Loader arm shovel bracket

Rch · May 28, 2001

Here are 4 photos of a loader arm shovel bracket that took me about 2 hrs to make including a trip to Fleet-Farm for long stainless steel wormgear clamps. On the last photo (Bolens) are the old style brackets I originally used that are for hanging shovels etc on the wall. They were too flimsy and a branch would pull the shovel off the tractor and I'd run over it. Also, the shovel would tend to come loose from the squeeze brackets if the loader arms were nearly vertical and bouncing along.
I used !/8" thick steel stock, 3/4" wide and the spring as shown. I told my wife I thought it was "elegant" with the ease of placing the shovel in and out. She assured me she knew what elegance was and this was too big and looked clunky ! I think I said something about function over form. I need to make a second one for the Bolens and I'm wondering how to make it more "elegant "

RCH<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Rch on 05/28/01 12:33 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

pfoxy · May 29, 2001

Looks like a good idea. One question: What keeps the shovel from sliding out to the front? As far as "elegant", slap some matching paint on it... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Rch · May 29, 2001

pfoxy, the loader arm, in use, is tilted up and so far that doesn't seem to happen. The end of the fiberglass handle on the shovel has a black foam grip that resists sliding in that white PVC pipe recepticle. Also, the white PVC recepticle can be misaligned outward slightly so the handle of the shovel binds a little when the shank of the handle rests in its final position. I can fashion a non-slip surface for the handle to ride on at the bottom of the new clamp if needed.

RCH

JOR_EL · Jun 19, 2001

Hi Ray /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ,

More "elegant"? I'm not sure about that, but less clunky?, ...here goes:

Throw away the long extension spring. in its place put a retainer-bar only as long(high) as the top of the "hook" around the shovel handle, which pivots/is fastened at the bottom.

Cut off the long spring-support arm at the same height as the shovel hook and the retainer bar. Let's call this shortened piece the spring-mount.

Use a COMPRESSION spring between the retainer and the spring mount, to provide the sideways-pressure now provided by your long spring.

Now you have the same "elegant" function, with a much more compact assembly. (all that up-in-the-air spring-support is gone).

For that final touch of "class" that will have your wife swooning(no doubt /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif ), turn your shovel over so the tip points down . Tres Chic!!

Voila! Smaller, sleeker, and less catch-on-limbsy.

HTH! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Larry

Rch · Jun 20, 2001

JOR_EL, I am going to make another bracket for my Bolens tractor and I'll try your suggestion. The hinge point and bracket will have to be heavier to keep the compressing spring in line and not 'ponging' out of there and to prevent the forces from distorting the bracket. The current bracket metal is not all that stiff.

RCH

Anonymous Poster · Jun 26, 2001

Instead of all the springs and clamps, why not use a piece of U-channel. That way it can be welded to the arm and you can drill the flange area for a pin. I used this method to make a rops holder for my weedeater, that way it's always with the mower.