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Angle Snowplow Blade Manually NEW VIDEO ADDED

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:03 pm
by Winfield Dave
This came about because I started plowing snow with my newest Cub, Hercules.
And realized very quickly that getting off and on to change the angle of the blade was for the birds.
I didn't want to spend the money or the time to install the hydraulic angling system some have on their plows,
so I started thinking about alternatives.
Being able to pull a cable to raise the pin, swivel the blade and drop the pin, all from from the driver's seat.
Here is one way to make snow plowing more enjoyable at a very low cost.

The hardest part of this project was the spring loaded pin (latch).
I tried to buy a pre-made one like this http://www.harborfreight.com/spring-gate-latch-assembly-95018.html
HB latch.jpg

but the pin is only 1/2", not 5/8" like the typical blade pin.
You may want to go this route - it is a sloppy fit - but it makes the hole alignment easier.

So, I ended up making a latch. [There may be a latch available to purchase, I didn't want to spend the time looking]
Since there wasn't any tube or channel around our place, I formed a bracket from 1/4" steel.
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Found a spring, cut a piece of 5/8" diameter rod and added a roll pin.
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I figured on having 1-1/4" of rod protrude below the bracket into the blade holes.
Then welded a piece of a chain link that was lying on the table for a loop.
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Tack welded it in place...This is a very tricky part....Hole alignment is critical.
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I actually cut mine off and re-tacked it in a slightly different location.
It would be a good idea to check the bushing in your pivot bolt...this helps with hole clearances.
Also, the holes can be slightly off depending on whether the blade is suspended or lying on the ground.
After I was final welded, I ran a 5/8" drill bit thru the bracket into all of my holes.
Latch complete.
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You may want to use one of these if you don't want to fab your own pin http://www.harborfreight.com/easy-grip-hitch-pin-91306.html
pin.jpg


Rick P. or one of the other talented gents here may refine this idea and fabricate and sell a ready-made bolt-it-on latch with mounting slots for easier adjustment in lining up with your holes....hint, hint.

Then I went looking for some parts for the pulley.
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My pulley wouldn't slide over a 1/2" bolt...But there was a bolt on the workbench that had threads messed up at the end.
So I ground it down to slide thru the pulley.
Here it is all assembled.
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I had briefly tested the latch [spring-loaded pin assembly] with nylon rope and it seemed to work fine.
But the next day I wasn't happy with the amount of stretch in the rope, so off to the barn to scrounge.
I found a coated metal cable from an old dog run we had. This worked out better.

Still needed to come up with a handle to pull on the cable. And how to anchor it.
Thought about making some sort of lever mounted to the steering post, but there was about a 4" difference in the length of the cable
between the blade in the raised position and the fully lowered position.

I replaced the bolt thru the steering post with an eyebolt. Can you guess what it was from?
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Found an old mop handle attached it to the end of the cable.
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Routed the rest of the cable.
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It works really well.
Below are some videos of the final testing...Pushing against a tree stump [no snowbanks available] to swivel the blade.
It also will swivel by dragging on the ground and turning the wheels one way or the other.





I hope you benefit from this little project. It was fun and it helps keep me in the seat - for more seat time !!

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:28 pm
by Bill Hudson
Dave,

Very well done. I'm continually amazed at the level of creativity, both individually and collectively, that resides on this forum.

Bill

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:29 pm
by EarlyCub49
Neat setup, Some people will do anything to get more seat time. :tractor:
Now, all you need is some SNOW,SNOW, and more snow.
Great job Dave. :thumbsup:

Bruce T.

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:58 pm
by Rick Prentice
Simple and slick. Well done Dave

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:11 pm
by Barnyard
I reckon I will need to do this to mine now too. Thanks Dave.

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:13 pm
by Cecil
Great job. As mentioned I think you could hook it to the depth lever also.

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:34 pm
by Rudi
Dave:

I wasn't exactly sure how this was going to turn out. I figured it was going to be neat.. but this goes beyond neat.. it is kinda cool :!: :D 8) Very nice job an thanks for documenting it. I copied it to the How To Forum -- as another one of the How I Did That kind of posts....., locked it and it is now in safely in the In The Barn section of the CBoK Index with the other Cub-54 modifications.

Well done, it is really slick. :D

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:38 pm
by Bill E Bob
Simply elegant :!: Involves just enough fabrication to make it interesting (without $$$$$ in machine tools required) and it is an inexpensive major improvement. Question: How far out can you have an adjustable axle before it starts interfering with needed blade angle :?:

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:30 pm
by Bob McCarty
Very nice job Dave. By the way, did you ever get that stump pushed over? :lol:

Bob

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:21 am
by Winfield Dave
Bill E Bob wrote: Question: How far out can you have an adjustable axle before it starts interfering with needed blade angle :?:

Bill...my axle is out pretty far...doesn't hit it...others will probably chime in today.

Bob McCarty wrote:Very nice job Dave. By the way, did you ever get that stump pushed over? :lol: Bob

Bob...I actually did a test of swiveling the blade by dragging it on the ground, but didn't video it.

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:40 am
by Virginia Mike
Well done!

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:01 am
by Rick Prentice
I replaced the bolt thru the steering post with an eyebolt. Can you guess what it was from?

I hope you didn't snatch that off the neighbor's swingset :D

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:12 am
by Winfield Dave
Rick Prentice wrote:
I replaced the bolt thru the steering post with an eyebolt. Can you guess what it was from?

I hope you didn't snatch that off the neighbor's swingset :D

Rick...YOU have the correct answer and win the contest.... and maybe a calendar...Oh wait, no calendars here. :lol:

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:38 am
by Groove Critter
Nice job Dave,

I think it should be called the "Winfield" cold weather seat time increaser. What do you think?

Really nice work, it is always nice to see the birth of an idea turn into a success!!!
Dave

Re: Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:29 pm
by RI Cub
Thanks for posting the pics and video Dave, that really came out neat. :{_}: :{_}: :{_}:

I love to see the video, it really shows how well it works,

Dave