I think you want the rod to float in the slot so you can follow uneven terrain. Also, if you're pushing snow, I'd let the spring trip actuate. You never know what's under the snow, and you might damage your tractor on what you hit at high speed. If you're pushing dirt, then you probably want to pin it in place, and go a lot slower.
Good work on the lift rod! It don't look ugly to me!

Below is a pic of what that part is supposed to look like. I have not used this bracket on any of mine. It seemed too sloppy and I use the other style that just has a hole and not a slot. I figured with the plate bolted in it would be solid and with it removed it would float. Don't know. These Cubs are fairly new to me too.

I ended up with a bunch of parts from a guy recently and the slotted mount also came with a larger diameter ( 5/8'' ) lift rod. I am thinking these are for the supers and not the wide frames. Maybe someone will chime in on that?

Almost forgot...good work on the lift rod.

Some day you'll push to hard into a bank of snow and your plow will push up to far and you'll see why I use chain on mine. If you hit it hard enough that rod will bend real quick, and they are a pain to straighten. That being said you did a great job making your's. Have fun plowing with it. Post some picts. when you get it out in the snow.

That's what I have on my plow It's 5/8 and alot sturdier than the one on Dustin's 149...

I can surely see that it would be. The 5/8'' rod I have also has a bend in it and isn't straight like the 1/2'' one. I can't use the 5/8'' rod with the combo I have for the mount , rod , and undercarriage though. The rod is too long and I can't raise the plow up enough to back out of a snow pile. When I do end up bending the 1/2'' rods they will be upgraded to 5/8'' and I will just drill out the holes so the bigger rod fits.

I am with JUNIORS1282 ,I use chain on mine also. I find it easier to pile the snow up that way.

You guys that are using chain, be careful not to let this blade swing up and hit the grille casting. This is a serious disadvantage with the use of a chain. If you have the room, it'd probably make more sense to push the snow further back instead of piling it all vertically.

I've been using this plow since it was new in 1978. It still has the orginal lift rod on it.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/snow0811.jpg
I don't see a need for a chain on it. I've been able to pile snow 3 feet high. This blade has been used to push snow, stone and dirt. You have to use common sense when using a blade......wide open-fast as the tractor can go (better known as raming speed) is not using common sense.

Well around here we average about 150 inches of snow a year. so 3 foot piles just are not big enough sometimes. I have had snow piles that I know were honestly around 5-6 feet high. I just keep pushing it up again and again,after 4-5 times it is just like a ramp,then I can can push it even higher.

As for hiting the grill I have never had that problem. And I don't plow at ramming speed either. Most of the time I am just off idle,and never more than half throttle.

The rods are great if you are plowing a nice flat paved/cement driveway. But if you have a drive that has dips and is not flat a chain is better. This is especially true if you have a hydro lift,as it will not float like the manual lift. The slot on the lift arm doese not give me enough play or float action for my plowing needs,so I use a chain.

I plow with my 169 with a blade but I MOVE the snow with my 1882 with FEL.