Mount for JD 54" blade on my BX2230

BravoXray · Nov 16, 2022

I spent a while this afternoon measuring the 54" JD blade attachment and the front of the BX frame to see how I could fabricate a mount. Drew up a cardboard template to check for fitment, and made a sketch, then this evening I used TinkerCad to draw the mount as it should look.
With this mount, I don't have to use the JD 430 mount at all, as it will bolt to the front of the BX frame, and with the blade removed it should be able to be left on with the MMM and FEL on the tractor. I'll be able to use the FEL control valve to operate the lift and tilt on the JD blade, I'll just need hoses and quick couplers to connect it.
I'll take the drawing and template to the Amish fab shop tomorrow and have them make the parts, and I'll weld it up. I think I'll have them blast and powder coat the blade Kubota orange and the mount dark gray once I get the mount built and fit up.

NHBX · Nov 18, 2022

BravoXray said:
With this mount, I don't have to use the JD 430 mount at all, as it will bolt to the front of the BX frame, and with the blade removed it should be able to be left on with the MMM and FEL on the tractor.

Best feature of the project

IMHO

BravoXray · May 28, 2023

Well, it's been quite a while, but I have finally gotten around to doing some more work on this project. I had a local fab shop cut the steel pieces for the adapter, and they even tack welded them together. I ended up cutting the pieces apart so I could get the side pieces fit to the frame on the BX so I can drill holes to match the existing holes and mark the frame for drilling three new holes on each side to attach the side members. I had to do some grinding to clearance for welds on the bottom of the frame and grind off one weld glob on the right side at the motor mount, but the side members fit pretty well now. I need to drill the three 1/2" holes on each side of the frame and take the mount for the grille guard off so I can fit the plate that goes at the front of the frame. I'll tack weld it to the sides, mark the four existing holes in the front of the frame that I'll be using and drill them out.
I have tie downs bolted on each side, and I may just make new eyes and weld them to the side members, rather than bolting them back on, making just two plates to bolt through instead of three.

And yes, sometimes I don't know my left from my right.

franklin2 · May 29, 2023

I saw a guy once buy a aftermarket universal front blade mount for a John Deere 750 compact tractor. He ran a repair shop and was hired to mount this blade. He added a long piece of square tubing to the front mount, ran it all the way under the tractor to the rear where he put a pin in it to the drawbar. He said it helps take the strain off the engine bellhousing.

BravoXray · May 29, 2023

franklin2 said:
I saw a guy once buy a aftermarket universal front blade mount for a John Deere 750 compact tractor. He ran a repair shop and was hired to mount this blade. He added a long piece of square tubing to the front mount, ran it all the way under the tractor to the rear where he put a pin in it to the drawbar. He said it helps take the strain off the engine bellhousing.

The BX 's engine is not part of the structure, and is mounted on four rubber mounts. The Kubota mount for a front mounted blade or snow blower mounts to roughly the same area on the front of the frame as my mount will.

BravoXray · Jun 2, 2023

Worked on the adapter some more this afternoon. I had gotten the six new 1/2" holes drilled in the frame on Wednesday, that wasn't too bad of a job except for breaking a new 1/2" drill bit when it caught just as it was about to break through. I was using a DeWalt 1/2" drill that has a LOT of torque and when it caught, it flipped out of my hands and wedged against the front tire, that help the trigger on. I had to scramble and unplug it, YIKES!
Grabbed another bit and finished the holes with no other problems.
The fab shop had tacked to mount together, but I needed the side brackets loose so I could test mount them to the frame, so I ground off the welds and cleaned them up.
I put the side brackets on and had to ream one hole on each side just a tiny bit so all three bolts went in on both sides. With them bolted up, I put the front plate in position, fortunately it fit snugly, so I marked the four holes that bolt it to the front of the frame. Got those drilled out and it fit to the frame with only one hole needing a little reaming.
Since I am going to have the mount powder coated, I knew I would have to space the side brackets and the front away from the frame to allow for the thickness of the coating, so I made some shims out of some .030" thick plastic and bolted all three pieces on so I could weld them together. Got that done, and it was time to pack it in for the day. I'll probably finish welding it up tomorrow.

BravoXray · Jun 5, 2023

Been working on the blade adapter the last few days, and I'm getting close to having it finished, as far as fabrication is concerned. Assembled the sides and front on the tractor and welded them up. Pulled it off and got the other pieces welded on, although looking at it most of the welds really suck. When I only get to do little more than a few tack welds every several month or so, my welding skill go to hell, so cut me some slack.

Today I made a couple of eyes for attaching straps or chains when trailering the tractor and welded them on. Those welds actually look pretty fair for a change.
I still have to mount two pieces of 1 3/4" tube for the brush guard to slip into, and I'm still puzzling over just how to do that. Once I get those on and do another test fit, I'll drop it off at the powder coat shop to get it coated in Kubota dark gray. I may also actually mount the blade to it, just to make sure everything fits as it should and measure for new hoses to connect the lift and angle hydraulic cylinders to the BX's FEL valve.
The next to the last picture shows the JD blade mount for my 430 next to my mount.

BravoXray · Jun 8, 2023

Got the adapter fit to the blade today, had to grind about 1/16" off each side of the the tube that the pivot pin goes through as I made the adapter a tad too narrow. No big deal, half of what I round off was rust. I'm going to have to fab a couple of plates for the blade end of the mount for the hydraulic cylinder, as it doesn't look like it will lower all the way, and raises up way too high. I'll have to pick up a piece of 3/8" X 3" bar stock for that tomorrow.

BravoXray · Jun 10, 2023

I got the bar stock and made the two plates to extend the attach point for the lift cylinder on the A-frame. They came out great and should do the trick as near as I can tell. I also welded a brace in at the rear of the block where the plates attach since the cylinder is pulling and pushing at a point about 3" higher than before, giving it a lot more leverage. I also pulled to angle cylinder off and got the old JD hydraulic fluid out of it (and some of it on me) so it doesn't contaminate the BX's hydraulic system.
I think tomorrow I'll get the adapter mounted on the tractor and the blade attached to it so I can measure for new hydraulic hoses and maybe get an idea where to put a support for the hoses, as they will probably be five feet long or so.
Once that's done, I'll take it to be powder coated.

BravoXray · Jun 12, 2023

I got the adapter mounted on the BX today, and got the blade attached. Everything looks good to me.
Looked around and found that I have enough #5 hose and reuseable ends to make up all four hoses, probably tomorrow. I received the four female couplers from Messick's on Friday, so I should have everything I need to get it working.