Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow plow damaging tractor?

[kennyd]

Do you have any picture of your tractor and plow setup?

Sure, I thought I had a whole thread on it...but can't find it.

 

[Duffster]

Sure, I thought I had a whole thread on it...but can't find it.

Very nice, Thanks.

 

[Paystar]

Nice looking tractor you got there Builder. I don't see anything wrong with that setup.
Fel or frame mounted.....if your stupid enough, you can break s&*t with either one.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I've got pretty much the same setup as builder. Think I'll be fine because of a) the trip, b) I'm only plowing my drive and road and I know them and c) the m59 has a pretty tough FEL arms setup

Don't think I'd use the loader setup on the 3030 though. Nor would I plow dirt with the loader, though I do with a 4n1 with no problems

I agree that knowing where you are plowing, and not ramming, and having a trip, will save a lot of trouble

 

[4shorts]

As some will know. I modified my loader attachment to adapt a plow that I used on my truck to fit my Kubota loader. I used it all last winter with very few problems. The only problems I had with mine was when I designed it I never added skids at the rear of the plow frame and when I was plowing snow I would have to be extra careful so the rear plow frame wouldn't did into the pavement. After I adapted the two rear pads it wasn't an issue anymore and was a pleasure to use.
I also added side mounted Super Nova led strobe lights to the plow because when I'm plowing a driveway on coming traffic can see me better. I do also use a rear mounted snow blower. I use it cleaning out parking compounds. Instead of just removing the snow with the bucket which takes up to 2.5 hours to do I pile up all the snow with the bucket in the middle of the compound and then back in and blow it over the fence which takes less than an hour and I get paid the full 2.5 for it so It was a good investment for me.

There will always be a debate over what works best on a tractor but I like the FEL mounted plow. I can pile up the snow mush higher then a frame mounted one. A front mounted blower wouldn't work for me. It's to slow compared to the angled blade and besides I would have no where to blow the snow in my case because there are lots all around me and I can't blow the snow on them.

During the winter when the snow starts to pile up I get paid extra to remove the snow and with the quick change attachment on the loader I just drop the blade and pick up the bucket and move the snow. My system won't work for everyone's needs but it sure works well for mine.

Here's the link to how I did mine:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/131136-snow-plow-adapted-front-end.html

 

[DavidVT]

No FEL damage yet and I have a fairly light loader for my 3430 (woods 1009 in picture below on my last tractor)

I've been using a very heavy home made FEL mounted Fisher plow setup on my 3430 since I gave up on my last off road plow truck. I have a few horse shoe style drives that are very uneven. Sitting behind the wheel, I can see and feel the forces that could damage the FEL arms if I let them.

My strategy, which has worked so far, is to try and plow in low range most of the time. A few wide open areas I will run in mid range. I only put chains on the rears, preferring to see the front wheels side slide if the plow gets too heavily loaded while angle plowing.

For small storms I just use the bucket and rear blade. My wife does not like to use the Fisher because it hangs out so far in front of the tractor.

For larger cleanups, IMHO no plow beats the ability to plow snow into large piles than pushing show and lifting the FEL at the same time. (yes a blower would probably do more but I've got too much rock for that I think)

Given enough time, I want to pull the plow in closer to the FEL. I hope to use ideas that I see on 4shorts thread including TTTTTT's. I actually started to look for a QA plate this weekend for that project. I plan to start fresh as I have two old plow rigs to work with.

I like the cushion valve idea and will consider that for my setup.

The picture of my plow setup are pretty old. Since then I added a vertical member to the QA plate so the lift chain would pull more vertical. In the photo the QA plate is tipped forward to allow the plow to rest for these photos, normally the plate would be more vertical to keep the pivot points out of the ground.

The image of the wreck is my best side shot of the full loader before the sun turned the woods paint towards something that looks like a creamsicle. For those that don't recall, that tractor (RIP) had three hours on it when I got t-boned by the big Merc. Wow, this one will be 5y.o. next spring....

 

[Ductape]

I gotta ask David, were you out in the road when you were hit...... or did the car fall off of the road and hit you?

