2022 Outlander Max 6x6

[ArlyA]

Bent the push frame on the KFI plow yesterday. Was working in wet snow that was sticking on the top of it when I was lifted it. Was in the phone with the manufacture to get another.

 

[kenmbz]

Are they going to cover any of the replacement cost?

 

[ArlyA]

Are they going to cover any of the replacement cost?

Not sure but the tech guy did ask to see photos of it. Its just $120 plus shipping.

 

[kenmbz]

Looks like a weak spot in the photos, they may want to brace it ?

 

[airbiscuit]

Or use heavier wall tubing.

 

[ArlyA]

It has a "stiffener" plate which is there heavy push option. Its over the tubes in the lower part of this photo. Off, in the lower photo.

 

[airbiscuit]

Seems like a design flaw to me if it bends that easily.

 

[ArlyA]

Seems like a design flaw to me if it bends that easily.

Why did it bend?

 

[airbiscuit]

Did it bend while lifting, or pushing?

 

[ArlyA]

Did it bend while lifting, or pushing?

Was working in wet snow that was sticking to the top of it when I was lifting the blade.

 

[airbiscuit]

So, simply lifting the blade bends the push tube? That seems weak to me.

 

[ArlyA]

So, simply lifting the blade bends the push tube? That seems weak to me.

Do you own at UTV of ATV with a plow?

 

[airbiscuit]

Yep. Never bent anything. You don't think that push tube should be able to lift the blade without bending? Seems under engineered to me.

 

[ArlyA]

Position A is the push frame assembly where its attached (via pins) to the atv. This is the point the blade is normally pushed with.

2K is some hard wet snow on top of the push frame and keeps that assembly from its normal rising.

The right most up arrow is your 5000lb winch that is going to lift the frame anyway. With 2k in the way, something will be bend.

No compression force is being exerted on the push frame.

 

[airbiscuit]

2,000# of snow? If I get this right, the (flat) stiffener sections allow for snow to build up and (compact) to the point that it's the same as jamming a log in there and then lifting. What's to keep that from happening again? I'll say it again - flawed design.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Sometimes lighter weight areas are engineered as sort of "sacrificial" components to keep more expensive and harder to access parts from being damaged. Sounds like ArlyA understands what happened.

 

[ArlyA]

Sometimes lighter weight areas are engineered as sort of "sacrificial" components to keep more expensive and harder to access parts from being damaged. Sounds like ArlyA understands what happened.

Maybe,, If the push frame wouldn't have bent, the atv frame would have.

 

[ning]

It has a "stiffener" plate which is there heavy push option. Its over the tubes in the lower part of this photo. Off, in the lower photo.
View attachment 1963728View attachment 1963753

Maybe put a little A-frame "hat" over that to keep packed snow from falling on it and accumulating?

 

[ArlyA]

Maybe put a little A-frame "hat" over that to keep packed snow from falling on it and accumulating?

Can't add much there, it fits right against the machines underside when fully lifted and I wish it rose more than it does now. I might need to build my own push frame and leave off the reinforcements that KFI had added. In the below print, you can see the push tubes don't have many cross member to hang onto snow. Would need to use stiffer tubing.

 

[ning]

I don't know where the attachment point is to the ATV; I don't really have a reference for what the weight was.

I'm guessing that your drawing with 10' & 5' & 2k# was just an example forces drawing as I'd assume that the entire length of your lever arm & plow isn't 15' long...

so was the hard snow buildup on top of those plates, getting squished by the winch lifting between the frame and the bottom of the ATV?