Changing skid plate on conquest

[guyfox]

Done some damage to my skid plate on my conquest and now have to change it. There was a crack in it that I neglected for a little while and now I have to pay the price. By not addressing this crack right away, it has now split abour half way down the lenght of the machine and almost accross the front. Got hooked up when I was out last week and tried to drive throught when maybe I should of backed up...I am like a bull in a china shop....just keep moving ahead at all cost........might be my army training where there is no retreat.......have that "drive it like you stole it mentallity"

So my questions after my little rant is:

1. How hard is it to change the skid plate (02 Conquest)?

2. When I take the old skid plate off do I need to fill the holes and drill new holes through the skid plate and argo together so it lines up or will the new plate just line up?

3. If I have to fill the old holes what is the best method to fill them.

Thanks in advance for advice...

By the way a new skid plate for my argo from the dealer cost $650.00 canadian.

[Dan67]

You can repair the skid plate on the conquest with a plastic welder and some time. I'd start by doing a good cleaning on the argo with skid plate still attached. Let it completely dry. Start by doing a 1" weld about every foot or so. Then go back and fill in the rest of the crack. You might need to use a grinder with a sanding disk to clean up the crack. Make sure you use a dust filter for your face because it will get messy. After you are satisfied with the repair sand it back down smooth with the grinder again. It is more of a time consuming fix then monetary.

[guyfox]

thanks Dan but I already have the new skid plate and mounting hardware. Just have to make time to change it out and any help i can get to make that task any easier would be a great help.

[Dan67]

I have only done a skid plate on my Hustler. But from looking at my conquest.. I don't think you need to patch any holes on your body. just use them as a guide for drilling holes into the new skid plate and go from there. Not sure if you need the frame out or not. I would download a copy of the parts manual and look at the exploded views and use that as a guide. Aswell as picking your dealers brain. Looks like it is held on with just blind sealing rivets. You could always patch the old holes and drill new holes for the new rivets close to the original location. The best way to patch all the existing holes is with a plastic welder and hdpe welding rod. Us a grinder with sanding pad to level out the patch after it is completely cooled.

[mitchamus]

the skid plate bolts (or rivets) through the main tub, and then through the frame.

You will need to either grind and punch, or drill out the existing blind rivets that are holding the old skid plate to the machine. (there are a lot of them!)

if you can get the thing up to a comfortable working height it will make things a lot easier.

You'll need to take all the wheels off to attack the exiting rivets, but remember, once they are all out, your frame will be separated from the lower body.

A blast of compressed air might help you get the old skid plate off.

Slide the new skid plate under the tub, and let the thing sit flat on the shop floor (no wheels) to make sure the new one sits in properly before re-riveting.

NB - this is just my opinion... I had to re-attach (but not remove) my skid plate to the frame during my Conquest re-build.

HTH

Mitch.