Snow Blade Roll function on snow blade?

[blooper]

Looking for advice on install of a front quick attach snow blade on my FEL.

Do you guys that have one use the roll function very often when using the blade? I'm trying to decide if I will use the roll function hoses or run longer lines to the rear of my machine to use the auxiliary remotes that are back there. I'd rather do one of these two things instead of installing a new set of remotes on the front end for $1000.

Thanks!!

 

[BoylermanCT]

I have hoses running from the back to the front to control the plow left / right angling. I used the tilt on the FEL to pick up and lower the snowplow. I hardly ever raise or lower the actual FEL arms when plowing. I set them so they are 12" off the driveway. The FEL tilt picks up the plow with a chain running from the top of the quick attach plate to the plow frame. The extra hydraulics on the FEL will come in handy if you ever buy a grapple too.

 

[blooper]

I have hoses running from the back to the front to control the plow left / right angling. I used the tilt on the FEL to pick up and lower the snowplow. I hardly ever raise or lower the actual FEL arms when plowing. I set them so they are 12" off the driveway. The FEL tilt picks up the plow with a chain running from the top of the quick attach plate to the plow frame. The extra hydraulics on the FEL will come in handy if you ever buy a grapple too.

Do you find the controls for the angle too far from your FEL stick? On my Massey those aux controls are back beside my right shoulder.

Also, the plow I'm looking at doesn't have a chain to lift.... at least I don't think it does. Any pros and cons to this different style plow?

 

[sixdogs]

I have always run hoses to the back. Sometimes it takes a little getting used to but it's easy and works best for me.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have a 3rd function remote up front for my plow. Very convenient, but there are plenty of work arounds.
I lift the plow over high obstructions frequently, so the fel lift function is out. I don't use the roll function when plowing, but I did recently read a post about rolling the blade for back dragging.
Anyway, with rear remotes I would probably run the lines to the rear and use those. I don't pretend to know all of the ins and outs of hydraulics... Some methods may present problems.

 

[blooper]

I have a 3rd function remote up front for my plow. Very convenient, but there are plenty of work arounds.
I lift the plow over high obstructions frequently, so the fel lift function is out. I don't use the roll function when plowing, but I did recently read a post about rolling the blade for back dragging.
Anyway, with rear remotes I would probably run the lines to the rear and use those. I don't pretend to know all of the ins and outs of hydraulics... Some methods may present problems.

I think the rear remotes are he way to go for now. I do have a fair amount of back dragging so the roll function will probably be important.

 

[Ford850]

I think the rear remotes are he way to go for now. I do have a fair amount of back dragging so the roll function will probably be important.

That's definitely the way to go. I use the roll function all day when plowing. My angle adjustment (temporary hoses from back to front) is down lower and to the side of my seat, but once you get used to things it becomes second nature. The chain lift you mentioned, I assume you mean a floating blade. To me, I wouldn't buy a plow without that. Not all blades use a chain to float though, so you'll have to look at that more. To me the biggest advantage of a floating blade is so I can keep the FEL arms raised slightly and let the blade float, keeping the FEL weight on the front axle for traction. It's also very nice for plowing contours and hilly drives.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Do you find the controls for the angle too far from your FEL stick? On my Massey those aux controls are back beside my right shoulder.

Also, the plow I'm looking at doesn't have a chain to lift.... at least I don't think it does. Any pros and cons to this different style plow?

View attachment 497214

My rear remotes are controlled by 2 levers right at my knees, so they are located 18" from the loader joystick.

The chain style plow allows you to float the plow to allow it to follow the contours of the driveway, and by tilting the quick attach plate back, I can pick up the plow 3' off the ground in less than 1 second. This minimizes damage to the lawn when moving the snow off the edge of the driveway. Using the FEL arms to raise the plow takes longer and you will have a tendency to scrape more grass off the lawn.

