Mid mount grader

[Torrence20 19]

I need some help from the pros. I just got a mid mount grader. The lift linkage was missing so I ordered one and it finally came in. I mounted the blade in the tachomatic and installed the lift link but I am very not impressed with how this thing works in order for it to do anything i have to really bear down on the lift arm and when I hit a hard pack high spot it about breaks my wrist. I must be missing something here. FYI I have a 310-8 horse 

[Torrence20 19]

Also I forgot to mention the blade has a small rod that is used to lock the blade straight or angled to either side and the blade does not stay locked into place. Is there some sort of spring that might be missing that would possibly put pressure on the lock pin?

[JAinVA 4,619]

I have had a mid mount for close to thirty years.  What you describe is not abnormal. This attachment is meant grade loose material. If used to loosen hard pack the shocks  will loosen the angle lock. These things will smack you in the knee as well as wrench your wrist.

The only way to not deal with the mentioned issues is to put the blade on a hydro lift equipped tractor

Edited July 7, 2021 by JAinVA

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

Like this one?

 

[WHX?? 48,799]

Some pics might help here guy but the blade should stay looked into place by itself. No spring on mine anyway. They are a tricky implement to run since no down pressure. There might be a work around to get down pressure but not that I have figured out yet. I generally just go by foot pressure on the blade and a hand on the lift lever and go by feel. Worked good for this job but not hard pack. . I think @Achto or EB @ebinmaine might be able to chime in here as they have mid blades. 

I forgot to add the mid blade is about the most useful implement I have but I live in sand country. 

Edited July 7, 2021 by WHX24

[Torrence20 19]

4 minutes ago, JAinVA said:

I have had a mid mount for close to thirty years.  What you describe is not abnormal. This attachment is meant grade loose material. If used to loosen hard pack the shocks  will loosen the angle lock. These things will smack you in the knee as well as wrench your wrist.

The only way to not deal with the mentioned issues is to put the blade on a hydro lift equipped tractor

Ok that’s good to know, I was getting frustrated. Having read so many post of people raving about them I was a little off put. Thanks for the info. I may have to look at possibly using a linear actuator to solve the issue if it will hold up to the abuse

[Torrence20 19]

5 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

Like this one?

 

That would be the one I have

[JAinVA 4,619]

WHX24 reminded me of my early time with the mid mount. Left foot on the lift arm for down pressure. If it kicks no pain

[JAinVA 4,619]

Torrence20, Yup that's the one.

Edited July 7, 2021 by JAinVA

[Torrence20 19]

3 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Some pics might help here guy but the blade should stay looked into place by itself. No spring on mine anyway. They are a tricky implement to run since no down pressure. There might be a work around to get down pressure but not that I have figured out yet. I generally just go by foot pressure on the blade and a hand on the lift lever and go by feel. Worked good for this job but not hard pack. . I think @Achto or EB @ebinmaine might be able to chime in here as they have mid blades. 

Yea the really loose stuff it bit into really well. I didn’t expect it to do great in hard pack but even on the loose stuff if I don’t push down on the blade it won’t do squat 

[Torrence20 19]

2 minutes ago, JAinVA said:

WHX24 reminded me of my early time with the mid mount. Left foot on the lift arm for down pressure. If it kicks no pain

You must be pretty limber LOL!!

[JAinVA 4,619]

Not as much these days so the Cub Low Boy sees grader duty, All hydraulic up and down

[WHX?? 48,799]

Yep for hard stuff a guy almost  needs a box blade with scarcifier teeth on it.

[Achto 27,511]

54 minutes ago, Torrence20 said:

Also I forgot to mention the blade has a small rod that is used to lock the blade straight or angled to either side and the blade does not stay locked into place. Is there some sort of spring that might be missing that would possibly put pressure on the lock pin?

 

There is a small spring that holds the lock lever in place. Here are some pictures of my lock lever, hope they help you out.

 

Right side. With the lever in the locked position.

 

Left side. With the lever in the release position.

 

As stated the center blade works much better with loose material. I have a solid link on my blade & I can put enough down pressure using the hand lift to make the rear tires spin out. This is when used on my C-141 8 speed with no added weight on the rear. I actually like using it with a hand lift, it allows me the adjust the blade faster when I'm grading. 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by Achto

[Torrence20 19]

2 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

There is a small spring that holds the lock lever in place. Here are some pictures of my lock lever, hope they help you out.

 

Right side. With the lever in the locked position.

 

Left side. With the lever in the release position.

 

As stated the center blade works much better with loose material. I have a solid link on my blade & I can put enough down pressure using the hand lift to make the rear tires spin out. This is when used on my C-141 8 speed with no added weight on the rear. I actually like using it with a hand lift, it allows me the adjust the blade faster when I'm grading. 

 

Thank you. That must have been added by someone at some point. I have the manual for it now and no spring is shown but I may just do the same. 

[Torrence20 19]

Does anyone know if the pull type box scrapers for lawn tractors are worth a damn? I currently don’t own a anything with a 3 point

[WHX?? 48,799]

He must be right Dan mine does not have that spring either. Ther again  sand country. Actually  I have a struggle to change blade angle ...especially when the tractor is moving! 

[WHX?? 48,799]

I just picked up this rear mount blade that I plan to use on a plow mule that has HY and down pressure. Have not yet to try it out. Not sure if a box style is available for a slot hitch? 

[Achto 27,511]

27 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Not sure if a box style is available for a slot hitch? 

 

They do for a sleeve hitch.

https://brinly.com/product/bs-38bh_sleeve-hitch-box-scraper/

[Torrence20 19]

36 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

They do for a sleeve hitch.

https://brinly.com/product/bs-38bh_sleeve-hitch-box-scraper/

Thank you for the info

[ebinmaine 67,312]

@Torrence20

The boys above have you headed the right direction. 

 

We have a mid mount grader set up on Trina's 867.

She's the only one that uses it. Does all our driveway maintenance with it. 

The rear of the tractor has 110 lbs steel weight added. Much needed since Trina's fairly small. 

 

These blades are most certainly a bit of a workout to use. 

As stated above they aren't made to scrape deeply, especially in hardpack. 

 

She and I will be adding a scarifier at some point. 

 

Trina is a little "athletic". You'll see her referred to as BBT here and there. Black belt. 

Even with all her years of training it's some work to keep enough down pressure on a mid mount grader blade.  

 

She is well known to keep both feet on the blade to create the down. 

That's NOT advisable for others to do. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rjg854 11,351]

8 hours ago, Torrence20 said:

Thank you. That must have been added by someone at some point. I have the manual for it now and no spring is shown but I may just do the same. 

I took mine apart, and fitted a piece of rubber in there to tighten up the lock mechanism.  Seems to have done the trick keeping the blade locked in place.  I have been known to stand on the blade of my grader to get it to bite a little better, but it's probably not recommended   1st gear and very slow.  I sometimes often wait until the drive softens up after a good soaking rain, that helps also on hard packed stone.

[squonk 41,040]

The problem with the grader is it's way too light for what we want to do with it. Years ago I got my hands on an Allis-Chalmers mid mount blade and modified it to use on a WH. The blade part alone is close to 60 lbs. 3/8" solid iron. I foolishly got rid of it when I found a WH grader. Well I got another Allis blade last month and sold the WH one. This is a pic of the 704 I had with the first Allis blade.

 

  

Edited July 7, 2021 by squonk

[squonk 41,040]

Pic of the blade I have now. You can see how thick it is.

 

[ebinmaine 67,312]

I've seen pictures of WH blades with 1" diameter short poles welded on the top to hold weight lifting weights