Loader Mounted Blade Build

[easygo]

I think you have a fair chance that you will bend the blade at the exact point where you welded that hydraulic cylinder mount. It will be an easy fix though to add some "beef" to that.

Other then that I would use trip springs.........:thumbsup:
:laughing:

 

[wvpolekat]

I did just take a closer look at some of the pictures.

I do see a potential problem.

It has to do with your cylinder mounting, or more precisely, how close it is to the center pivot of the blade.
Since you already have it built, try it and see how it performs. But if I becomes an issue, I'd go to a longer cylinder that way you can move the pivot fathrer from the king-pin. And a larger diameter cylinder will help as well.

Point taken, but I happen to have that cylinder laying around. So, I used what I had. I did intentionally run it into a stump at the furthest corner enough to significantly flex the blade with no apparent ill effects.

I think we are done with snow for the season. But, the project just happened to come together when it did. Will be ready for next winter. It will be a work in progress I am sure.

 

[zmansmac]

Mark,

Looks like a nice job. Happy to see that I inspired you and I hope this design works as well for you.:thumbsup: I sent you a separate PM about Easygo's concern and he is absolutely correct. To connect my angle cylinder to the blade I used a piece of 3/4 stock, 3 inches wide. I thought this was substantial welding it directly to my 6 foot Land Pride blade which is 1/4 inch thick. But at some point I bent the blade with the angle cylinder. So as I mentioned in the PM you would do well to first weld a larger plate on your blade at this point to stiffen it and spread the load especially since it appears your blade is even wider and perhaps not as thick. To address the other remarks about the gauge wheels, I have them to plow the gravel part of my driveway without tearing it up. I can also plow a path back to the mulch pile for my wife without tearing up the "grass". The gauge wheels were placed to allow the edge of the blade to be as much as one inch off the surface. And I can tell anyone from experience after several replacements/repairs that if you want to use gauge wheels on a project you're better off spending a few more bucks and getting the solid rubber tires.

JohnZ
B7500

 

[wvpolekat]

Ok, I will look at beefing up where it attaches to the blade as well as a relief of some sort.

But.... The powers that be smiled on me today and we got enough snow to plow!

It works very well in about 2 inches of VERY wet slush. I was able to do most of it in 2wd.

Only issue is the tilt that I knew of before hand. But when angled to the right, it cancels most of it out. But, it still needs to be able to float to conform with the road. Once that is addressed, I will be pleased.

Over the last week or so, I have been carefully watching my road for any possible danger spots and identified 3. None very bad. It was able to glide over them with no issue.

It is fairly sensitive to "curl" angle and that greatly impacts how well the snow rolls off the side.

 

[easygo]

I think your project is interesting and will work quite well once you work out the kinks and get used to what is the best way to use it. Besides when the snow melts you can convert it back to a rear blade and fix the trouble spots in your road.

 

[blueriver]

Is it just me ?? I still haven't been able to review the pictures ... they are BIG and I can't resize them, I have to scroll right to see them and then back left ...

 

[wvpolekat]

Images have been resized to 1024x768. Sorry about that.

Anyhow. Started work on the rotational float assembly. At least as much as I could do at lunch. Which wasn't much.

First, I cut the "stub" off the loader beam.

The picture shows the 2" round bar where it will live and the blade will rotate:

Here it is with the remainder of the stub slid over the round bar. I still need to clean up the cut to make sure things move smoothly:

Still to come:
The round bar will be welded to the blade side of the stub and then I will do something to keep it from pulling out of the portion in the loader beam.

I there will also be a tab welded on the portion of the round bar between the sections of the stub. I will use that with chain to limit how much it can rotate.

Will more than likely fill the the moving part with grease as well.

 

[wvpolekat]

I had to quickly scab it back together because of unexpected snow in the forecast. It piviots, but I am not real happy with it right now, needs more refinement.