Military Style Engine Guard

Inside the box

Friday there was a package at the door from Nfield Gear.  The package held the contents of some of my Black Friday purchases.  Specifically, an engine guard and a free poster that Nfield Gear was giving away with purchases on Black Friday.  There's still another package on the way with a sports muffler and a Power Commander unit but that has not arrived yet.

Having some free time on Sunday afternoon, the installation of the engine guard began but unfortunately it was not completed.  The engine guard came without any installation instructions but it was an easy matter to figure out how things "tied together" as it were.

The lower bracket attached easily enough.  The bolt fit through the holes in the engine mount and aligned perfectly.  However, there were two other hurdles to overcome during installation.  The first was the location of the oxygen sensor on the exhaust pipe.  The sensor is right in the way of the upper starboard bracket and to attach the main upper bracket, the sensor wire has to be separated from the frame.  This was easy enough to do by removing the plastic tie that holds the wire in place.  Not the best fit but it could be maneuvered around.  The wire is not really the big issue, it just that the sensor is right in the way of where the bracket should be.  I figured this would not be a great problem because once the new sports muffler is attached, the oxygen sensor is going away.

Sweet Free Poster!

The second hurdle came on trying to tighten the bolts holding the brackets in place.  The outside upper starboard bracket bolt is right up against the bend on the exhaust pipe making it impossible to get to it with a wrench without removing the exhaust pipe.  Had it not been for the fact that I had planned to replace the exhaust anyway I would have been majorly ticked.  Finally I decided to leave the bracket loosely in place, since the weather will probably prevent me from riding this week, and not mess with the whole deal until I have the new muffler to install.  That means probably next Sunday afternoon I might try this again.

The engine guard appears to be of solid construction.  The seam welds look a little rough but not extremely ugly.  There was a little rust discoloration along the lower part of the guard which came out with a little polishing cloth and elbow grease.  I believe that the U bolts could be a little longer to make installation easier and I may go the hardware store to see if I can find something longer.  All that is needed by ways of tools is a couple 13mm wrenches.  A socket wrench works fine in the installation of the lower bracket and I suppose would work just as well once the the exhaust pipe is out of the way.

The attached pics illustrate the install.

All the parts out of the package.  The rust stain is visible in the lower left of the photo

Lower bracket attached.  I should really clean that engine mount bracket. 

Guard attached to lower bracket.  Had to twist it down to accommodate the oxygen sensor. 

Upper brackets.  The oxygen sensor is right under the far bracket.

Port side

3/4 starboard side

Starboard side.  You can see how the pipe gets in the way of installation.

Full on