Stuck wedges

cdunn · Post by **cdunn** » Fri May 30, 2014 6:29 pm

My 350 straight dozer has a manual 6-way blade. There are 2 steel wedges that have to be backed out in order to allow the blade to tilt. So far, I have used sledge hammer, heat(acetylene torch), hydraulic portapower, several doses of various penetrants and a lot of bad language; but have been able to get only one of the wedges to to release and back out. Anyone have any ideas on what I might try next. Need some magic.

Post by **Lavoy** » Fri May 30, 2014 8:41 pm

Unfortunately, hammer is the preferred method. Be careful, they will chip, I would wrap some duct tape around the end that you are hitting on to catch any splinters, and wear glasses or shield.
Lavoy

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Sat May 31, 2014 5:00 am

Hi,

And, use a bigger hammer along with more/stronger words.....

My 420 has an inside blade, so two wedges. My 350 had an outside blade, so *four* wedges.

Stan

cdunn · Post by **cdunn** » Sat May 31, 2014 7:09 am

Yes, thanks Lavoy, kinder knew that when I posted. Another good use for this forum is a great place to vent frustration. Today I plan to borrow a big beater from my brother, go over and talk to my neighbor who is an x navy veteran, to reinforce my vocabulary and then meet the challenge with renewed vigor.

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Sat May 31, 2014 7:20 am

Hi,

One nice thing about the outside blade was that it had a pivot in the center, and so was balanced enough to set the tilt angle with it up in the air. No futzing with the lift to get it set. Plus, no having to find a rock to set the edge on if you wanted it tilted the other way. That rather offset the need to beat out four wedges.

I also liked it better for ditching, since it was wider than the track and the rails stayed on land.

I would actually rather have the 350 and not the 420, but that isn't how things worked out.

Stan

cdunn · Post by **cdunn** » Sat May 31, 2014 8:19 am

Yes, there are advantages, i guess, to both inside and outside the track blades. Mine is, of course, inside, which puts me at a disadvantage when ditching or doing anything with the blade angled, but easier to get in and around things in close quarters. The only dozers with outside blades that I have operated were much larger than 350 or 450 and didn't seem to matter as much.

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Sat May 31, 2014 10:07 am

Hi,

Yes, we could back and forth on the advantages and disadvantages. Then, someone would chime in and say we all need one of each, plus one with a loader, too!

Stan

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