Grading Anybody have a loader mounted front blade?

[rback33]

Minimax,
If your plumbed for the 4/1 bucket, then yes thats the lines you would use for the angle function. Minimax, you being in the excavating bussiness will quickly find out that the loader mounted front blade will not serve you as well as a frame mounted blade. Its just too much hanging out front of the loader. Its fine and dandy for your average tractor owner to plow snow and move a little dirt, but I really don't think it will be your best option. Its the eaisest way to go, but not the best.

And yes the trip springs will give the loader some protection, but it will not take much of an accidental hit on one side to transfer that shock to one side of the loader arms and causing damage to the loader or mounts. Frame mounted blades are not full proof either,but I would say less damage would be done in identical situations.

I wish I still had the pics of my 3520/cab-300cx loader with the loader mounted front blade and you would see what I am refering to.

The problem that people run into is that the loader is not designed for the side forces an angle blade puts on it. It makes it especially important to have a safety trip mechanism of some kind. Not only is the loader mount and frame at risk, but many lift cylinders have been destroyed in this manner.

 

[Cidertom]

(I'm probably going to get flamed for this)
One of the things I have seen is the increasing use of skid steer tools using adaptor plates on FELs. The comments about side loading issues come from this. Compare the lenght of the loader booms from the pivot point to the face surface of the tool. The tractor boom will be longer, which has a real effect on the ultimate strenght of the system. Even adding the foot or so from the adaptor plate to the blade will have an effect. Look at the base construction. Skid steer = short stocky = heavier loading, better side load capability due to decreased lever lenght. Tractor FEL = long lean = lower loading capacity. It's a trade off.

The basic problem is trying to get a truely universal tool set that works equaly well with all mounts.

 

[BenderKC]

minimax, there are also 2 JD model 74 front blades on eBay (item # 170057959154 and item#170057956771) now that will fit your 3520.You would use the 4 mounts that come with the blades and modifiy your loader mounts as I did. These JD blades usually go cheap on eBay,because nobody realizes they will fit some new model tractors.

You could also use one of these model 74's to make a loader mounted front blade. You would have almost everything you needed. Moldboard,cutting edge, front frame, 2 angle and 1 spare cylinder. hyd hoses,etc.... The main components that you would have to buy is the loader mount and some additional hardware.

You can look at the loader mounted blade at deere.com Parts Look up 300cx and then go to alphabetical index and click on (B) scroll down to Blade loader mounted and look at the drawing. It will give you an idea of what they look like. I'll search around some old emails and see if I have some pics of the one I sold on eBay.

One other drawback to the loader mounted blades is you have to install a diverter so that you can use your scv to angle the blade.

I have a JD 4310 with a 430 loader, plumbed for 4 in 1 bucket. What would be involved with one of the 74 front blade installations. Thanks for the info.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Bender, I'm not that familiar with the 4310. If it has the same frame as a 3520 or 4410 the model 74 blade will work. Now for the work.Which requires someone with excellent welding skills. I didn't say it was going to be easy. In order to get the 74 blade mounts to work in conjuction with the loader mounts you remove the loader mounts and then shorten them 1/2 inch and reweld to get the blade mounts behind them. This allows you to change between the loader and front blade without removing any mounts. One drawback is you can not use a MM mower,because of the blade mounts. PM me your email address and I can send you some pics of my 3520 w/cab and 870 open station that I modified to get the loader and front blade brackets compatible. The reason I also listed the 4410 is a friend used the same design change to get a model 74 blade to fit his tractor.

For the average tractor owner its alot easier to go with the loader mounted front blade, but I prefer the frame mounted blades.

 

[ruglad03835]

If you search loader blades or snowplows on the site you should get quite a few returns. I'm almost done setting up my 790 with a FEL plow. I obtained a 7-1/2' fisher plow for nothing and I am having a friend fabricate a mount for it. I'm going to add an electric diverter valve to control the angle and then I'll be ready to plow. Do yourself a favor and look at your driveway and make sure you mark or remove anyhhing that you may strike with the blade. If you have shoes or skids for the blade set them to 3/4 - 1" to keep the blade off the ground. If you have pavement take them off or shorten them to 1/4" Depending on your plow and tractor configuration you should be ok. The only thing I may do is to remove a trip spring or 2 to lessen the force needed to trip the blade to protect the loader.

Happy plowing
We received 3 inches of snow today

 

[jarokoro]

I have a 2006 JD 990. This is the design I have been thinking about building. Just a basic set-up but will be easy to use. Make a quick attach bracket to mount to bottom off grill guard with brackets going back to frame holes already threaded. I am going to leave loader attachment on and attach a shackle for chain to lift plow. Since I am not sure how effective or how often I will need to use it, so for know I will not hook up any hydraulic lines to shift the plow left or right, just a pin. If I find, I use it a lot I will hook them up.

 

[kennyd]

I have a 2006 JD 990. This is the design I have been thinking about building. Just a basic set-up but will be easy to use. Make a quick attach bracket to mount to bottom off grill guard with brackets going back to frame holes already threaded. I am going to leave loader attachment on and attach a shackle for chain to lift plow. Since I am not sure how effective or how often I will need to use it, so for know I will not hook up any hydraulic lines to shift the plow left or right, just a pin. If I find, I use it a lot I will hook them up.

That's an interesting concept for sure! Please let us know how it works out

 

[JB4310]

I have a 2006 JD 990. This is the design I have been thinking about building. Just a basic set-up but will be easy to use. Make a quick attach bracket to mount to bottom off grill guard with brackets going back to frame holes already threaded. I am going to leave loader attachment on and attach a shackle for chain to lift plow. Since I am not sure how effective or how often I will need to use it, so for know I will not hook up any hydraulic lines to shift the plow left or right, just a pin. If I find, I use it a lot I will hook them up.

Another good and simple idea, you could easily control the angle cylinders with the curl and dump circuit.

Necessity is the mother of all invention!

 

[jarokoro]

I was thinking about that but I am not sure how much i will need it here in Mid-Missouri. So far only 1 storm.

 

[ronjhall]

I have Curtis blade mounted on my tractor. Have had it for many 6 years.
Have not had a bit of problem with the FEL. Here is a picture.
Here is a recent thread on a blade mount to a JD loader.

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