My plow mount thread...

[beenthere]

The bracket is to mount the quick hitch front end they make for the 2305. Then that can be used for the plow, snowblower or sweeper..

Yeah Luckly the 2305 doesn't stand as tall as yours, so the brack will almost be the perfect hieght..

For my front plow on the 4300, I used the Deere plates that are for the front bail to hold the belly mower forward.
My plates stay put too. Built the bracket to slip into the 'hooks' and then tilt it up to bolt to the front weight bracket with two bolts.

A pic of the hitch during fabrication, and with primer paint.

 

[jd2305cd]

New spring loaded pins came in, hopefully i can get out to the shop and start welding things up today...

Pins are heavy duty, 3/4 pin...

 

[jd2305cd]

Well 3/4" had way too much slop in the bracket. Really need 13/16", but hard to find and no metal shops open near me on the weekends. Called up my cuz, he had an old torsion bar off his race car. Brought it over, cut it to size and going to use the lathe to turn it down in two spots, the bar is 1", so need to take her down. Should work out great..

 

[jd2305cd]

Stop by my friends house played with the lathe, came out good. Its a perfect fit for the brackets now, even played with the Knurling tool.

 

[jd2305cd]

Got a bunch done today..

Holes drilled for the pin, the bigger hole for the milled down bar.

 

[jd2305cd]

The cross bracing for the mount all cut to size.. Will be used to attach the plow and for the hydraulics..

 

[jd2305cd]

Getting it all clamped up and ready for tack welding.. The plates sprung open a lil so had to use the bar clamp to bring it back into the same width.

 

[jd2305cd]

All welded up, this is where i start to see that i didn't have thing quite how I would have liked them, LIKE SQUARE... GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[jd2305cd]

So for those of you don't know how this works here goes.. First you slide the round bar into the slot. The part that's milled down to 13/16..

Front shot, with the bar in the slot..

Side shot with the bar in the slot..

Then you slide the front up and let the pins go into the the holes on both sides. Don't mind the ugly welds!!

 

[jd2305cd]

Fits like a glove, locks in place awesome. Really happy with how it locks and fits. I am not happy with how I didn't take the time to line it up right (square).. Now will have to shim things when welding the plow mount and the hydraulics arm..

In the front shot you can see i am about 3/8 inch off on the bottom cross bar, not sure how i managed to do this.

Front shot..

Heres's a side shot..

 

[jd2305cd]

Enough pictures for you all??

 

[Willl]

Awesome pics.

If your not happy with the squareness, grind your welds and redo.

 

[beenthere]

Looking good. Pics are a bit blurry, out-of focus....maybe phone camera?

Myself, I wouldn't trust the spring-loaded pins to hold the hitch in place.

And for the crook built in, I'd sugest taking the time now to blow the welds off and re-weld them straight.
You will enjoy your hitch much, much better in the long run.

 

[jd2305cd]

Thanks...

Yeah I am thinking about breaking out the grinder, but not sure yet.. Its not going to mess anything up, just looks crooked.. As for the pictures some are off the camera phone others arn't.

John deere uses those spring load pins in their setup, so figured they'd work for me..

 

[jd2305cd]

Got back out there tonight, took apart the rest of the mount.. Stubborn mother, rusted pretty good..

 

[jd2305cd]

Got things centered and where i wanted them and welded her on.

One of my welds, I am a self taught welder, so take it easy on me.. Advice is alway welcome though. I think i am at the limits of my lincoln 140..

 

[jd2305cd]

Some extra support, piece of an old harbor freight trailer frame that i hacked up for my log splitter project..

Cuttin the angles..

Both done.

Paint removed and ready to be welded, this is where i stopped for the night..

 

[Team_Green]

Looking real nice. i re read twice, i didn't see where ya said how wide your blade is.

 

[jd2305cd]

Sorry Forgot to post that, its just shy of 7 foot... 6'10"

 

[beenthere]

Looking like great progress, and bet you are hoping for some snow soon.
Where are you located?