About Tractor Parts & Repair: Our site brings you the info and resources you need to care for your tractor. Learn more about Tractor Side Shield here, and find the parts you need to maintain your tractor and keep it at optimal performance.
Tractor Side Shield
Many tractor trailers have a piece of equipment that is often misunderstood by people, and that is the Tractor Sideshield. As with every tractor trailer, this piece of equipment is located on the tractor or behind the tractor and it protects the life of the driver and any passenger who may be riding in the tractor trailer. There are two main parts to the tractor side shield, the first part is the faceplate which is also known as the cab end. This is the actual piece of the tractor that protects the driver and passengers from sideswiping hazards, the other important part is the bucket end, this is the part of the piece of equipment that is located behind the cab and it protects the contents of the bucket from being damaged.
The bucket end of the tractor side shield is connected to the bottom of the trailer via a cable. These cables are run through a box called the outboard motor housing. The cable runs through a pipe called a flange, and then it leads to a flange that connects the cable to the actual bucket end. On most of the newer models of model years ago, this flange did not actually close, but instead of having the cab end being connected to the flange, it was actually connected to the pinion which is on the front of the bed of the truck. If you look at pictures of old model year tractors, you will notice that the cab end of the trailer is equipped with a "D" shaped slot to hold the bucket assembly. The reason for this flange design is to prevent the contents of the bucket from being damaged when the trailer is sideswiped by another vehicle.
One of the main problems with the side shield is that it does not protect the driver and any passenger who may be riding in the cab of the tractor trailer. If a side impact occurs, the bucket of the tractor can easily be damaged and the contents inside the bucket could be injured. Side impact protection is one of the most important features on an older model tractor trailer. Remember to always check your tractor's side skirts and flange areas on a yearly basis.