Not Quite Welding, but dent removal

**Fred Bryant** · 06-16-2012, 05:03 PM

on the rear grill of a bobcat. It is made of ~22 gauge perferated sheetmetal. It is folded in a pattern similiar to metal roofing. It has evidently been hit by a few rocks, or something, over the years. Any idea how to 'unstretch' the metal?

Thx's, Fred.

**BD1** · 06-16-2012, 08:08 PM

Can you replace with expanded metal ?? Picture may help.

**Hotfoot** · 06-16-2012, 08:44 PM

I agree with BD1...22 gauge sounds way too light for a piece of equipment that sees that use. I'd see if you couldn't just pull / cut that piece out, and slip some heavy 1/2" opening expanded metal in there, or build an exterior mounted grille.

Pictures would help a lot.

**OLDMERC** · 06-16-2012, 10:56 PM

On a Bobcat a grille made from 1/2" plate or bar would be fine ,they like lots of weight back there .

**urch55** · 06-17-2012, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Fred Bryant

on the rear grill of a bobcat. It is made of ~22 gauge perferated sheetmetal. It is folded in a pattern similiar to metal roofing. It has evidently been hit by a few rocks, or something, over the years. Any idea how to 'unstretch' the metal?

Thx's, Fred.

Fred,
Not too much you can do except to pull off the vent screen, hammer or press out the dents. Then install some 1/8" perforated sheet like I have in the last two pictures, on top of the factory screening. Short of buying a new screen from Bobcat this is the best way to repair the damage...
Bobcat%20Screen.JPG Perforated Sheet.JPG

**Northweldor** · 06-17-2012, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by urch55

Fred,
Not too much you can do except to pull off the vent screen, hammer or press out the dents. Then install some 1/8" perforated sheet like I have in the last two pictures, on top of the factory screening. Short of buying a new screen from Bobcat this is the best way to repair the damage...

Attachment 34831 Attachment 34832 Attachment 34833

Urch55, your links all show "invalid attachment".

**urch55** · 06-17-2012, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Northweldor

Urch55, your links all show "invalid attachment".

I tried them and they work for me. But, you don't have to use them they are for the three pictures posted..

**urch55** · 06-17-2012, 11:28 AM

Does anybody else have problems with seeing the pictures I posted????

**Northweldor** · 06-17-2012, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by urch55

I tried them and they work for me. But, you don't have to use them they are for the three pictures posted..

Pictures don't show either. I think I have been corrected on this before, and for some reason, you can't post links to search results. You have to refer using key words to direct search, since they will only show for you. I get around this by taking screenshots and attaching those.