Lineal Actuators for Dozer Blade Control

[Mark Bartlett 83]

I have been fabricating a dozer blade for my 312-8.  As usual I have built one that is way more heavier than I anticipated...it's a left over from the oilfield industry.  Initially I planned to use the

deck lift linkage to for blade lift control.  There is just too much effort involved to do this plus the lift range is not what I need.

I have looked in the forum at folks that have used lineal actuators for lift control.  So far my research has found actuators that have a travel lift increment of about 1/4" per second. 

 

That's a lot of lift to manage if your trying to find grade a dirt project.   While I do realize my expectation is sort of not such a big deal, 

 

Just wondering if anyone has used an actuator and managed to slow the travel speed down from a 1/4"/sec.? 

[JoeM 7,871]

Need pictures.

figuring it is too heavy for the manual lift.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

If you were to lift the dozer at the front of the tractor that would cut the speed in about 1/2 or 1/8" per second.

 

To get an acutator to lift that weight that far it will be expensive and I question their durability for the occasional shock load the blade may see.

 

Have you thought about using springs to assist?

Some heavy front mounted snowthrowers use springs similar to garage door balance springs to assist and works well. Add a frame to the front quick hitch and hook springs to it. These springs come in different strengths.

The snowthrower attaches to the front of the frame at the bottom.

The rods mount to the fractor frame in front of the grill.

The 29 handle is in the top spring hook and allows you to lift the spring to hook on the rod. In this application each spring is a good 80 pound lift to hook it on.

 

Garry

[ebinmaine 67,309]

17 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

using springs to assist

This might sound like a silly question.... Am I correct in assuming that if one removes 80 lbs from the "felt weight" of a plow that you're also removing that from the down pressure at the blade?

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

Yes but you have transferred the weight to the front wheels.

 

Garry

[JoeM 7,871]

3 hours ago, gwest_ca said:

springs to assist

great idea!

Also, nice to know what hole in the rock shaft he is using. 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

This might sound like a silly question.... Am I correct in assuming that if one removes 80 lbs from the "felt weight" of a plow that you're also removing that from the down pressure at the blade?

 

That's why I don't care for helper springs.  Weight scrapes!