54 inch hydraulic angle blade on a 1450
 

I thought I'd start a new thread. Nightow1's thread inspired me to build on my experience with hydraulics on the Tandem build and start on a project that has been on my mind for at least three years--putting front hydraulics on my 1450 and putting power angle on the 54 inch blade.

This 1450 has an engine I rebuilt and, while not a perfect restoration, I went through it completely a couple years ago and replaced or repaired all wear parts. It has been on reliable grass killing duty cutting 2 acres around the old house for the past 2 years. Now that we've sold that place, I've moved it down here where I have the 108 for grass cutting duty. I'm saving the 1650 for the snow blower and the 149 for the tiller, so this is my choice for the dual hydraulics conversion.

I ordered some parts from ebay several years ago, but never did anything. I thought I had purchased a twin spool valve but when I dug it out of the boxes I moved from the old homestead to my new shop and discovered it is a single spool from a 149. I do have the metal tubing that runs along the frame to the front of the tractor and the quick disconnects, though they are worn out. The o-rings inside are shredded. I plan to replace them with new couplers.

I just bought a twin spool valve, so that's on the way. I plan to add the second lever to operate the second spool and plumb it to the front of the tractor.

I also ordered the cylinder for the blade. I have not pulled the blade out of the pile of blades in storage yet. It is actually a NOS blade that I bought from a collector about 4 years ago, and it's never been used. To be honest, it may never see service, as it's awful nice. :biggrin2:

I pulled the 1450 out of the garage and hosed it off. It was 25 degrees out today. It was quite dusty from 2 years of work. I didn't actually try to wash it, so it's still a little dirty in the pictures. I pulled the side tins and air cleaner off, then removed the fuel tank and tower brace to access inside the dash. Replaced the PTO fuse holder while I was in there. Need new front tires, they hold air but are dry rotted.

Waiting for parts now.

Here's the candidate tractor. First pic is from a couple years ago.

I will be watch with anticipation...:ThumbsUp:

The show begins
 

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

That is a very nice 1450 you have. They are great machines! Do you have the dual hydraulic levers?

Best wishes, let me know if I can help.

I do not have the dual levers. Was planning to make the second lever by adding a tube over the existing lever and welding an upright arm and handle. Also plan to make the spool valve actuating arm that clamps to the shaft to operate the spool.

Of course, if I find OEM parts, I'd use them.

Cleaned up the existing spool valve in preparation for removal and replacement.
Sorry the picture is sideways. Not sure how to fix that.

Also removed the lift lever and actuator arm. Made a second actuator arm for the other spool in the dual-spool valve. It's not the exact same shape, but it's close enough to work I think. Did not have 1/4 inch bar, so I used 3/16 inch. Seems the like it should be strong enough? Or am I being overly optimistic?

Will drill the hole and cut the slot once I get the tubing so I know the correct size (tubing supposed to be 5/8 OD I think). I may need to step up to a wider bar (do have some 1/4 by 2 inch bar) to allow enough meat around a 5/8 inch hole. I'll see then make a call. I can cut the 2 inch wide bar down to 1-1/4 for example. then bend as needed.

Ordered new front tires. Still waiting on the new valve.

I'm ready, waiting and excited.. I love watching your projects!:beerchug:

I'm still waiting on most stuff, but piddling around the shop, I found something to do. I am going to mount the two front hydraulic quick disconnects through the front frame cross member. So I modified the fittings I received to allow me to bulkhead mount them.

Turned off the boss at the back end of each fitting, then milled a flat further up so that a wrench will have some purchase (i.e., mechanical hold). Had to disassemble each fitting to turn the boss off. (Do you know how hard it is to put 8 little balls back in place and hold them while you slide a spring and the disconnect sleeve over them compress the spring, and add the retainer ring?)

Don't have a mill (yet, still shopping) so I use the drill press and a cross travel vise to mill the flats.

I went to my recently acquired extra large tap and die set, to get a 3/4 inch die to put threads on the now cylindrical end of the fitting, only to find that particular die missing. Every size from 1/4-20 to 1-1/4-8 but no 3/4-11.

