2022 Outlander Max 6x6

[ArlyA]

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?

It was wet snow building up there and getting packed with every subsequent lift.

 

[ArlyA]

Many atv's (not all) push frame attach on the frame, near the stirrups. I tried to find a nice photo that shows this. Our push frame is quite long since it needs to be out in front enough to not hit the tracks. Might be 4ft long. Just measured it. Rear pins to blade pivot point is close to 4ft (not trip points, they are further forward)

 

[ning]

Ok, so snow builds up above the frame possibly because of the stiffening plates, gets compacted and icy, and at some point the winch is lifting the end of the lever and the previous-snow-now-block-of-ice doesn't nicely get out of the way and the tubes bend.

Seems legit. My guess is it's important to occasionally clear the build-up, kinda like how ice would build up under your boots in a 75mm nordic norm xc binding.

 

[plastikosmd]

Were you lifting or pushing when this occurred?

 

[ArlyA]

Were you lifting or pushing when this occurred?

It was wet snow building up there and getting packed with every subsequent lift.

 

[airbiscuit]

What is the company doing to make it right?

 

[ArlyA]

Ok, so snow builds up above the frame possibly because of the stiffening plates, gets compacted and icy, and at some point the winch is lifting the end of the lever and the previous-snow-now-block-of-ice doesn't nicely get out of the way and the tubes bend.

Seems legit. My guess is it's important to occasionally clear the build-up, kinda like how ice would build up under your boots in a 75mm nordic norm xc binding.

This is the 1st time in two years of use this has happned. It was about 26 degrees out and we don't normally groom in a high moisture situation but it was that day. In this photo you can "sorta" see the back of the blade and push frame is always 100% snowed.

 

[LittleBill21]

so the stiffening plates sit above the tubes? I don't have plates, just tubes and no winch.

I can see how this happens.

what I would do.

put a limiter on the winch cable, so it stalls the winch so you can't get carried away.

then install 12v heating pads on the stiffening plates to melt the snow. Not sure why your system needs the stiffening plates, I haven't seen that before. but does seem like its going to keep happening.

Amazon.com

 

[Hay Dude]

Sounds like the machine with tracks has too much “push” power or tractive strength for the plow.
Maybe plow only designed for the tires version?

 

[LittleBill21]

Sounds like the machine with tracks has too much “push” power or tractive strength for the plow.
Maybe plow only designed for the tires version?

its because he's using a 5k winch and pulling up WAY to hard. although a cable limiter can help, it won't fix a snow binding issue. if the melting comment I made doesn't work. I prolly would use a 30A auto reset circuit breaker. at least it would tell me the issue was forming.

 

[Hay Dude]

its because he's using a 5k winch and pulling up WAY to hard. although a cable limiter can help, it won't fix a snow binding issue. if the melting comment I made doesn't work. I prolly would use a 30A auto reset circuit breaker. at least it would tell me the issue was forming.

Thanks.
I thought he bent it piling up wet heavy snow. Sounds like the plow lift mechanism bent the plow frame.

 

[ArlyA]

so the stiffening plates sit above the tubes? I don't have plates, just tubes and no winch.

I can see how this happens.

what I would do.

put a limiter on the winch cable, so it stalls the winch so you can't get carried away.

then install 12v heating pads on the stiffening plates to melt the snow. Not sure why your system needs the stiffening plates, I haven't seen that before. but does seem like its going to keep happening.

Amazon.com

This is what the stiffener plates look like and they sandwich the push tubes at the front. We ordered this plow two years ago so I can't recall much of this info but I knew we'd be hard on this 6ft blade so I got it. As you can see, does have a large cutout in its center.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is the baby sized version of our plow.

 

[airbiscuit]

So, is the manufacturer going to make you whole, seeing as how their design gets bent by snow build up?

 

[ArlyA]

Out rolling some new snow down today. No plow parts have shown up here..

 

[ArlyA]

Got the machine into a warm garaged yesterday for much needed melt off. We don't have a heated shop.

 

[ArlyA]

I ordered some suspension springs (4 of them) for this machine which are suppose to be much firmer. This is to help hold the front up when plowing.

 

[ArlyA]

Photos of a working machine.

 

[airbiscuit]

That's a nice wide trail!

 

[ArlyA]

That's a nice wide trail!

Its a logging road. We got snow overnight and in the 5 day forecast to this machine will be out working.