 

[Builder]

As some will know. I modified my loader attachment to adapt a plow that I used on my truck to fit my Kubota loader. I used it all last winter with very few problems. The only problems I had with mine was when I designed it I never added skids at the rear of the plow frame and when I was plowing snow I would have to be extra careful so the rear plow frame wouldn't did into the pavement. After I adapted the two rear pads it wasn't an issue anymore and was a pleasure to use.
I also added side mounted Super Nova led strobe lights to the plow because when I'm plowing a driveway on coming traffic can see me better. I do also use a rear mounted snow blower. I use it cleaning out parking compounds. Instead of just removing the snow with the bucket which takes up to 2.5 hours to do I pile up all the snow with the bucket in the middle of the compound and then back in and blow it over the fence which takes less than an hour and I get paid the full 2.5 for it so It was a good investment for me.

There will always be a debate over what works best on a tractor but I like the FEL mounted plow. I can pile up the snow mush higher then a frame mounted one. A front mounted blower wouldn't work for me. It's to slow compared to the angled blade and besides I would have no where to blow the snow in my case because there are lots all around me and I can't blow the snow on them.

During the winter when the snow starts to pile up I get paid extra to remove the snow and with the quick change attachment on the loader I just drop the blade and pick up the bucket and move the snow. My system won't work for everyone's needs but it sure works well for mine.

Here's the link to how I did mine:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/131136-snow-plow-adapted-front-end.html

I think the thing that makes some pause when wanting to start a thread or contribute to a thread with a new idea or just a better version of an existing idea is the "negative factor". That is, when someone posts up an idea, concept, picture, etc., they'll get negative feedback. I can take it, but I admit, I'm more reluctant to share ideas, photos, etc. than I used to be.

I think the FEL snowplow has its' place or they wouldn't be mounted to skid steer loader arms for fear of damage, either. Put the loader in float and equipped with trip springs, it works fine. I wouldn't go real fast through snow on a driveway you never plowed in before, but even with a truck mounted plow, you need to be careful.

For me, the hassle of removing the loader outweighed the risk of hitting something with the blade hard enough to damage the loader. Best thing I like removing is quickly the plow blade and attaching the loader bucket quickly so I can go back out and stack snow with the bucket.

 

[Duffster]

I think the FEL snowplow has its' place or they wouldn't be mounted to skid steer loader arms for fear of damage, either.

Apple to Oranges, mounting a blade on a skidloader is a completely different animal than on a FEL

For me, the hassle of removing the loader outweighed the risk of hitting something with the blade hard enough to damage the loader. Best thing I like removing is quickly the plow blade and attaching the loader bucket quickly so I can go back out and stack snow with the bucket.

I have seen some pretty handy homemade setups where the FEL is left on and used to lift the frame mounted plow.

One of the biggest benefits of the direct lift frame mount is the down pressure like you can see in Kenny's pics.

 

[Builder]

Apple to Oranges, mounting a blade on a skidloader is a completely different animal than on a FEL.

Really?

 

[Duffster]

Really?

Sorry, I probably should have worded it different for you.

The forces applied to a FEL is different than the forces applied to the skidloaders boom.

 

[4shorts]

I think the thing that makes some pause when wanting to start a thread or contribute to a thread with a new idea or just a better version of an existing idea is the "negative factor". That is, when someone posts up an idea, concept, picture, etc., they'll get negative feedback. I can take it, but I admit, I'm more reluctant to share ideas, photos, etc. than I used to be.

I think the FEL snowplow has its' place or they wouldn't be mounted to skid steer loader arms for fear of damage, either. Put the loader in float and equipped with trip springs, it works fine. I wouldn't go real fast through snow on a driveway you never plowed in before, but even with a truck mounted plow, you need to be careful.

For me, the hassle of removing the loader outweighed the risk of hitting something with the blade hard enough to damage the loader. Best thing I like removing is quickly the plow blade and attaching the loader bucket quickly so I can go back out and stack snow with the bucket.

Man I know what your saying and the sad part is your right. The negative factor is alive and well on all these sites. I don't post much of my work any more because of it although I have to say that I haven't had many if any contradict my work but I've seen other being ripped apart for a new idea they had and that's just not right.

