Adapting JD 54” quick attach to BX2680

[Bugzilla46310]

Finished the adapter plates. Half inch plates give 1/8” clearance for the quick hitch. Now to complete the hydraulic lines. Except for initially drilling the pilot holes in the wrong location (oh sh-t moment), fairly easy project. Will add other pictures when I get the blade attached. $17 for the can of Kubota spray paint from the Kubota dealer and the color doesn’t match.

 

[dlsmith]

Those look great and similar to what I had in mind to put the JD blade on my BX. I assume those were CNC laser or plasma cut?

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Cut by hand with my horizontal band saw and sawzall.

 

[dlsmith]

I spent a while this afternoon measuring the JD blade and the front of the BX frame to see how I could fabricate a mount. Drew up a cardboard template to check for fitment, and made a sketch, then this evening I used TinkerCad to draw the mount as it should look.
With this mount, I don't have to use the JD mount at all, as it will bolt to the front of the BX frame, and with the blade removed it should be able to be left on with the MMM and FEL on the tractor. I'll be able to use the FEL control valve to operate the lift and tilt on the JD blade, I'll just need hoses and quick couplers to connect it.
I'll take the drawing and template to the Amish fab shop tomorrow and have them make the parts, and I'll weld it up. I think I'll have them blast and powder coat the blade Kubota orange and the mount dark gray once I get the mount built and fit up.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Fits like a glove. Very happy with the results.

 

[Showmedata]

Cut by hand with my horizontal band saw and sawzall.

This is dedication! Nice work.

 

[dlsmith]

Looks great, should do the trick for you.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Put the blade on. Picture make the top of the blade to appear to be leaning foward more than it looks in person. Looked at several JD pictures and there appears to be a range of this lean. If it plows good I will not worry about it. Looked at a picture of the blade on my now gone Simplicity Legacy and it had a similar lean and plowed good.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

i DIDN'T SEE THE BLADE..only THE HUBCAPS !!!

 

[BX23S-1]

Wowwww, super nice modding job!!!!!
I did the same thing with my old JD 54in blade for my BX23s. But i used an old donor JD420 frame that i got from a JD junkyard place locally. I cut off the front part of the JD frame, and fitted/bolted it to the front of my BX. I even bought the 4-valve kubota manifold and installed it on the JD blade. I did have to build some spacers for the frame to fit on the front of my BX because the JD420 tractor frame is wider. The spacer blocks i welded in were .875 thick, and very wide for each side to keep it very rigid and tight to the BX frame. Grade 8 bolts keeps the frame secured to the front of the BX frame. None of the bolts have ever come loose while using it. It has all worked 100% perfect for me thru the last 2 winters of plowing snow, but it does have its limitations. This year, i decided to go back to using the FEL. The front blade is nice to keep things cleaned up between snowfalls, but not such a good thing for super deep snows and large drifts. Its only going to handle just so much. But nonetheless, having the blade is really nice for pushing some stone and gravel around in the summer. Especially when i can switch from my JD420 over to my Kubota, then back to the JD when i want it on the JD for certain things. Options are nice, so you don`t have to tie up one tractor.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Wowwww, super nice modding job!!!!!
I did the same thing with my old JD 54in blade for my BX23s. But i used an old donor JD420 frame that i got from a JD junkyard place locally. I cut off the front part of the JD frame, and fitted/bolted it to the front of my BX. I even bought the 4-valve kubota manifold and installed it on the JD blade. I did have to build some spacers for the frame to fit on the front of my BX because the JD420 tractor frame is wider. The spacer blocks i welded in were .875 thick, and very wide for each side to keep it very rigid and tight to the BX frame. Grade 8 bolts keeps the frame secured to the front of the BX frame. None of the bolts have ever come loose while using it. It has all worked 100% perfect for me thru the last 2 winters of plowing snow, but it does have its limitations. This year, i decided to go back to using the FEL. The front blade is nice to keep things cleaned up between snowfalls, but not such a good thing for super deep snows and large drifts. Its only going to handle just so much. But nonetheless, having the blade is really nice for pushing some stone and gravel around in the summer. Especially when i can switch from my JD420 over to my Kubota, then back to the JD when i want it on the JD for certain things. Options are nice, so you don`t have to tie up one tractor.

Sounds exactly what I did when I had this blade on my simplicity. Blade was on a 425 that I sold when I bought the simplicity. Bought a 425 frame, cut the front off, added spacer blocks and made it an adapter for the blade. Just sold that adapter on Marketplace. With 1/2“ plates, the width was perfect on the BX for the quick hitch. Fits better than on the 425.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

i DIDN'T SEE THE BLADE..only THE HUBCAPS !!!

Bought 3 hubcaps for a whopping $6. I siliconed in -442 o-rings on the lip that goes into the rim then used my router table to true the o-rings and get a good fit on the rims. Being cheap, I mean frugal, have about $25 in the hubcaps.

 

[BX23S-1]

Sounds exactly what I did when I had this blade on my simplicity. Blade was on a 425 that I sold when I bought the simplicity. Bought a 425 frame, cut the front off, added spacer blocks and made it an adapter for the blade. Just sold that adapter on Marketplace. With 1/2“ plates, the width was perfect on the BX for the quick hitch. Fits better than on the 425.

Yes sir! And i was told on another tractor forum that it wasn`t possible to put a JD blade on a Kubota. I posted pics of it, and a short video of it working. I proved the deniers wrong. Determination drives me, even as old as i am, i still find ways to make things work, just like you did here! I love it when people tell people like you an me that it can`t be done, lol. "hold beer, and watch this!"

 

[BX23S-1]

Sounds exactly what I did when I had this blade on my simplicity. Blade was on a 425 that I sold when I bought the simplicity. Bought a 425 frame, cut the front off, added spacer blocks and made it an adapter for the blade. Just sold that adapter on Marketplace. With 1/2“ plates, the width was perfect on the BX for the quick hitch. Fits better than on the 425.

Bug,
i found the pictures of mine. Hopefully they posted so you can see them.
Its mounted on the front frame of the BX with 8 bolts. Its ain`t going nowhere, lol.
I`m surprised how fast it actuates. Its hooked up to the Joy stick for the FEL w/4 valve manifold.
If my memory serves me right, i think everything cost me just under $500 to make it all work.
I haven`t painted any of it to this day. Maybe this summer i might get around to it.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Only got to use the blade one time this winter. Results were poor in that it tended to dig in. I feel part of the problem is the aftermarket skid plates that are saucer shaped couldn’t float because of the angle. To level the blade more, the easiest option for me was to add about 2” to the bottom of the blade mount and a 2 “ extension got the up-down cylinder. Blade sets much more true. Won’t know if it works until winter, unless we get a rare May snowstorm!

 

[BX23S-1]

Only got to use the blade one time this winter. Results were poor in that it tended to dig in. I feel part of the problem is the aftermarket skid plates that are saucer shaped couldn’t float because of the angle. To level the blade more, the easiest option for me was to add about 2” to the bottom of the blade mount and a 2 “ extension got the up-down cylinder. Blade sets much more true. Won’t know if it works until winter, unless we get a rare May snowstorm!
View attachment 103201 View attachment 103202 View attachment 103203

I didn`t even have mine out this past winter. Odd winter here. Only plowed snow just once, and i used the back blade to clear the driveway. The 6ft rear blade can plow so much faster than my JD blade. Yeah i see what you mean about those skid plates.