Issue With ABI Land Plane ... I Think.

[wirlybird]

So I have a 6 foot ABI land plane. Got it hooked up recently to do some grading on an area where I removed a mobile home. Just basic dirt!
I thought the blades were set to be "flush" with the side skids. When I ran it I found it was taking quite a big cut out of the ground.

I went back to adjust the blades higher so there would be a gap between the skids and the blade height.
Essentially, I wanted the blades higher at first so I can run the plane around on the ground and only cut the very highest areas.
As I work the area I would lower the blades some to get a final smoothing of the area. I don't want it to dig in but just skim the surface to smooth the dirt out some.

What I find is the blades stick about a 1/2 inch or more below the level of the bottom of the skids and cannot adjust any higher. This really makes it act a little more like a box blade as it takes a pretty big and deep cut.
Maybe that is good for some things but not for what I was trying to do.

Are all land planes like this? Any suggestions? Thanks.

I may end up drilling new holes for the adjustment bolts to let the blades adjust up higher.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Sounds normal

 

[Tomtint]

Blades should be below the skids. And the front one should be a hair lower than the rear one

 

[thclimer]

Are your skid shoes ware plates that can be replaced? If so you could place wooden shims between them to essentially raise the cutting edge of the blades.

 

[Gordon Gould]

You could try lengthening your top link to lift the front a little so it will be less aggressive and act more like a drag.

gg

 

[oosik]

That is EXACTLY the way my Land Pride LPGS is. Blades are approximately half an inch below side skids when at their highest setting.

 

[dj1701]

I had the same problem. Land planes are great on hard packed driveways but tend to dig and fill up pretty easily when on softer surfaces. I shortened the top link to raise the back allowing the rear blade to distribute the dirt and not dig it. It works for me. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

Dave

 

[Gordon Gould]

I had the same problem. Land planes are great on hard packed driveways but tend to dig and fill up pretty easily when on softer surfaces. I shortened the top link to raise the back allowing the rear blade to distribute the dirt and not dig it. It works for me. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

Dave

I guess it depends on the geometry of your unit - ie length of skids and where the blades a placed along the skids. On most planes putting more pressure on the front blade makes it more aggressive.

gg

 

[wirlybird]

I had the same problem. Land planes are great on hard packed driveways but tend to dig and fill up pretty easily when on softer surfaces. I shortened the top link to raise the back allowing the rear blade to distribute the dirt and not dig it. It works for me. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

Dave

That's exactly it. Digs in a lot and loads/clogs up so no dirt really goes over the blades it just piles up like a box blade.

 

[oosik]

I use my lpgs - with scarifiers down - on my, hard as concrete, driveway. Scuff and fill potholes. I also use it to create trails out thru my property. Yes - it will load up with sod and dry grass. But just a short trip to the side and dump all the loaded up stuff. Then - back on the trail - and on I go. It's the easiest, fastest way I have to create trails out thru virgin land.