Grading Skids on loader blade for plowing?

chelydra · Mar 2, 2005

Hi, all - I'm finally "official" here since taking delivery of a new CK20HST TLB. Really looking forward to spring thaw, when I can start putting it through its paces on dirt, rocks, logs and chips.

I didn't buy it for snow; no spare $$ for a blade or blower right now. had to try anyway, and found that it's great for clearing those icy mountains the town leaves at the end of my driveway. Loader blade too hard to control on both (broken up) paving and gravel driveways - or is there a trick? Floating the blade and tuning rake angle didn't seem to help.

I'm wondering, though, about mounting a couple of plow skids at the loader blade edge, then floating it almost vertical. Would that be good for snow? Any obvious problems?

Thanks for all the advice and support before buying; I'll be here more often now!

-Boston Baked Backhoe

Bowhunter · Mar 2, 2005

Welcome to the forum. I've seen a picture somewhere on TBN where a member had bolted a 2x4 to each side of his bucket and let it set about an inch below the bucket to keep the cutting edge from digging in. He ran the bucket horizontally.

Steve_Miller · Mar 2, 2005

I didn't buy it for snow 

Sure you didn't /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I used every excuse in the book to get my better half convinced. No just kidding. Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the pack. As far as using skids you can just play with the angle of the bucket to get it to set flat, patience and practice and experimentation will determine what you feel is the best for you.

Steve

GerardC · Mar 2, 2005

( ....where a member had bolted a 2x4 to each side of his bucket and let it set about an inch below....)

I believe it was only about 1/4 inch not 1 inch. Gerard

Crozier · Mar 2, 2005

I put a little flat bar on the top of my bucket. It is parrelell to the flat bottom of the bucket so that when it is horizontal the flat part of the bucket is also horizontal. Helps me gage a little better.

Bowhunter · Mar 3, 2005

[quoteI believe it was only about 1/4 inch not 1 inch. Gerard )

Oops, sorry. I guess a person could adjust it for any depth they wanted.

I remember reading of members who bolted a 2x4 to the cutting edge or attached a pipe to the cutting edge to keep it from digging in also.

GerardC · Mar 3, 2005

( I remember reading of members who bolted a 2x4 to the cutting edge or attached a pipe to the cutting edge to keep it from digging in also. )

Yeah, I remember something like that too.
I back blade and then the FEL to rid the pile. If the family is helping, they use the snowblower to blow the pile(s) away. Gerard

chelydra · Mar 5, 2005

OK, here's what I'm going to try: drill a 3/8" or 1/2" hole through the reinforced front corners of the loader blade. Bolt a free-rotating 6" steel disc on each side to provide clearance. Tune the clearance by tilting the blade. Dealer thought it might work. Hope I can drill that steel plate with a hand drill!

Any ideas where I might get the two steel discs cheap? Someone must use things like that for something.

Thanks-

BBB