New Member & New Owner

[Granddad]

Dave,
Being a granddad is the best work you can get! Enjoy

Lavoy,
What about running a chain over the blade and hooking to the tie-down ring on the bottom of the front cowling? Is the cowling fastened to the frame? and sturdy enough to handle a 24" to 30" diameter oak tree?

Thanks

[Tractor 850]

Lavoy,

Thanks for the warning. I had never heard that before.
I'll never hook to the top of the blade again.

[CELSESSER]

Lavoy,
What was the warning.

Chuck

[Lavoy]

Yes, that work, just a pain to crawler underneath each time. Realistically, the main frame of the blade is as strong or stronger than the front hook would be on the belly pan. On that size tree, I would try to keep the length down, and remember crawlers really don't like to pull backwards that much. When doing that, you are pulling with the top of the track, and all the pulling stress is put on the front idler and spring. Then if you have the blade lifting on the tree, you have a lot of downward stress on the front idler as well.

Charles,
I had warned not to pull from the moldboard due to potential breakage of some hard to find parts.
Lavoy

[Granddad]

Thanks, Lavoy. I guess I'll go to plan B, whatever that is...

[JR]

Found a site that sells a quick attach grapple for dozers. Might be expensive but bet you could get a used grapple and make your own.
Rockland manufacturing 800-458-3773. Check their site. Other parts also

JR

[Lavoy]

One thing about a 63 blade is that it lends itself very well to making home made attachments. All you need to do is pull the two telescoping link out of the main frame and you can make about anything you want to go back in there.
Lavoy

[Granddad]

Lavoy, since I'm a newbie I'll show my ignorance here. I have a 6-way blade. Is that a 63 blade? The service manual subtitled JD Crawler Tractors and Crawler Loaders # SM 2063 has no info on blades, just loaders. Do I have the right manual? Is there a separate manual for the blade?

The hydraulic line on the left side of the hyd pump (return I think) goes straight back on the left side of the engine while the pics in the manual show it crossing over and the two lines (I presume inlet and return) going towards the rear of the tractor together. Do I have the correct manual, do I need to get an additional manual?

[Lavoy]

The 63 blade is a manual angle and tilt 6 way blade for the 440 crawler. If you have a 440, the power 6 way is a 64.
Lavoy

[Granddad]

I have a 350 with a 6 way hydraulic operated blade.

[Lavoy]

I don't remember the number of your blade, but it will be 4 digits, like 6305, 6310 or something like that. Blades have their own manuals and are not shown in the crawler manual.
Lavoy

[teighs]

The hydraulic 6 way is the 6305.

The 6310 is the outside frame manual 6 way.

Change the 3 to 4 for the 450 blades.

Go to this website and type 6305 into the model search and you will get the parts breakdown: http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com. ... ervlet_Alt

[Ray III]

A word of caution on pulling from a hook on the moldboard like you have. There are two cast pieces that you are likely to break on that blade if you do that, both are obsolete, both are worth slightly less than their weight in gold if you do break one. The only other alternative if you break one is to weld the blade solid and loose your tilt and/or angle functions. If you must pull from the blade, weld a hook on the main frame itself and run the chain over the top of the blade so there is no direct pulling force on these critical parts.
Lavoy

What are those bits made of? I was wondering once if they're grey iron, ductile iron, cast steel, or white gold...

[Lavoy]

Originally there were cast steel, but if you really need one, they are now made of unobtanium that is gold plated.
Lavoy

[wfoidaho]

Moved to late model forum.