BradKahler 250 #126 Posted January 24 Like most of the country, we are expecting a fair amount of snow over the ext day and a half. I've been busy on other tasks for the last month or so, but this morning I took the time to finish installing the dozer blade on the B80. I've never plowed snow before with a tractor so it should be an interesting next few days I do have a question on the blade lift mechanism. Right now when I pull the lever all the way back, the blade will lock in place and raised off the ground by around 4" or so. I can lower the blade all the way to the ground but there doesn't seem to be anyway to be able to lock the blade height anywhere I want it. Did I possibly install something wrong? Or is this the way it's supposed to operate? Here it is, ready for the snow (Keeping the battery maintained with a float charger) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 24,581 #127 Posted January 24 This knob right here on the left is what sets how low your blade will go. I always let mine just drop fully down. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #128 Posted January 24 1 minute ago, Sparky said: This knob right here on the left is what sets how low your blade will go. I always let mine just drop fully down. Ok, thanks. So technically you can limit how for down it drops, but you can't keep it from "floating". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,130 #129 Posted January 24 1 hour ago, BradKahler said: Ok, thanks. So technically you can limit how for down it drops, but you can't keep it from "floating". if you have a solid lift link you can put some down pressure just by pushing on lift handle but thats about it. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #130 Posted January 24 8 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said: if you have a solid lift link you can put some down pressure just by pushing on lift handle but thats about it. Yes, it's a solid link, maybe about 5" long with two pins. Thanks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 12,742 #131 Posted January 24 The short link only reaches to the lift arm. You still can't apply down pressure due to the chain lifting the lift arm. You need to whip up a long link to do that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,130 #132 Posted January 24 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Racinbob said: The short link only reaches to the lift arm. You still can't apply down pressure due to the chain lifting the lift arm. You need to whip up a long link to do that. I belive he has the soild link and no chain if I understood right. I just reread post and I may have misunderstood. Edited January 24 by sqrlgtr 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #133 Posted January 24 1 hour ago, Racinbob said: The short link only reaches to the lift arm. You still can't apply down pressure due to the chain lifting the lift arm. You need to whip up a long link to do that. There was no chain on the tractor when I got it. There is a solid link, but it's a round bar not a flat bar as shown in the picture. I don't know if the round bar is original or if someone replaced the chain with it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 12,742 #134 Posted January 25 (edited) Round or flat is fine. The problem with how yours is connected is that the only floating you'll have with a mower deck mounted will also move the lift arm. You need the deck to float. The longer lift link bypasses the horizontal lift arm and goes from the blade directly to the upper arm. Sometimes there's some interference with that horizontal arm when the blade is attached. It's ease to remove it for the winter or, in my case, year around. I have a tractor dedicated to the blade. Edited January 25 by Racinbob 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #135 Posted January 25 2 hours ago, Racinbob said: Round or flat is fine. The problem with how yours is connected is that the only floating you'll have with a mower deck mounted will also move the lift arm. You need the deck to float. The longer lift link bypasses the horizontal lift arm and goes from the blade directly to the upper arm. Sometimes there's some interference with that horizontal arm when the blade is attached. It's ease to remove it for the winter or, in my case, year around. I have a tractor dedicated to the blade. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know if the round rod is an original Wheel Horse item or is it owner modified? This B80 did come with a mower deck although all of the spindles were frozen and it was missing the back wall of the deck. The seller told me it was mainly used for snow plowing, but it did come with the mule drive installed. However the mule drive was non-functional when I got it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 12,742 #136 Posted January 25 I think I misled you. Looking closer at your picture it looks like the round upper rod is going through a trunnion and there's probably a nut on the end. This allows the rod to slip through the trunnion which allows the floating action. That's how my 76 B-80 came from the factory. Some years later they started using a section of chain but I don't know when. In any case you need to get around that to get down pressure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #137 Posted January 25 7 minutes ago, Racinbob said: I think I misled you. Looking closer at your picture it looks like the round upper rod is going through a trunnion and there's probably a nut on the end. This allows the rod to slip through the trunnion which allows the floating action. That's how my 76 B-80 came from the factory. Some years later they started using a section of chain but I don't know when. In any case you need to get around that to get down pressure. You are correct. At first I thought it was threaded, but its not. Here is a better picture. I'll go ahead and fabricate a longer flat bar. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,130 #138 Posted January 25 (edited) 12 minutes ago, BradKahler said: You are correct. At first I thought it was threaded, but its not. Here is a better picture. I'll go ahead and fabricate a longer flat bar. you might possibly use another nut under trunnion and effectively make it a solid link. Probably lose a 1/2" of length on round rod though. Edited January 25 by sqrlgtr 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #139 Posted January 25 14 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said: you might possibly use another nut under trunnion and effectively make it a solid link. Probably lose a 1/2" of length on round rod though. Yep, it's a good short term fix that should get me through the weekend Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 12,742 #140 Posted January 26 20 hours ago, BradKahler said: Yep, it's a good short term fix that should get me through the weekend Thanks! You'd need to run the threads further or lose lift height. You could move the trunnion to one of the forward holes to regain that but lifting that center lift bar too much will cause it to hit the steering gear support. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradKahler 250 #141 Posted January 26 8 hours ago, Racinbob said: You'd need to run the threads further or lose lift height. You could move the trunnion to one of the forward holes to regain that but lifting that center lift bar too much will cause it to hit the steering gear support. Thanks for the suggestion. Yesterday mid morning I started up the tractor, opened the shop overhead door and proceeded to drive out of the shop. As soon as I dropped the blade I came to almost an immediate stop. Turns out we didn't really have much snow, it was 2" of snow and sleet, with emphasis on the sleet. It was so dense the tractor couldn't get any traction. Back at the house I got the snow shovel out and tried to scoop the driveway and gave up almost immediately. Trying to scoop 2" of almost pure water doesn't work to well. I don't know that I have ever seen a mixture of snow and ice almost 2" thick that was mostly ice and water. This morning everything was frozen and found out I could walk on water.... Anyway I now have time to make a proper long link for lifting the blade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
