Frontier loader blade question

KB9UDE · Feb 23, 2011

I have a Frontier loader blade and wondered if anyone has a solution for my problem. I like to run blade in float mode but it seems like the bracket that hooks on loader arms wants to go down and get really close to the ground. I was thinking about welding some skid shoes on that mount??? What do you all think? Am I wrong running it in float?

Sharp Ranches · Feb 24, 2011

I have a similar setup using the Frontier AF-11G snow plow blade on a 563SL loader. You are correct in running your blade in the "float" setting to follow the contour of the terrain you're plowing else you will experience blade tripping or surface cutting. Since your blade already has skid shoes that appear (from the picture) to be set high enough, I think you need to try rolling your blade forward a little more. This will elevate the FEL's mounting frame higher off the surface so that it doesn't drag on the ground (or plowed snow). When set properly you should not need to add skid shoes to the FEL's mounting frame.

Glen Watkins · Feb 24, 2011

Do like Sharp says. If you have it rolled back far enough to drag the back of the frame then its to far back. I can't run mine in float because it picks the front axle off the ground when I do.

Dutch445 · Feb 24, 2011

keep in mind if you change that angle like suggested,
you may want to re adjust your skid shoes up a bit.
it depends on how close you want that edge to the
surface of the ground.

(with a little experience, you can use that angle
adjustment to change your blades performance,
from gliding on the shoes to scraping )

KB9UDE · Feb 24, 2011

I have tried adjusting the angle as suggested. I think I need to find more spacer washers for the skid shoes. As Dutch said when you angle it changes how the blade works with the skid shoes.

Dutch445 · Feb 24, 2011

I would think "float" mode should only affect the loader
height, not bucket curl, so using "float" shouldn't cause
this problem.
are you able to "dump" the blade forward with
the bucket control and have it maintain that angle?

AGGIE00 · Feb 25, 2011

Other than snow I'm suprised anyone finds this to be a useful tool. Because the blade is so far out in front of the machine, every dip and bump would exagerate the cutting edge so much that it would almost be impossible to make grade. If its used to knock down dirt a simple bucket would do the same job. Running it on float only follows the terrain and makes it work like a drag and if that is the objective I would think a boxblade or land plane would work much better.

Glen Watkins · Feb 25, 2011

Its a snow blade and yes you could make it rigid to knock a little dirt around. It is not a dozer!

KB9UDE · Feb 25, 2011

One thing I found this front blade to be amazingly suited for is backfilling a trench. This past year we built a new 64x40 pole barn and trenched in the electric, water, and commmunications cables. After everything was installed I used the supplied "ridgid" rods to replace the trip springs and backfilled the trenches. If using a rear blade I would have been driving on the dirt before it was pushed into the trench.
I don't have any pics but it worked great.