I plowed for 1 season without the rear remotes, and angled the plow by hand. Get off the tractor, pull the pin on the plow, set the plow at the left or right angle and put the pin back in. Having it done hydraulically is a huge time saver, and plows are heavy and not easy to move by hand. I also like have infinite angle positions, it is not all the way left, center and all the way right.

 

[blooper]

My rear remotes are controlled by 2 levers right at my knees, so they are located 18" from the loader joystick.

The chain style plow allows you to float the plow to allow it to follow the contours of the driveway, and by tilting the quick attach plate back, I can pick up the plow 3' off the ground in less than 1 second. This minimizes damage to the lawn when moving the snow off the edge of the driveway. Using the FEL arms to raise the plow takes longer and you will have a tendency to scrape more grass off the lawn.

I plowed for 1 season without the rear remotes, and angled the plow by hand. Get off the tractor, pull the pin on the plow, set the plow at the left or right angle and put the pin back in. Having it done hydraulically is a huge time saver, and plows are heavy and not easy to move by hand. I also like have infinite angle positions, it is not all the way left, center and all the way right.

Tks for info.

Am I missing something or couldn't I still lift the plow in the photo using the roll function without having the chain style mount?

 

[BoylermanCT]

The plow looks like a skid steer type plow, so you should be able to lift it, but I don't think you can float it without using the float on the FEL. The disadvantage of this is that floating the FEL takes some of the weight of the FEL off the front axle, and when you plow, you will want as much weight on the axle as possible. I have a regular truck plow that I mounted on a quick attach plate. I tilt the plate forward when plowing, and this makes the lift chain go slack, and the plow floats on the driveway, so the plow stays in full contact with the driveway no matter what angle the tractor is at. When I want to lift the blade to avoid digging up sod, I simply angle the plate back, and the chain goes tight and picks the plow up. Like I said it is just much faster lifting this way than using the FEL. The tilt has about a 6:1 ratio - for every 1 inch I tilt the quick attach back, the plow picks up 6 inches.

Bottom line is you will get used to how your plow operates, and you will make it work. Its still 1000X better than a shovel!

 

[blooper]

The plow looks like a skid steer type plow, so you should be able to lift it, but I don't think you can float it without using the float on the FEL. The disadvantage of this is that floating the FEL takes some of the weight of the FEL off the front axle, and when you plow, you will want as much weight on the axle as possible. I have a regular truck plow that I mounted on a quick attach plate. I tilt the plate forward when plowing, and this makes the lift chain go slack, and the plow floats on the driveway, so the plow stays in full contact with the driveway no matter what angle the tractor is at. When I want to lift the blade to avoid digging up sod, I simply angle the plate back, and the chain goes tight and picks the plow up. Like I said it is just much faster lifting this way than using the FEL. The tilt has about a 6:1 ratio - for every 1 inch I tilt the quick attach back, the plow picks up 6 inches.

Bottom line is you will get used to how your plow operates, and you will make it work. Its still 1000X better than a shovel!

Ahhhhh, I see what you're saying now. This is a skid steer type. I'll def be keeping the roll function and running some longer lines to the rear. Thanks for the help. And yes, much better than a shovel!

 

[Fallon]

I fiddled with curl a lot on my old L3200 & light truck plow with a chain toplink. It was a manual angle plow, so no hydraulic issues.

My new SnowDawgg plow on my new L4060hstc is a solid mount with no chain or anything for float, other than the loader float. We haven't gotten any snow worth plowing this year so no clue how it will work. I'm expecting I won't like it & will be retrofitting a hinge or something on it so the plow will float.

A solid mount probably works good on parking lots. But I plow uneven gravel & really loved the float on my old plow mount.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I fiddled with curl a lot on my old L3200 & light truck plow with a chain toplink. It was a manual angle plow, so no hydraulic issues.

My new SnowDawgg plow on my new L4060hstc is a solid mount with no chain or anything for float, other than the loader float. We haven't gotten any snow worth plowing this year so no clue how it will work. I'm expecting I won't like it & will be retrofitting a hinge or something on it so the plow will float.