For me if I had to use a frame mounted blade I wouldn't have purchased a tractor. I would have gone with another truck mounted blade. I need the set up I have with the blower in the rear and the FEL with the quick change set up. I've seen days where I needed the bucket and the blade two or three times a day plus with the FEL mounted blade I can push the snow up higher than a frame mounted blade plus I can carry the snow and put it where I want it.

As for doing damage. Well I have clocked over 20.000 hours on big Cat equipment and I've had loader booms crack because of buckets and that was on a Cat 966D loader so no matter what you use it can break.

 

[DK35vince]

I've been plowing snow using a FEL mounted blade for the last 5 or 6 years.
Works good. No problems.

 

[4shorts]

I've been plowing snow using a FEL mounted blade for the last 5 or 6 years.
Works good. No problems.

Nice looking machine there sir!

I really think if I were looking for strength I would have to agree with Duffster and use a frame mounted blade. It has to be stronger because it becomes part of the machine. It just wouldn't work for my needs considering where I have to plow snow.

 

[Builder]

Man I know what your saying and the sad part is your right. The negative factor is alive and well on all these sites. I don't post much of my work any more because of it although I have to say that I haven't had many if any contradict my work but I've seen other being ripped apart for a new idea they had and that's just not right.

Thanks, you explained it better than me. I see so many people insulted and their ideas marginalized on the internet that I don't blame them if the next time they have a great idea, they don't share it. ANY idea can be improved on, but originality is the way it all gets started.

For me if I had to use a frame mounted blade I wouldn't have purchased a tractor. I would have gone with another truck mounted blade. I need the set up I have with the blower in the rear and the FEL with the quick change set up. I've seen days where I needed the bucket and the blade two or three times a day plus with the FEL mounted blade I can push the snow up higher than a frame mounted blade plus I can carry the snow and put it where I want it.

As for doing damage. Well I have clocked over 20.000 hours on big Cat equipment and I've had loader booms crack because of buckets and that was on a Cat 966D loader so no matter what you use it can break.

That's right. I don't have time to worry about what might happen too much, either. I know deep down inside if I don't beat my equipment, it will be fine.

 

[Bedlam]

I agree on the negative factor. Ive seen it and been a part of it.I was critized once even when giving a christmas greeting.
And then a few of my projects were ripped, So I pass by on alot of them.
Its about sharing ideas and projects.
The unfortunate thing is thats what the site is about Or at least I think it is.
Slightly ironic that this post here from me is negative. LOL
I still love and enjoy TBN even when I get frustrated with some of the postings. But dont judge them all by one or two.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I gotta say, I think the cushion valve is a good idea, and plan to put one one. Never would have occurred to me on my own

 

[Jim1764]

Hi Paul, where did you get the 1/4" poly for your plow? I have a old Myers plow and the moldboard is getting pretty rotted. I'd like to cut it off and replace it with the 1/4" poly and not have to worry about it again. All I've been able to find if the 1/16" stuff you put over the metal. Thanks,

Jim

 

[4shorts]

Hi Paul, where did you get the 1/4" poly for your plow? I have a old Myers plow and the moldboard is getting pretty rotted. I'd like to cut it off and replace it with the 1/4" poly and not have to worry about it again. All I've been able to find if the 1/16" stuff you put over the metal. Thanks,

Jim

Hello Jim. That would be a good move. That poly skin has been on my blade for 14 years and It don't need painting and wet snow don't stick to it. I know you can purchase a replacment skin but I never had to so I don't know the cost. I attached a link to a site that may be able to help you out with your search. If you use it you'll be glad that you did. Good luck. Paul

Arctic Snowplows | Chasse Neige

 

[harpoonalt]

My neighbor has a FEL mounted snowplow and it works really well. You do have to be careful with anything that far out front because of the forces exerted on your loader arms. There are a lot of good points here but some of the negativity is perceived but not intended. Two guys talking can say stuff and be fine, but put it on the internet without the body language, tone of voice, or just knowing someone, causes a lot of misunderstanding. I see people get hammered when they only meant to be helpful and suggest changes and peoples projects get torn apart just because. For the most part it's one of the best forums I've been on. Tractor people tend to just be nice folks, I guess. Let's not ruin our reputation.