PowerTrac Customizations

MossRoad · Mar 6, 2002

Yeah, I'll have to admit to a gouge or two in the garage walls in the first few days. That articualtion is kind of tricky in tight quarters, but every day it gets easier. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MChalkley · Mar 6, 2002

Charlie - You're pretty good. I've broken a lot of stuff in my time, but I don't recall ever breaking an anvil! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Mar 7, 2002

<font color=red>I've broken a lot of stuff in my time, but I don't recall ever breaking an anvil!</font color=red>

Something to aspire to.

[Actually, they're easy to break - you drop them on a concrete floor. Move your feet smartly after release.]

MossRoad · Mar 10, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

Popped off my snow plow and popped on my forks. Went behind the garage and dug out my old 5' 3pt hitch box blade scraper. Wanted to see if it is too heavy for the PT425. I tossed it around like a toy, so I brought it up to the garage. I'm going to weld on the quick attach plate later this week and try it out in the garden. I'm only going to weld two beads, one on each side, for testing. If the PT seems able to handle it, I'll finish welding it on all the way around.

Pics WILL follow! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Mar 10, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

Guys with top 'n tilt brag about the value of tilting the box blade horizontally. Of course, mounting a swiveling quick attach and a cylinder to tilt it would only be just a little more work, right? Then maybe make it so it will tilt the snow blade, too ... and then ...

MossRoad · Mar 10, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

Now the tilting action of top and tilt is already built in with the dumping action of the PT425's front end loader arms and dumping mechanism. But how would I get it to tip horizontally?

That would require some sort of big pin arrangement...similar to what is on top of my mower, yes? And then some sort of frame and hydraulic cylinder to provide the tilt action.

Oh, man... this project just got un-simplified. Is horizontal tipping of the box blade really worth it? I'll have to investigate further!

JATO_RaT · Mar 10, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

Or you could find out who makes 6N1 buckets in your area. Highway construction folks use it to dump gravel etc. in trenches etc.

Charlie_Iliff · Mar 11, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

MossRoad:
Worth it? The project is to be evaluated only within itself, not whether the product actually does something. And there was a convincing thread some time back with the core theme that box blades are worthless in all applications, and only continue to exist so experienced tractor types can abuse newbies -- sort of like mechanical snipe hunts.
On my list for down the road is a swivel adapter. Your post may move it up the list, but I do have a little fence and farm work that seems to interfere with the modifications.
But, think of this:
Many of us have an old axle or two around. On a trailer, the stub axle often has a four bolt flange, that would easily weld to a PT quick attach plate. The wheel hub would provide plenty of attach methods for the implement. Then all you need is a couple of pieces of bar, channel, etc. and a hydraulic cylinder.
Of course, the geometry has to be set so you can turn it a bit more than 90 degrees, so when you fabricate your grapple, you can pick up a post from horizontal and lift it vertical, and then maybe we can put together a TBN group buy of solenoid valves...

MossRoad · Mar 11, 2002

Re: PowerTrac Customizations 3pt 5\' Box Blade Mod

Hey, I measured my 5' box blade this morning and it is 6'. It must have expanded over the last few years. Now I'm still going to have to see if the PT425 can pull it through the soil /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif