Grading BX 54" Blade Hydro Angle Conversion

[CHDinCT]

Just thought I'd post some pic's of my new to me BX 54" front blade that I converted from manual to hydraulic angling. I picked up the blade used from Messicks - Neil said it was used 2 times and it looked that way to me. I did have to buy the quick hitch new, which comes standard with hydraulic raise/lower. As most of you know, the 54" blade is only offered with manual angling while the 60" has hydraulic angling. I would love a 60" blade but it retails new for about $2,000. The 54" cost me just under $1,000 and another $250 for the cylinder, fittings, hoses, and payment for a welder to add the cylinder mounts. If I knew how to weld, I could have saved over $100, bringing the cost down further. Anyway, finally got everything set up this weekend for a test. Other than needing a longer pin at the quick hitch side, she's good to go.

Just a note on Messicks. Very nice to deal with Neil and meet him in person. I would have loved to have spent more time at his dealership as it's much bigger than about any around here and they have most models in stock (dreaming of a B series some day) but it was raining pretty steady that day unfortunately and I had a 5 hour drive back to CT. Also, the hoses that came with the quick hitch leaked out of the crimped side of the fittings on first hook up and Messicks got me new ones in 2 days under warranty. Great service.

Also, a shout out to Blackmajicwomen who post pic's of the same conversion on an old thread from 2004 or so. Those pic's gave me a starting point for how to do this. There was mention in that thread that Kubota was going to offer the 54" blade with 4-way hydraulics but I guess they never did.

An now for some pic's.

 

[ccsial]

Really nice looking job. You'll enjoy that hydraulic angle. I have it on my 54" blade on my 748 and absolutley love it.

 

[devildog1]

Chris,
Real nice job putting together the plow blade setup, Kubota looks just Great with plow. I've heard quite a few good comments on this form about Messicks, Neil in paticular. It's great to have a dealer that you can work with and that will back up product sold. Now all you need is the snow, but ------ from everything I've read, lots of snow this year in the Great Northeast. Have fun playing--err working with that good looking Kubota.
DevilDog

 

[bp fick]

Great job!! Congrats to you and to Neil at Messick's for a job well done.

I did splurge for the QC and 60" at the time of purchase, with dealer providing an awesome price and Kubota providing 0 percent on the bundle.
Yessir, your ingenuity saved you some dollars. You don't likely miss those few inches anyhow. You might even have greater sense of maneuverability. Orange paint coming? or just easier to touch up the black from time to time?

 

[CHDinCT]

Really nice looking job. You'll enjoy that hydraulic angle. I have it on my 54" blade on my 748 and absolutley love it.

Thanks ccsial - don't know why Kubota doesn't offer the 54" with 4-way hydraulics like JD does.

Chris,
Real nice job putting together the plow blade setup, Kubota looks just Great with plow. I've heard quite a few good comments on this form about Messicks, Neil in paticular. It's great to have a dealer that you can work with and that will back up product sold. Now all you need is the snow, but ------ from everything I've read, lots of snow this year in the Great Northeast. Have fun playing--err working with that good looking Kubota.
DevilDog

Yeah, I'm half hoping for snow and half not, wanting to prolong the fall weather. There was some wet snow on Sunday in the norther parts of the state.

Great job!! Congrats to you and to Neil at Messick's for a job well done.

I did splurge for the QC and 60" at the time of purchase, with dealer providing an awesome price and Kubota providing 0 percent on the bundle.
Yessir, your ingenuity saved you some dollars. You don't likely miss those few inches anyhow. You might even have greater sense of maneuverability. Orange paint coming? or just easier to touch up the black from time to time?

BP - I had a snowplow for my wheel horse so I didn't really need to buy the Kubota one with the tractor, but then last year, the WH broke an axle seal and I used the BX with the FEL to move snow. Loved having 4WD and power steering, just found the FEL to be slower than a plow. So now I've got the best of both. I did sell the WH plow and chains (wouldn't fit my 24" tires) which helped offset some of the cost.

I'll be leaving it black for now and may paint the Chief cylinder to match. But that will have to wait for Spring.

 

[radioman]

Thats awesome! Looks great and ready to go!

 

[redharley]

looks great, do you have to remove a pin from your new cylinder to separate plow from quick hitch?

 

[Minotbob]

That looks like the same quick disconnect used for the Snowblower.

 

[CHDinCT]

looks great, do you have to remove a pin from your new cylinder to separate plow from quick hitch?

Yes, have to remove either the front or back pin since the quick hitch separates from the blade. I just bungied it to the QH for now.

That looks like the same quick disconnect used for the Snowblower.

Same Quick Hitch. It comes with the carriers for the PTO shaft and bearings but no plans for a blower at this point. Maybe once the next ice age comes

 

[Czbilly]

Thank you very much for showing this project. I too have the Black 54" but never considered adding the othey cylinder. This just may have to get put on the list for todos this fall.