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Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:18 pm
by Matt Kirsch
Changing the bolt head type and/or length won't change the locations of the holes. If the grille isn't mating up to the holes, different bolts won't change that.

The hood is pretty much a fixed shape, and if the grill is too short for that, I'd say there's something wrong with the grille. IIRC reproduction grills have been known to be too short in the past.

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:03 am
by Dale Finch
One possible idea...after I recently reinstalled my tank, I had to loosen the tank-to-radiator bolts and adjust its position slightly so the grill would fit. Its a small amount but might be enough.

Also make sure the curvature is exactly right or it will seem to have shrunk. BTDT!

Good luck!

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:20 pm
by gcbailey
OK let me be dumb.... on the radiator supports.... the threaded hole that the hood mounts to goes toward the front of the tractor, yes? I'm about ready to throw the whole thing out and if someone wants a nicely painted hood they can pick it up at the bottom of the hill.

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:38 pm
by Chris D
Some of those grills ya just gotta get rough with. You may have to flatten the from a little and round the edges in some to get it to fit. Working it over a piece of large diameter PVC pipe may help. Don't worry bout the paint it can be touched up later. Wish you were closer so I could get a in person look.

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:06 pm
by Dale Finch
gcbailey wrote:on the radiator supports.... the threaded hole that the hood mounts to goes toward the front of the tractor, yes?

Yes, it does. If you look at the bolt hole in the hood bracket, you will see it is slightly oval, front to back. That does give a LITTLE bit of room to push the tank forward as you tighten the 2 bolts. You might loosen the 4 Truss head screws on the rear of the tank to let things float a bit. Then someone can push on the rear of the tank while you tighten the 2 hex bolts. As you try to fit the grill also have all the dogleg screws a little loose to allow some give there, too.

Carefully check the curvature...it doesn't take much of a mismatch to "shorten" it.

Good luck!

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:00 am
by randallc
You may have to try this.
viewtopic.php?f=147&t=66578#p70186

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:45 am
by gcbailey
I'll try it.... try anything right now!

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:58 am
by Chris D
As a last resort too, you could just cut the tabs off, weld longer ones on it and re-paint the grill. Of course this is last resort though..

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:22 am
by Hengy
Did you repair the dash panel on the back of the hood or the tabs on the front end of the hood? There has to be a reason for the mal-fitting grille. Leave the 1/4-20 bolts on the back end of the hood loose as well as all the screws on the doglegs until you find the "sweet spot"... you can also leave the bolts loose on the tabs under the hood until you find the right spot for them to rest. Then you'd have to take the grille off of and tighten down the tabs. Basically get the grille where you want it and THEN tighten everything else down...

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:54 pm
by CPIII
I had a similar problem with the grille I purchased. But ended up getting to just fit by rebending the outer curves of the grill.....it still wasn't a perfect fit as you can see from this pic. But it works for me.

AfterSmall.jpg

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:16 pm
by mrdibs
I had the same problem. Looked to me like the aftermarket grill was just poorly sized.

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:43 pm
by Jim Becker
He said the original grille won't go back on either. Strongly suggests the trouble is elsewhere.

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:28 pm
by Hengy
Jim Becker wrote:He said the original grille won't go back on either. Strongly suggests the trouble is elsewhere.


Agree... there should be enough "wiggle room" in the fitment of the grille that it should fit. Was anything else repaired on this cub's sheet metal or any other of the mounting points prior to trying to get this hood mounted?

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:30 pm
by gcbailey
Hengy wrote:Did you repair the dash panel on the back of the hood or the tabs on the front end of the hood? There has to be a reason for the mal-fitting grille. Leave the 1/4-20 bolts on the back end of the hood loose as well as all the screws on the doglegs until you find the "sweet spot"... you can also leave the bolts loose on the tabs under the hood until you find the right spot for them to rest. Then you'd have to take the grille off of and tighten down the tabs. Basically get the grille where you want it and THEN tighten everything else down...


I haven't even put the bolts onto the dash panel, just sitting on it. It does seem like the dash is cocked a little, I have another one I can try, probably will try....

Re: what am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:35 pm
by Hengy
gcbailey wrote:
Hengy wrote: I have another one I can try, probably will try....


Did you do a repair on the dash that is on it? How about the tabs on the hood? Were these repaired or replaced?

If it is just sitting on the dash and is not hooked up, then it isn't the dash that is making the problem. Are the bolts attached to the radiator supports through the tabs on the inside of the hood? Try taking those off and keeping the bolts loose on the doglegs until the grille is mounted. Then cinch down the dogleg bolts (all eight) and the dash mounts. Then remove the grille and hopefully the hood doesn't move. Then try putting the bolts in the radiator supports. You may have to move the supports around...