Backblade upgrade!

[Aquamoose]

Well, that was a catchy title eh?

Anyhow, I was tired of jumping on & off my tractor to make angle adjustments on my backblade so I went and added a hydraulic cylinder! I had to cut off a portion of the bracket up front (at the base)so the 10” stroke cylinder would sit in the optimum position. It’s configured so if I need to rotate the blade 180°, I can just unhitch the rod end, swing both the blade & cylinder to the opposite side and refasten. Took it out today to plow snow and it worked very well but when adjusting the angle, I had to be light on the valve or it’ll jerk around so I’m planning to add an adjustable restricting valve to slow it down.

Bolts are 3/4”, spacers are brass to position the cylinder higher to allow free movement in full travel. Cleaned it up & repainted to make it nice again.

 

[oosik]

Nice, clean job - Aquamoose. Did you actually get enough snow there in DP to try out the blade?? I got a skinny inch here yesterday.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Good job, i will be using your idea for my back blade.

 

[John0829]

I'm stealing this idea

 

[cqaigy2]

That's neat looking.

 

[WranglerX]

Very good...

 

[Aquamoose]

Nice, clean job - Aquamoose. Did you actually get enough snow there in DP to try out the blade?? I got a skinny inch here yesterday.

Yessir, about 4”.

 

[Buggs67]

Nice job. Very clean and professional looking.

Tilt was more important to me so I used my available hydulics for an adjustable tilt.

 

[ning]

I'm starting to get the notion that having 3 remotes would be a good idea.
Could one steal a loader connection for this? Perhaps even a loader 3rd function to keep the bucket useable for gravel/dirt?

 

[Doughknob]

Yep, nice. But where did u have to go to add that?

 

[Russ5160]

How much for the cylinder?

 

[Aquamoose]

I'm starting to get the notion that having 3 remotes would be a good idea.
Could one steal a loader connection for this? Perhaps even a loader 3rd function to keep the bucket useable for gravel/dirt?

It may be more feasible to put a diverter valve on one of the outlets in my opinion.

 

[Aquamoose]

Yep, nice. But where did u have to go to add that?

How much for the cylinder?

surpluscenter.com

It was $119.50.

9-12229-10 1.5X10X1 DA HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SWIVEL EYES 119.50

It wasn’t easy to find the right configuration since I wanted the base to stay fixed on the centerline and had to find the sweet spot for the other end so it would replicate the same configuration as if I was doing it manually. My measurements were literally down to the 1/16th of an inch to dial it in just right.

Hoses were customized to length by Spokane House of Hoses. Just wished I had factored in a spot for the restrictor valve.

 

[ning]

I'm envisioning some sort of visual device that you can use to tell at a glance from the seat if the blade is perpendicular. Maybe a fixed window with a colored carousel attached to the pivot and you can see a particular color in the window indicating 0°

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
Hoses were customized to length by Spokane House of Hoses. Just wished I had factored in a spot for the restrictor valve.

Aquamoose, very nice work!

Rather than mounting an adjustable restrictor valve, I'd just throw in an $8 restrictor fitting from TSC: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restricted-orifice-8mp-8fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

It'll thread in line with what you have, and slow the cylinder response time way down.

The one I linked to is 1/2" NPT. Can't tell from your pic, but if you used 3/8" hose, they have one for 3/8" NPT as well: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restrictor-orifice-6mp-6fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Aquamoose]

I'm envisioning some sort of visual device that you can use to tell at a glance from the seat if the blade is perpendicular. Maybe a fixed window with a colored carousel attached to the pivot and you can see a particular color in the window indicating 0°

Or a magnetic sensor similar to those used for roll up doors? Sky’s the limit for anyone but for me, I just look back & observe. Besides, I like to watch my handiwork in operation.

 

[Aquamoose]

Aquamoose, very nice work!

Rather than mounting an adjustable restrictor valve, I'd just throw in an $8 restrictor fitting from TSC: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restricted-orifice-8mp-8fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

It'll thread in line with what you have, and slow the cylinder response time way down.

The one I linked to is 1/2" NPT. Can't tell from your pic, but if you used 3/8" hose, they have one for 3/8" NPT as well: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restrictor-orifice-6mp-6fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

BRILLIANT!!!!!! Thank you! I’m going to order one!

 

[Thomas]

Nice...very nicely done.

 

[RjCorazza]

Aquamoose, very nice work!

Rather than mounting an adjustable restrictor valve, I'd just throw in an $8 restrictor fitting from TSC: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restricted-orifice-8mp-8fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

It'll thread in line with what you have, and slow the cylinder response time way down.

The one I linked to is 1/2" NPT. Can't tell from your pic, but if you used 3/8" hose, they have one for 3/8" NPT as well: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...restrictor-orifice-6mp-6fpxr-tsc?cm_vc=-10005

I know very little about hydraulics. Does the restrictor need to be on a particular line going to a double acting cylinder, or does one restrictor on either hose work?
This thread reminded me that I want to slow down the angling of my Land Pride blade.

 

[LD1]

How big/heavy is the tractor and how wide is the blade.

It's a nice fab job....but be careful with it. Real possibility of blowing a hose if you snag something with the edge of the blade with such a small cylinder.