Snow blade front stabilizer / sway control

[cleat 7,028]

When clearing the driveway the other day it dawned on me that there must be a lot of side to side force on the blade leading to a lot of stress on the rear axle and the blade attachment.

Especially with the extension kit installed.

Therefore, I copied the stabilizer that Toro implemented on the xi series and adapted it to fit the 520.

It is just held together with a couple of hose clamps for now to ensure blade is held in the center of it's side to side play.

Without any stabilizer I get 5/8" side to side sway measured to the inside of a front wheel rim pulling on the blade by hand.

With the stabilizer installed, I get 3/8" side to side sway measured to the inside of a front wheel rim pulling on the blade by hand.

 

Therefor the stabilizer is holding the blade centered and the rear mount should see only the fore and aft forces.

That makes me feel better.

 

 

Snow blade stabilizer.pdf

 

I will add pics once the rod has been welded up.

 

Edited February 28, 2016 by cleat

[Phatboy 565]

I often wondered the same thing cleat,,, an buddy that is a great stabilizer design you came up with,,,  when you are done doing all the hard work ,, i will habe to get someone to copy your design for me on my machine 

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

You will probably notice additional strength as the depth of snow plowed increases exponentially. I recall one season when I changed to the plow on one of my 5xi, I forgot to attach the stabilizer.  It "waddled" as I was putting the tractor away - and then realized why. 

[cleat 7,028]

Stabilizer rod welded and polished. I will install and take more pictures this weekend.

 

[can whlvr 993]

nice job

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

I'll say. Nice weld, and nice job. 

[Tankman 3,520]

Nice job Cleat! Another copy cat here, great upgrade! 

[doc724 925]

We need to get a sub folder to capture all of Cleat's upgrades in one place.  Very nicely done!

We need to get a sub folder to capture all of Cleat's upgrades in one place.  Very nicely done!

[cleat 7,028]

That's great, and why I added the dimensions on PDF.

 

You may need to slightly modify if you are adding this to a blade without the extension kit.

 

I fit everything with clamps and vice grips just to make sure the rod angle is good (90 degrees to blade, not plumb so it slides up and down better). Then center the blade and the stabilizer side to side before final drilling and mounting.

 

I am unsure how far down the rod needs to be. Right now it is flush to bottom of plow frame with plow lowered on my flat garage floor.

 

9 hours ago, WNYPCRepair said:

I'll say. Nice weld, and nice job. 

 

I can't take credit for the weld, that was done by a welder at work using a good TIG welder.

Edited March 2, 2016 by cleat

[JC 1965 1,532]

Very nice job Cleat. Thanks for sharing.       

[cleat 7,028]

I seem to have missed this but the ends of the rod are just washers welded on.

 

Factory xi rod has a stop bolt on the bottom, I left this off so I can easily just release the rod from the front tach then lift it out and remove it when removing the blade from the tractor.

 

[danjmah 71]

Beautiful work Cleat! I fabricated one last year but it ain't as pretty as yours. 

Edited March 2, 2016 by danjmah

[cleat 7,028]

Looks like it does the job.

 

The front mount on the xi series sure is wider, looks like the rear mount on my 520's.

 

I like the angle cut on the plate.

 

Your pin sticks through quite a ways as well. I didn't know whether to leave it long so it can't pop out and risk it digging into the ground or cut it shorter.

 

[cleat 7,028]

Here is the final product. I may drill it but since I have many tractors, there is no need for one to do two jobs at once.

 

[can whlvr 993]

great job cleat,one thing as you stated you didn't know if it would be long enough,you may have to drill a small hole at the bottom and put a hitch pin in so it doesn't fall out if the blade drops too far,ya it would restrict the downward movement but it wouldnt fall out of the support on the plow

[cleat 7,028]

When the snow melts (likely this week), I will drive out to the ditch and hang the blade over the edge and lower it as far as it will go.

 

I think the lift linkage will only let it drop a little bit, but we will see.

 

[cleat 7,028]

Stabilizer pin cut to length, and drilled for clip.

Clip will prevent fallout (blade cannot fall enough anyways unless something comes apart).

 

 

Clip will also hold blade up in the event of a lift failure to enable tractor to be moved.

 

 

[clip 185]

Smart

[SylvanLakeWH 27,514]

Nicely done!

 

I have an older blade modified to my WH and I have had a problem with the rear connection actually shifting due to the force on the blade. I will be looking at your fix over the summer. Thanks for sharing such excellent photos and design.

[857 horse 2,581]

Cleat,, you missed your calling !!!!!     Had you been someone in R&D at Wheel Horse or TORO,,,,,your idea would be an opition or standard item for our tractors...Good Idea,,,,,,,Great Job....If you decide to reproduce and sell these,,,,Im your first order.....If not.....give me the go ahead....I will be making my self 2...

Thank-you for sharing ,,,,the misssing link..!! 

[Coadster32 793]

Really nice job. There was another thread on a plow blade stabilizer a couple months back. Great idea overall. Never got around to doing this, but now feel compelled to do so for next season. Thanks for sharing.

[cleat 7,028]

3 hours ago, 857 horse said:

Cleat,, you missed your calling !!!!!     Had you been someone in R&D at Wheel Horse or TORO,,,,,your idea would be an opition or standard item for our tractors...Good Idea,,,,,,,Great Job....If you decide to reproduce and sell these,,,,Im your first order.....If not.....give me the go ahead....I will be making my self 2...

Thank-you for sharing ,,,,the misssing link..!! 

Go ahead and make some. I may make some extras but am not going to worry if copies are made.

 

Plans are with the first post.

 

Stabilizer rod is now 8.75" where original plan called for 9.5". You might want to make yours longer at first then cut off what is not needed.

 

Upper hole position was determined by raising blade then marking stabilizer just under bracket on frame.

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by cleat

[Flatheadpete 183]

That's so simple yet genius.