Snow X530 w/snow blade very, very poor lifting height

[W8BYA]

I have a 2 year old JD X530 with appropriate JD 48" front snow blade which will not lift higher than an inch off the ground when activated.

The blade even after installed by a JD dealer tech who was very knowledgable informed me that the blade travel height was limited by design. Operating the tractor with only 1" of blade lift has become VERY old VERY quick.

I have looked at the entire lifting mechanism train and agree that in it's given configuration, very little more can be done. I am considering extending one of the rotating lever arms to force the adjoining push-pull shaft greater travel thus causing greater lift. Has anyone had or seen this same issue and are there any solutions other than what I am thinking of doing ? Thanks GV

 

[Wrenchin]

Was the lift selector set at 0 zero before lift arm an turn buckles where adjusted??

 

[W8BYA]

As a matter of fact it was not. Thanks for mentioning that, will try to re-adjust this weekend.

 

[Wrenchin]

This is most likely your problem,your welcome let us know how you make out?

 

[W8BYA]

Well, can't thank you enough. Moving the cutting dial down to minimum (does not have a zero setting) bought me another 2" of vertical blade travel which, may not seem like a lot, but is WAY better than the 2" total I had before. This means I will at least be able to move around over some snow without pushing everything in front of me. Weird thing is, I re-read the blade manual and cannot see any mention of setting the dial to minimum which is maybe why I missed that step.

So now to move onto figuring out why my 3-cyl TC-25D New Holland will barely idle then stalls.....Sure hope it's not an injector pump or injectors :'(

Thanks again for your excellent advice.

 

[sparc]

I have a 2 year old JD X530 with appropriate JD 48" front snow blade which will not lift higher than an inch off the ground when activated.

The blade even after installed by a JD dealer tech who was very knowledgable informed me that the blade travel height was limited by design. Operating the tractor with only 1" of blade lift has become VERY old VERY quick.

I have looked at the entire lifting mechanism train and agree that in it's given configuration, very little more can be done. I am considering extending one of the rotating lever arms to force the adjoining push-pull shaft greater travel thus causing greater lift. Has anyone had or seen this same issue and are there any solutions other than what I am thinking of doing ? Thanks GV

I have an X534 with 47" snowblower and see the same thing, very little lift. It's been two years since I've needed the snowblower since we've had mild winters in 2011 and 2012, so I don't remember where I had the mower height set and I never gave it a thought that it would affect lift for the snowblower (or blade in your case).

If I mount it this year I will have to check that and see if it makes a difference.

Does your blade use the same quick attach that is used on the snowblower? Would be nice if I could easily switch from one ot the other. Most times a blade will do the job around here. But we usually get at least one 12" or better snow here and that presents a problem because I have no where to push that much snow to, hence the snowblower to throw it 45 feet over on the lawn.

 

[W8BYA]

The blade does attach with a JD quick mount of some kind but I can't tell you if it's the same one you use. BTW, just a couple days ago I got my TC-25D with loader and 6' rear blade running again so I think I'm ready for winter. But you know, even with the added 2" of blade travel on the JD it pales to the 12" or so travel I had on my ole Super Cub Cadet. Now that tractor with it's huge rear tires and a set of chains and front hydraulic blade was really unstoppable. I miss that ole beast.

 

[JungleBob]

I have an X530 with 47" snowblower .. I have an almost 5.5" rise on the front .. I make adjustments
on the adjustment arm when assembling the snowthrower to get the max lift.

 

[sd455dan]

Well, can't thank you enough. Moving the cutting dial down to minimum (does not have a zero setting) bought me another 2" of vertical blade travel which, may not seem like a lot, but is WAY better than the 2" total I had before. This means I will at least be able to move around over some snow without pushing everything in front of me. Weird thing is, I re-read the blade manual and cannot see any mention of setting the dial to minimum which is maybe why I missed that step.

So now to move onto figuring out why my 3-cyl TC-25D New Holland will barely idle then stalls.....Sure hope it's not an injector pump or injectors :'(

Thanks again for your excellent advice.

Probably also help if the blade gets hung up when pushing forward, that little extra lift can uncouple the blade so the tractor can back up.

 

[oldnslo]

On my X540 I try to adjust the blade so that it will go a little below grade and still lift a couple of inches. There is indeed limited travel so may take a couple of try’s to get it where you want.