So now I plan to use a hose clamp behind the frame to hold the fitting in the 3/4 inch hole I will eventually drill. Or I'll need to use the lathe to turn threads on them.

So the pics show the fittings as machining progressed and the drill press set up.

One final pic is of a present our resident Bald Eagle left for us in the yard. We have several pairs nesting along the river within a 1/4 mile of our house and one pair just a 100 yds or so into the woods behind our house. We see them frequently, often flying low over the pool or perched in the trees down by the waterfront.

OK, reminds me of the story of the Eagle and the Osprey. Osprey are also fish hawks, as is the Bald Eagle. The Osprey is migratory, the Eagles here are not. The Osprey build nests on poles with platforms, and on many of the navigational markers placed along rivers and tidal creeks here. We have a pair that return every spring and build a nest on a piling about 50 yards upriver of our dock.

So the story about the Eagle and the Osprey is an old Indian tale. The Osprey builds a sloppy nest but is an excellent fisher. The Eagle builds a huge, complex nest but is as much a scavenger as a fisher, not as talented at the latter task as the Osprey. One day the Osprey asks the Eagle to teach him how to build a better nest. The Eagle obliges on the condition that the Osprey teach him how to be a better fisher. The Osprey agrees, and learns the tricks to build a better nest from the Eagle. He then refuses to teach the Eagle how to fish better. The Eagle, not so pleased, admonished the Osprey and to this day, the Eagle will hang out on a perch, waiting for the Osprey to catch a fish, then the Eagle, a bigger bird, will swoop in and take the fish away from the Osprey.

I have seen this happen. I was down on the dock and see the Osprey hit the water and struggle to gain altitude with a good-sized fish in his talons. Out of nowhere, a Bald Eagle swoops in and knocks the fish out of the Osprey's grip, and then dives and catches it before it hits the water, carrying it away back to his nest in the woods behind the house. All this is virtually directly overhead, just a few dozen yards away from where I was standing on the dock. Quite the show!

Here's a link to a short video of our Bald Eagle, just waiting for the Osprey to catch another fish!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVdOKrfdldo

The twin spool valve arrived today, so I started plumbing the hydraulics. Got the lines run from the charge pump to the new valve, though I had to order some connections from the NAPA to complete the hookup.

I also, while I was waiting on the mail to bring the valve, I spent some time practicing turning threads on the lathe. Finished a short section of 5/8-11NC thread, and it turned out pretty good. See what you think...:biggrin2:

here's a short video of the threaded rod, check it out. :biggrin2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPGS...WZn1Mg&index=1

Continued working on installation of the dual stick set up. Got it all hooked up today, still waiting on some hydraulic fittings to finish the plumbing.

The GSDs got a hold of my brand new plastic handles, totally destroyed one and damaged the other. The damaged one is seen in the pictures, along with one of the guilty parties...

Any help you can give me on getting that nut off my threaded rod in my last post will be appreciated. I'm stymied. :biggrin2:

A nut cracker will get that off.

Yeah? How did it get on?

Doing a nice job on the install Frank!

Wish my lathe was where I could be using it. When I closed and moved out of the shop, it got buried deep in the garage, and I haven't gotten to it yet. I was just getting the hang of it when I moved it out. Said all winter I was going to dig it out, and take it down to the shop I am working out of, but haven't. Time. It's only time.
Anyway, congrats on figuring out another "application" on the lathe!

I don't know what to tell you about the dog chewing on your stuff. I'd seriously consider shooting it. (I likely wouldn't. But I would consider it....:biggrin2:)

That is a good question Frank, Does one of the ends come off?

I'll post the solution tomorrow. It's out in the car right now, and I'm too lazy to go out and get it.

My truck is still in the body shop getting the driver's side rocker panel replaced due to rust. As a result, I can't go to Lowes to get the Durock for the shower tile job, so the bathroom remodel is on hold. Hence, Cub time. (Not that I'm complaining).

I got some parts yesterday and today and got some more stuff done, though I am still waiting on hydraulic connections/adapters to arrive from another NAPA to my local store.

Put some new shoes on the front of the tractor. Used my little harbor freight mini tire changer again. Still works pretty well.

