Snow plow- solid connection or chain suspension??

[rayclar]

If the chain type is built proper you can still have down pressure??

 

[71bronco]

When I built mine I ran the attachment points for the plow behind and under the SSQA plate. This way the plow doesn't stick out in front so far and I can use downpressure if I need to.

Jeff

Edit- Rayclar beat me to it. I did mine almost the same.

 

[Red Horse]

Guys,
Thx for all the comments and opinions. I hear you all on the "shock" issue. My thought process is I am usually plowing in float position-at least once the frost is in the ground. Plus my Fisher has the spring loaded cutting edge-and the cutting edge is a well worn poly. I also have a cross connection valve so if I'm angled and hit something, I have relief.

I actually am going to have to take it off the blade and cut 1/2" off it as the ends are rounded. Being poly, it also doesn't cut as well as a steel edge would. Attached is a better shot of my set up.

I guess I'll sleep on this for a bit

 

[ovrszd]

Red Horse,

If I understand the pic correctly your blade is lifted by the chain?? If so, then you could set the FEL frame at a given height, with the blade on the ground and the chain slightly slack and have the blade float effect?? Looks great to me!!!

 

[MNBobcat]

I'm building one for my skidsteer. It will be suspended by a chain so that it will float if it hits something. However, I'm going to build it so that I can have down pressure too. Consider if the chain were 10 inches long. And if you had an 8 inch long vertical square tubing that would contact the blade mount when you lowered the arms. Raise the arms 2 inches and the vertical tube would no longer contact and the chains would suspend the blade. Drop the blade 2 inches and when the vertical arm hits you could then continue dropping the arms to put as much down pressure on the blade as you want. Hard to describe via words but maybe when I build it I can share some photos. The numbers I used were only for conveying the concept. I'll design it with more than 2 inches of float.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm building one for my skidsteer. It will be suspended by a chain so that it will float if it hits something. However, I'm going to build it so that I can have down pressure too. Consider if the chain were 10 inches long. And if you had an 8 inch long vertical square tubing that would contact the blade mount when you lowered the arms. Raise the arms 2 inches and the vertical tube would no longer contact and the chains would suspend the blade. Drop the blade 2 inches and when the vertical arm hits you could then continue dropping the arms to put as much down pressure on the blade as you want. Hard to describe via words but maybe when I build it I can share some photos. The numbers I used were only for conveying the concept. I'll design it with more than 2 inches of float.

No, that explanation makes perfect sense. You'll only have 2" of float, or less, depending on undulation of the surface being plowed, but its better than full solid, that's for sure. :thumbsup:

 

[Red Horse]

No, that explanation makes perfect sense. You'll only have 2" of float, or less, depending on undulation of the surface being plowed, but its better than full solid, that's for sure. :thumbsup:

Agree! MNBobcat-Genius solution-best of all worlds. My biggest reason for doing this is to backblade away from doors! You get enough heavy snow and blade weight alone doesn't do it. Or I would raise loader arms while rolling dump cylinders forward so blade ends up flat on grade, while reversing-same story-heavy snow, ice and it skips over.

 

[PILOON]

Take my word for it.
You absolutely want FLOAT for general use especially at speed. Also some sort of trip be it whole blade flip or cutting edge flip back.
The only time you want a rigid or fixed blade is to bulldoze or in snow to cut back a hard packed accumulation and then you will need to go really slow or risk damage.

 

[Red Horse]

Take my word for it.
You absolutely want FLOAT for general use especially at speed. Also some sort of trip be it whole blade flip or cutting edge flip back.
The only time you want a rigid or fixed blade is to bulldoze or in snow to cut back a hard packed accumulation and then you will need to go really slow or risk damage.

No argument-and I think I noted that I do plow in float position-but MNBobcats suggestion is a great compromise-- I will be plowing with a loose chain and in float. But when I'm cleaning infront of my doors- or trying to get hardpacked snow broken loose- I can put some weight on it-either pushing or backblading.

 

[MossRoad]

As mentioned, I have a solid setup. I've bent the corners of my plow blade a bit over the years. My tractor is only 1500#, but man does it hurt if you hit something solid at 3-4 MPH. WHAM!!! It rattles your teeth. Can't be good for the equipment.