FEL Cutting Edge Guard

   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #1  

GuglioLS

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
1,155
Location
Edgewood, NM USA
Tractor
Jinma 354, 1953 Ford NAA Golden Jubilee, Komatsu Bulldozer
Not sure what the correct technical term for this thing is, but I've been wanting one for a while and finally built one.
It's purpose is to keep the cutting edge from digging in and tearing things up when using the FEL bucket as a snow plow. I've seen a few here on TBN and was inspired by this thread: Phil's Cutting Edge thingie

My impression is the ones made of PVC or ABS can self destruct within seconds or wear out in less than a season. I like the ones made of steel pipe and decided to use 1.5" schedule 40 black pipe, mostly because that's what I had in my scrap pile to work with. :D

I found some weld on 90* black pipe elbows from a pipe shop. The elbows are chamfered on the ends for welding sections together. I made some re-enforcement connectors to use between the sections of pipe for added strength. The slugs were cut from 3/8" plate with a hole saw. The slugs for mounting the ends were drilled and taped for 1/2" - 13 bolts.
I cut the tabs that keep the pipe centered on the cutting edge using a CNC plasma cutter. The centering tabs were evenly spaced, five on top and four on the bottom.

In Phill's thread that I linked to above, T_Man chimed in with his design which I adapted with one improvement:
Wrap the pipe ends 180* to attach to the bucket using the same holes for attaching the tooth bar. I think this in an improved design as there is less chance of snagging some object buried in the snow or when not paying attention working near fence lines.








A little bit of gold paint and some touch up for the grapple and BLING BLING! Two bolts and the whole thing effortlessly slides on and off.








I had a chance to use it pushing and back dragging some crusty snow on the north sides of my barn and it works better than expected.


Larry
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #2  
Nice build, I didn't believe in the pipe on the bucket idea , but have been coming around since trying it a little.

No worries of plastic pipe breaking with yours, I like how it locks on the edge, with that way I think you could just have some type of quick pin to keep it in place. I would use that, but would want to be able to remove it quickly once I got out of the soft ground.

JB.
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #4  
Larry
Everything you build is of such a high quality. I am always impressed with the stuff you build ,great job. Its the kind of stuff I want to copy.
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks for the comeback guys, much appreciated. This was a simple weekend build which gave me an excuse to get my welding "fix" this winter. Next snow perhaps I should post a few action shots? and a few to see how it holds up.

Larry
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #6  
Larry,
Good fabrication and as usual for you great documentation of the project. Just today I looked through you dump trailer build thread. That grapple turned out good too.
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #7  
Wow- gives us "would-be" ("wanna-be"?) welders something to aspire to!

So that entire thing comes off/goes on with just two bolts? Very slick design!

I really like the way you've got those built-in reinforcements on the sides of the bucket. (I've wondered if drilling & bolting into bucket sheetmetal wasn't asking for stress/bending trouble later on....)
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #8  
Larry
Nice job! I new when I posted my design someone would improve on it.When you said "it works better than expected".Thats exactly what I said the first time I used it.I'm on my second season using it,and there is no sign of wear on the pipe yet. Tim
 
   / FEL Cutting Edge Guard #9  
Dang it Larry, you've added another project to my list! :D

Looks great as usual.

Since you painted it gold, how about calling it a 'Gold Digger?' (rim shot sound needed)
 

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