3 pt. lift arm question

[HJT]

I push snow backwards with the rear blade. Will it hurt the lift arms when the blade self lifts up on the snow pile? I pull forward slow so the blade don't just drop down hard. I assumed it would only go as high as internals would let it and stop. Sometimes I hit the lift lever when blade is high on pile and when hydraulics get so high, blade goes to max lift. Then pull forward and let it down. Done this for last couple years and don't seem to hurt. Just wanted others opinion. PSD350

 

[Dead Horse]

Not a bad idea to not let it drop to the ground any more than six inches or so, prolly won't actually hurt anything even if you do.

The hydraulics in the lift, only "lift" they do not provide any down pressure, it is all gravity..... so the answer to your question is: nope.

However, backing into a pile of hardened snow with a back blade can put quite a shock on the lower links and mount points, if the snow does not "give" or the blade does not "ride up".

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think there is an adjustment on your tractor that allows you to set drop speed for various implement weights. On my BX1500 it is a knob just in front of the seat next to the mower set height knob. Clockwise to slow drop.
larry

 

[TripleR]

I haven't had any trouble with the two BX models I have used to push just about everything.

 

[Dead Horse]

I think there is an adjustment on your tractor that allows you to set drop speed for various implement weights. On my BX1500 it is a knob just in front of the seat next to the mower set height knob. Clockwise to slow drop.
larry

That lift drop control valve only effects drop speed when the lift cylinder is going from out to in....... in his example, where the implement is being lifted by external forces, the lift cylinder piston is already retracted and the implement will just drop to the ground once the outside forces are relieved.

 

[teg]

If you hit something other than snow, you can bent the lower arms since they are not really designed for pushing...

 

[Thomas]

It happens now and than,but w/cold weather and hard drops even at angle might be hard on casting in time.

 

[Reg]

I push snow backwards with the rear blade. Will it hurt the lift arms when the blade self lifts up on the snow pile? I pull forward slow so the blade don't just drop down hard. I assumed it would only go as high as internals would let it and stop. Sometimes I hit the lift lever when blade is high on pile and when hydraulics get so high, blade goes to max lift. Then pull forward and let it down. Done this for last couple years and don't seem to hurt. Just wanted others opinion. PSD350

I would worry less about the arms and more about where they attach to.
Most likely this is the rear axle, or some lugs/tabs on it.
If you bust those off you'll be a lot more sorry than if you bend a lift arm.

At least in THEORY you may know where all solid obstructions are.
In practice swirling snow may cause you to hit something quite solid that you thought was a couple of feet to one side or the other.
Snow banks DO set quite hard too, just packing them will do it, thaw/freeze cycles will set them even harder.

 

[SPYDERLK]

That lift drop control valve only effects drop speed when the lift cylinder is going from out to in....... in his example, where the implement is being lifted by external forces, the lift cylinder piston is already retracted and the implement will just drop to the ground once the outside forces are relieved.

Good point.:thumbsup:
larry

 

[milkman]

I haven't heard of anyone bending the lift arms on a BX, but I've been tempted to order a set just in case, Can't believe it, but this is for the set of two arms.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=

 

[timswi]

I haven't heard of anyone bending the lift arms on a BX, but I've been tempted to order a set just in case, Can't believe it, but this is for the set of two arms.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=

Those are worth buying just because....Is that price correct I wonder?

 

[longshot47]

Outstanding find!
Shipping is more than the cost of the parts....but still, **** good.

 

[Fred Barbour]

You have to be careful when pushing backwards with your plow. I had a Kubota B7100 and plowed snow with my box blade for years this way. The danger is hitting something. I did and broke the 7/8inch steel bar that runs through the rear of the tractor that the lower link arms connect to. Kubota wanted over $100.00 bucks for the replacement!

I went to the local foundry and had them cut a piece to length (they actually gave me the piece for nothing), drilled the holes on either end for the pins that retain the lower link arms. I had to remove one rear tire to slide the steel bar through. The only difference between the bar I used and the Kubota factory part was the temper of the steel, the bar I used was mild steel and I ofcourse immediatly bent it by hitting something else.

The box blade always rode up when pushing into a pile, I always used the lift and fully raised the blade before pulling out of the pile to prevent me from removing some of the piled snow by the blade. With a smaller tractor I had to hit the pile at a fair speed to pile it properly, this was due to the light weight of the tractor. The "need for speed" to move the snow did cause me grief by breaking things!

I have since sold the "little beast" and bought a larger Bobcat CT235.

Fred

 

[milkman]

I don't know how I did it, but I bent the 7/8" rod that holds front of the lift arms on my BX, I found a steering shaft out of my dad's old B John Deere and used a piece of that to make a new rod. It sure had better metal than the one on the BX and it sure hasn't bent either.

 

[Kubota 2350]

I haven't heard of anyone bending the lift arms on a BX, but I've been tempted to order a set just in case, Can't believe it, but this is for the set of two arms.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=

For that price, I'd definitely have spares.