Temp fix to use front & rear blades

[cdlong]

As some are aware, I want to add a 3rd hydraulic circuit to my dual stick 1450. I want a 3rd valve on the right rear fender to operate the 3 point hitch separately so I can use the front blade and rear blade independently of each other. Until I figure out how to set up the hydraulics, I'm come up with this: unhook the front blade lift arm and use a j bolt with a cross chain from an old tire chain, from the Frankenstein bolt to the blade. After using the rear blade, just take it off and put in a pocket. While setting this up, I was wondering if the 82 series blade lift bracket is hurting my lift height when using the front blade because it has a slot in it?

[Sam Mac]

Good idea with the J-bolt. The slot allows the blade to float.

[ACecil]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Good idea with the J-bolt. The slot allows the blade to float.

X2!

[fourinchdragslicks]

Glad to see that works, I had the same thought, but havn't been able to try it yet.

[Redblower]

That looks like it works, nice! I've done similar on my 682 with the blower on the front and my rinky dink back scraper set up as seen in the homemade section recently. I have a chain and hook for the blower on the front (see pic) lift the blower to highest position, hook the chain, lower blower till the weight is on the chain then disconnect the lift rod right at the base of the manual lift lever. The back is similar but different the lift lever stays connected to the rear in the tunnel all the time but lift to rear scraper connection is chains which allows me to lift it to the highest position then wrap a chain over that ball to suspend the rear lift while using the blower. The 2 draped chains go to the lift arms of my homemade 3 point. The chain link to the rear scraper was a last minute effort to save time but really worked out well in the end, I just need to work on the "point of connection" to the scraper bars to get better range of motion, I think it is too far aft now. Sure seems like a lot of chain!
Vic

[cdlong]

I have the sleeve hitch with the floating arms. I hope with it set in the highest position that I'll be able to use the front blade without the rear blade contacting the ground.

[DoubleO7]

You have a good idea.
My heavy structural steel industry job tells me to be prepared to replace the S-hook. If the blade bounces to much I would expect the S hook to become a lazy J hook. Maybe.
There is a lot of leverage working there.