(ET) Dozer and Lift Motor

[Jeremy Gagliardi com]

I got a chance to try out my dozer blade on Saturday (I haven't had the
opportunity all winter, because of lack of snow).  I was basically
scraping the top layer of soil off of our garden, which had weeded over.

First the Lift Motor:
It seems to me the lift was very strained by raising the blade.  I heard
a clicking noise and the motor went really s-l-o-w as it lifted the
blade.  I wonder if my motor is not up to snuff or if this is normal for
the heavy Dozer blade.

Second, the Dozer blade:
It doesn't seem to have much earth-moving capability.  Basically, every
time I hit a well-rooted weed (like a dense patch of wild onions), the
whole blade would bend over 90 degrees off vertical and slide over the
clump, then whap back into place.  And, the hand clamp seems very stiff
to me.  None of the parts are rusted over, but when I pull the hand
clamp, it goes about 2mm under my tightest grip, and doesn't disengage
that little stop bolt.  Is there a way to lossen this up?

Comments?

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