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A loader is a start. A blade is the third project for my loader. I just added bolt on and welded 3 point hitch brackets so I could mount a bale mover. Next project before the blade is to get some square tubing and rectangular tubing to mount under the loader as an adjustable pallet forks. With forks, I can move tree limbs, posts, etc., or or use a pallet or plywood to set stuff on to move it around. The bucket isn't always very good for moving some stuff. I have the basic design figured out. The problem with the loader moving snow is that it doesn't set at an angle and allow the snow to slide off the side if you want to clear a long road. It works ok for pushing snow on a short parking lot but once the bucket fills up, snow falls off both sides so it doesn't work as good like a road grader would. You are always going back cleaning up the trails from the bucket sides. The loader works good for reaching in and back dragging snow such as away from the garage doors and a short driveway. The problem I have with my loader is that in the basic scoop position, I can't see the front bar and can't tell how far off or how far into the ground it is and then I can't constantly adjust it for the unlevel ground and driveway I deal with. I basically have to have the bucket in the dump position with the bar sticking down before I can see how far off the ground it is. A loader with a float position would be nice. I was told mine had it float position but I can't make it float. I've considered also just adding something like an old bridge plank to push snow. Just block out one side to get some type of angle on it. Go around to some of the road construction companies and they have some old cutting bars off of blades, dozers, etc. laying around you can probably get for the price of scrap. Regarding the blade, I may be able to buy a 3 point one with the adjustable pitch at TSC or Orscheln. I don't like the pull behind blade because you have to drive over and pack down the snow before you can pull it and if it is too deep, it won't work. Hopefully it will reach out and still back drag snow. Regarding pitch, you may want to talk to a blade/grader operator to see what works best or go look at one. The pitch angle has to vary with the height of the blade and the snow depth to keep snow from coming over the top. The only other thing I want to design into a blade is a way to pitch one side up or down so I could do some grader work like cutting out ditches, etc. Maybe someone else has some ideas here.
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