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Tell us about yourself: “I enjoy working in the garage. I used to watch my dad and help him out growing up, and now it's my turn. I like to make it, rather than buying it. If I can, next on the list is a front-end loader for my John Deere 318 tractor.”
Adding an implement to the front of a garden tractor is simple enough if it comes from the same manufacturer, but when you have two different pieces of equipment with different mounting brackets, things get a little more complicated. Mike designed this to be easy to attach/detach, while giving him total control over the blade.
Well done, Mike! Thanks for sharing your project with us!
What is it? I mixed a John Deere 318 tractor with a Gravely plow, using 4-way hydraulics. I use it as a snow plow, or a dozer blade to move earth, gravel, etc.
How do you control your project? (e.g. hydraulic control valve(s), electric switches etc.) The two-lever hydraulic valve operates the two 1-1/2 in. x 4 in. hydraulic cylinders that move the blade.
What design/build challenges did you overcome? Had to work with two different mounting styles: the John Deere mounts at the front of the tractor and the Gravely mounts behind the blade. Then I figured out the size of the hydraulic cylinders, created side plates for mounting, and dealt with 4 inches of shim to take up.
If you had to build it again, what would you do differently? I’d buy a chop saw, as I did all the cutting with a hack saw and small hand grinder.
Which Princess Auto location do you visit most? Hamilton, Ontario.