C-125 snow blade mods for easier lifting

[Oldskool 6,640]

30 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

When one uses a linear actuator to move something doesn't the actuator stop with pressure either one way or the other?

If so then wouldn't being locked still have minimal to no effect on protecting the actuator?

 

So that gets the lock undone and relocked. 

But what about the potential damage to the actuator?

 

I haven't used one before.

I have one here I haven't figured out the wiring on it yet.

I assumed where it was electric over mechanical "so to speak ". it wouldn't move either direction when off. I could see while using it in that way it could have more force on it then it was designed for. Without the blade being locked that is.

[Handy Don 12,170]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

It does, yes. 

 

It currently has a solid cable as WH OE was made. 

I've been wanting to make both our plows flex cables as you mention. 

 

My thought was to leave the plow direction handle and the existing lever and hard bolt it in place. 

 

When one uses a linear actuator to move something doesn't the actuator stop with pressure either one way or the other?

If so then wouldn't being locked still have minimal to no effect on protecting the actuator?

 

So that gets the lock undone and relocked. 

But what about the potential damage to the actuator?

 

I'd leave enough slack in the actuator-to-angle linkage so that the "play" around the locking position wouldn't transmit to the actuator. Still trying mentally to get the lock release and actuator to play nice without needing pianist dexterity in cold weather.

[ebinmaine 67,317]

2 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I'd leave enough slack in the actuator-to-angle linkage so that the "play" around the locking position wouldn't transmit to the actuator. Still trying mentally to get the lock release and actuator to play nice without needing pianist dexterity in cold weather.

I like that idea.  

 

The dexterity isn't a huge issue. 

I use military surplus trigger finger mittens for plowing. 

 

My thought was to leave the current plow angle lever in place as stated above. Leave the lock pin lever just as it is too. 

Add the switch for the linear actuator right to that angle lever. 

 

 

 

This has a 1.5 inch long handle. More than enough to set my thumb down against or pull up on while using my four fingers to squeeze the pin release handle.

 

[Handy Don 12,170]

5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I like that idea.  

 

The dexterity isn't a huge issue. 

I use military surplus trigger finger mittens for plowing. 

 

My thought was to leave the current plow angle lever in place as stated above. Leave the lock pin lever just as it is too. 

Add the switch for the linear actuator right to that angle lever. 

This has a 1.5 inch long handle. More than enough to set my thumb down against or pull up on while using my four fingers to squeeze the pin release handle.

 

Well, in that case where the (human) operator will manage the lock, things get a LOT easier! A solenoid to manage the lock woulda been clever but a kludge, for sure. 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Handy Don

[ebinmaine 67,317]

28 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Well, in that case where the (human) operator will manage the lock, things get a LOT easier! A solenoid to manage the lock woulda been clever but a kludge, for sure. 

I like the solenoid idea for sure but my hand is readily available for using the already existing lever.  

 

Leaving the lever in place would also permit easy and quick return to the OE form in case of electrical failure. 

 

[tractorbeast 27]

On 12/18/2021 at 10:08 AM, Jeff-C175 said:

 

If it's half as hard to steer as my 175 with one blower mounted you'll have Popeye arms halfway through the snowstorm!  

 

@jeff-C175. I already have a Popeye Bicep muscle that sticks up. Don't let the Doc tell you ya don't need that muscle unless your a weight lifter.

My Bicep looks like crap now after it snapped with the sound of a fire cracker. I'm pretty sure he just didn't want to fix it when he repaired my torn right shoulder.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

1 hour ago, tractorbeast said:

snapped with the sound of a fire cracker

 

OWWWW!  I cringed when I read that !  

[Gregor 4,846]

@Jeff-C175 I have been thinking on this lift assist thing. I have not re-read the entire post, so I don't know what all has been mentioned, or decided upon, but I came up with something I believe, will in theory at least, work. It will take some R&D, and some playing with actual figures, but it's no hill for a climber. These drawings are not to scale of course, but you will get the gist of it I'm sure. I wish I knew how to make them smaller, but when I tried they became distorted.         

 

                         When the blade is in the up position, the green spring will lift on it.

 

When the blade is in the down position, I don't believe the spring will have much, if any lifting force on the blade. As you can see, I added a drawing of an alternative slot. I believe this is key to the whole operation. Once you lift past the center line of that slot, the spring will take effect. The farther back the center line, the sooner the effect. That's the good part. The bad part, (there's always a bad part) if you hit a bump, or you run into a pile and your blade climbs on top of it, the spring will take effect. Exactly where to put the center line, if any, is important. As I said, in theory, in my mind anyway, it should work.

I wish I had  my 125 and my plow up here in the  garage, I would start playing. With 6" of snow on the ground that's not gonna happen. It's just possible it would not work at all, but, "One never knows if one doesn't try, does one?" Thomas Edison once said, "" "I have not failed. I've just found ten thousand ways that won't work." I might just have him beat on the 10,000.

 

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

41 minutes ago, Gregor said:

or decided upon

 

Really nothing has, on my part.  Well, except for the fact that I cleaned up the 'prototype' with the simple spring mount and have it semi-permanently attached.  Right now with the spring length that I have installed there's 40 lb of down force on the blade and it's relatively easy to raise with the lever.  I'm gonna see how that works for plowing.  Might not be enough down force, we'll see.

 

41 minutes ago, Gregor said:

I wish I knew how to make them smaller, but when I tried they became distorted

 

Gotta be some setting in your browser Greg, because they look perfectly fine here on my screen!

 

41 minutes ago, Gregor said:

will in theory at least, work

 

You're very creative!  

 

It would seem that once the spring pops back and you go to lift the blade again, you would still have to overcome the full 'dead lift' for the portion of the lift that it takes to pop the spring forward again.

 

I would probably put a bunch of holes for the pivot point, or make it 'screw adjustable' with some sort of trunnion arrangement and would also put a bearing of some sort where the bolt goes through the slot.

 

In lieu of the extra holes in the bracket, the link could probably be made adjustable length for the same effect.  Might could use a turnbuckle there.

 

And maybe a gas shock instead of a spring?

 

 

Edited January 2, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

Moe has got what I think may be the best idea yet...  and easy-peasy to boot!

 

 

As long as the lift handle has TWICE the throw it needs, this would work nicely I think.

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

On 1/2/2022 at 10:52 AM, Jeff-C175 said:

Right now with the spring length that I have installed there's 40 lb of down force on the blade and it's relatively easy to raise with the lever.  I'm gonna see how that works for plowing.  Might not be enough down force, we'll see.

 

I'm happy to report that 40 pounds of down pressure was just fine pushing the 5" Slushfall that came down overnight.  If it was OK with that wet heavy snow, I think I'm good to go.  K.I.S.S.