A solid mount probably works good on parking lots. But I plow uneven gravel & really loved the float on my old plow mount.

I assume by solid mount it mounts to the tractor frame, and not the FEL. This is probably the best method, assuming it is hinged where it meets the frame so it lets the plow float. I always have a little fear in the back of my mind that I am going to damage the FEL somehow by hitting something that does not move!

 

[blooper]

I assume by solid mount it mounts to the tractor frame, and not the FEL. This is probably the best method, assuming it is hinged where it meets the frame so it lets the plow float. I always have a little fear in the back of my mind that I am going to damage the FEL somehow by hitting something that does not move!

This one is solid mount to the FEL, that seems to be the norm around here for farm tractor applications. And there aren't to many places that get more snow than we do.

It mounts the same as a set of forks. Then connect the lines for hydraulic angle.

 

[Fallon]

I assume by solid mount it mounts to the tractor frame, and not the FEL. This is probably the best method, assuming it is hinged where it meets the frame so it lets the plow float. I always have a little fear in the back of my mind that I am going to damage the FEL somehow by hitting something that does not move!

Incorrect. By solid mount I mean the plow A frame is bolted directly to the SSQA plate & doesn't flex. Plow articulation can only change by curling or lifting/floating the loader.

My old plow mounted to a 3pt Quick Hitch welded to a SSQA plate. The A frame fit in the lift hooks & a chain went from the top hook to the plow frame up front. The plow would float up & down a lot pivoting in the QH lift hooks as the chain would go slack.

Plow - Google Photos
the yellow plow is my old one that ran off with the L3200. The stainless one is my unproven new one on my new L4060hstc.

 

[nybirdman]

With a "solid mount" as the tractor rear goes down the plow comes up and vice versa.For uneven ground a floating plow(not the FEL) is superior IMHO.

 

[charlton289]

I use the roll on mine because I don't have any remotes. It's a modified wheel horse plow it's 4' but I added a 1' 3" to each side out of aluminum so it's 6' 6" and my little GC 1705 has no problem pushing it with about 10" snow

 

[blooper]

Well after purchasing an HLA 2000 front mount snowblade, I decided to go with a set of lines running to the rear remotes of tractor. I have quick couplers bracketed to the front of the FEL so I can leave the hoses and just connect/disconnect the blade when needed.
It works very well, only slightly inconvenient to have the angle on a separate lever, well worth saving about $700. (Approx 40 ft of 3/8 line with couplers at each end was about $300).

And btw, I love the front blade, we're getting another 40 to 60 cms right now. (2 feet!)

 

[RjCorazza]

Well after purchasing an HLA 2000 front mount snowblade, I decided to go with a set of lines running to the rear remotes of tractor. I have quick couplers bracketed to the front of the FEL so I can leave the hoses and just connect/disconnect the blade when needed.
It works very well, only slightly inconvenient to have the angle on a separate lever, well worth saving about $700. (Approx 40 ft of 3/8 line with couplers at each end was about $300).
And btw, I love the front blade, we're getting another 40 to 60 cms right now. (2 feet!)

I also have an HLA 2000 blade. I think you will be very satisfied with yours. I still need to get used to a few things like the pivoting left and right of the blade on angled terrain, which will make my job easier plowing driveways that meet the road at an incline. Hard to describe, but with my previous rigid rear blade I had to watch my angle carefully so I didn't dig a corner of the blade into the pavement. I need 2 available rear remotes for a blower, so I use the 3rd function on the FEL for the plow.

 

[blooper]

I also have an HLA 2000 blade. I think you will be very satisfied with yours. I still need to get used to a few things like the pivoting left and right of the blade on angled terrain, which will make my job easier plowing driveways that meet the road at an incline. Hard to describe, but with my previous rigid rear blade I had to watch my angle carefully so I didn't dig a corner of the blade into the pavement. I need 2 available rear remotes for a blower, so I use the 3rd function on the FEL for the plow.

You were right... we got 2 feet of snow in last 48 hours... and i am very satisfied with it!