Dug the 54 inch blade out of the pile in the garage and carried it up to the shop. Here it is upside down on the floor and set up for the cylinder geometry. The plywood is a spacer and ensures the cylinder is parallel to the bottom of the blade's frame (which it is supposed to be). This allowed me to tack the pivot pins to the brackets so they would be aligned properly. I've verified that the blade pivots as intended.

Welded up the 3/4 inch pivot pins and remounted them to verify alignment. Need to clean them up, cut the pivot pins to length, drill the cotter pin holes and paint them. May add some reinforcements/braces to the pins as well though there is a good weld fillet around the pins.

Pics below.

These two GSDs (brothers) are still puppies, about 18 months old and very sweet. But they have a voracious chewing habit. I've had to go out to the yard to pick up tools that I've left on the shop floor accidentally. The one thing that they have not been able to destroy is a big (like 10 gallon) black plastic/poly nursery pot that a tree came in. We've always had GSDs, but these guys are probably the most affectionate of any. If you had them, you'd just laugh it off and try to remember to put stuff out of reach.

NAPA came through with some hydraulic fittings and crimped some hose ends for me.

Got the plumbing all hooked up. Finished mounting the blade cylinder.

Also got a new set of wheel weights and painted them. My mail lady hates me.

Including a picture of the "captured nut" puzzle solution.

Next up is to put the gas tank on temporarily to start the engine and check the plumbing for leaks. I'll then mount the blade and test that.

Pics...

Finished hooking up the blade on the 1450, checked all the connections for leaks, everything looked good. Here's the blade operating. I think the blade's cylinder is a bit long (or the pin spacing is too close) as it pivots more to the right than the left. I think it's far enough, but I might adjust the pin locations a bit. Or, maybe it pivots too far to the right? Need to look at it some more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA2x...WZn1Mg&index=1

Once I get the hood and side tins back on (need to drill and tap the carb due to stripped screw holes) I'll post another better vid. showing the whole tractor.

The nut in the middle of the rod is a really old machinists trick. I would like to make one of them and a turners cube someday, but real work keeps them on the back burner. I'm surprised by how many members have their own metalworking equipment. It's good knowledge to have, even if it isn't your profession.

Finished putting the 1450 back together and took a final video. Need to adjust the hood latch, LOL.

Posted at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQkenuyxuhc

That is a sweet looking rig Frank!:beerchug:

Looks like you got the adjustment worked out for equal left and right on the cylinder?:bigthink:

The modified (chewed) handle adds a nice touch!:biggrin2::biggrin2:

Thanks, Jay,

I do have a set of wheel weights to put on it, too. Just need to go get the bolts.

I figured out the easy way to get equal right and left tilt--stop tilting to the right when it's far enough! :biggrin2:

It actually over travels to the right a bit. I measured the difference in travel at the blade ends and it's less than a couple inches, so it would only require a small adjustment. A half inch move in the rear pin would change the blade end to change by 2 or 3 inches. I'd have to cut that in half, a 1/4 inch move in the pin. So I figured it's not worth it at this point.

Lots of my workbenches, cabinets, tool boxes, anything less than 3 feet off the floor and not made of metal, have chew marks. :bash2:

But all that chewing seems to fade away when the dogs are snuggling up to you and being affectionate. Wife says they will grow out of it. So there's hope.

This is not meant as criticism, and maybe its just the camera position, but it doesn't look like there's much lift on that blade. My 1641 lifts the bottom of the blade about 6" or so off the ground.

You are correct. I could put a shorter lift rod on it to increase the lift. Not sure it's needed, though.

angle diffference
 

Good Job. I have a dual 1450 and a 54 hydraulic blade. I believe that it has the factory cylinder mounting. For what it's worth it rotates further to the right than to the left. I have never really tried to diagnose it just though it was a little peculiar that it was that way. Now the rear mount was welded to the frame when I got t , but I believe the mounting bolts are in place.

Frank:

Nice job.

:IH Trusted Hand:

Hey Frank, how long are the hoses on this thing?

Didn't keep a record of the hose lengths. Used a spare length of hose to measure the distances and wrote the lengths down to take to NAPA, but those notes are long gone.