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Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Got a project that you are working on that is not a tractor? Maybe a barn to hold your tractors or just fun stuff like woodworking, glass, tools, sheds, gardens, custom implements, etc., this is the place to talk about it.
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Winfield Dave
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 3556
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:31 pm
Zip Code: 17953
Tractors Owned: ......Almost enough.
N3NIK
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: PA, Middleport (Schuylkill County)

Angle Snowplow Blade Manually

Postby Winfield Dave » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:03 pm

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.
Image
Found a spring, cut a piece of 5/8" diameter rod and added a roll pin.
Image
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.
Image
Tack welded it in place...This is a very tricky part....Hole alignment is critical.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Image

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?
Image
Image

Found an old mop handle attached it to the end of the cable.
Image

Routed the rest of the cable.
Image
Image

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 !!
Dave
"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth." -- Napoleon Hill

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