try and find some. Would be real interested in those pics. Thanks!
I would like to see some pics as well. Alluminum would be nice but did you price them out. WOW the cost is huge
QUOTE ("Grtwhthntr":3b76cukt)
Thanks for the puck board idea. Just finished installing a full length skid plate made with it. I'll test it out this weekend. Would still like to see your installation pics.I personally used puck board(the stuff they use around hockey rinks). The stuff is strong, slides over rocks and trees, and easy to work with and fairly light. Been bashing mine for almost a year now and it has never cracked or came off, all there is are scrapes.
Will try to get some pics up next week, going away for the long weekend, if you get some of yours lets see them also.
Pics of the puckboard skid plate after a full May 2-4 weekend of riding. Thanks again for the info. I think this is going to work great!!
looks great. have a good run?
Had a great weekend. My son actually rode the bike more than I did but we did get a good ride in today. Did you get your shifting problem sorted out?
QUOTE ("H4":15vgehxy)
looks like its back to dealer's shop AGAIN.
no i didnt. i was sure it was the angle sensor (3 blink flash code), but after talkin to da hes saying the angle sensor went out on the 350 a while back, and he could still shift with the foot shifter. but i cant use the shifter buttons on the foreman or foot shifter.Had a great weekend. My son actually rode the bike more than I did but we did get a good ride in today. Did you get your shifting problem sorted out?
looks like its back to dealer's shop AGAIN.
how you planning on changing your oil?
QUOTE ("TechForeman":39o7mowp)
I modified the stock steel skid to stay mounted between the motor and the new belly plate. Drilled a small hole in the new plate to mark the location of the drain plug. I'll use a 2" holesaw to cut the opening on the next oil change. Probably have to cut some more holes to allow mud and water to drain also.how you planning on changing your oil?
How do you attach the puck board to the frame?Did you drill holes in the frame and screw it in place?
The way I attached it won't work on another bike. I had to repair a cracked frame and at the same time I decided to reinforce the entire lower part of the frame that had taken a beating from rocks. I shaped and welded 1" channel along the bottom of the frame. Welded nuts on the inside to attach the skid. I'm waiting on pics in another thread on how you can attach this stuff to a stock frame. I want to add it to the rear diff and swingarm.
i am guessing that you can use self tapping metal screws to mount that to the frame though...
i just don't know of anywhere to get that stuff, puck board?
i couldn't tell you a thing about hockey, i have been to a game once and left half way through...
i just don't know of anywhere to get that stuff, puck board?
i couldn't tell you a thing about hockey, i have been to a game once and left half way through...
QUOTE ("cra5h":1b80jcix)
I wouldn't drill mounting holes in the frame. You could probably use U bolts. Grtwhthntr is going to post pics on how he mounted it on his bike. You can get the material at a plastic supplier that sells Plexiglass or acrylic sheets. It's called HDPE or high density polyethylene.i am guessing that you can use self tapping metal screws to mount that to the frame though...
i just don't know of anywhere to get that stuff, puck board?
.
Sorry took so long to get these pics up, been out ridin' lots. The front a-arm guards I heated and formed with a small propane torch, they attach to the stock mounting holes on the front and the puckboard is slotted with hose clamps around the rear. The main skid is held on with stainless bolts through the wheelwells on the sides, bolted to the stock skid which is still above it, and several hoseclamps around the frame at the front and rear. The swingarm skid pinches under the stock skid, has a tab that catches the bolt to the right of the diff, and hoseclamps at the front. I have tortured this skid for almost a year with absolutely nothing coming loose or cracking, including some heavy rock climbing and plenty of heavy bush. As long as it is fastened along the edges so they can't catch on anything this skid is nearly indestructible. The hoseclamps is by far the best way to attach this type of skid and have never had a problem with one coming off. To make the skid I patterned it with posterboard cardboard until everything was just how I wanted it and then transferred it to the puckboard. I hope this helps with anyone wanting to make their own. A 4'x8'x1/4" sheet is enough for two bikes.
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