Chains/binders or ratchet straps?

[RidgeHiker]

I am modifying a snowplow to fit on my loader bucket. I have seen bucket mountings held on with chains/binders and load ratchet straps. One or the other seem to work better?
Below are photos of what I am referring to.

 

[mjncad]

Nylon stretches, so I'd go with chains and binders; but I think what you're trying to accomplish with a plow hanging off a bucket is going to be a huge disappointment in operation.

First you have a lot of weight cantilevered a long ways in front of your tractor.

Second is that loader frames really aren't designed for the kind of stress that setup is going to put on them.

Third, unless you put some serious ballast out the back end, your front axle is going to take a lot of strain, and with a light rear end, traction is not going to be optimal.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Why would this put a different stress on the frame than pushing with the bucket alone?

 

[AKfish]

Why would this put a different stress on the frame than pushing with the bucket alone?

Short answer - the length of the lever.

More detailed answer - the added weight of the blade extended significantly further along the axis of the tractor's frame.

Think of a 3lb sledgehammer with a 16 inch handle extended outward with a straight arm.

Now, consider the 3lb sledgehammer with a 32 inch handle extended outward with a straight arm.

Which configuration will exert a greater strain on your extended arm?

AKfish

 

[RickB]

Short answer - the length of the lever.

More detailed answer - the added weight of the blade extended significantly further along the axis of the tractor's frame.

Think of a 3lb sledgehammer with a 16 inch handle extended outward with a straight arm.

Now, consider the 3lb sledgehammer with a 32 inch handle extended outward with a straight arm.

Which configuration will exert a greater strain on your extended arm?

AKfish

Not to mention the lateral forces generated by an angled blade (not common in loader operation) compounded by the aforementioned length of the lever. And the weight removed from the rear axle as the additional weight is added waaay out in front of the FEL bucket edge which will decrease rear traction and add stress to the front axle drive components.

 

[Glen Watkins]

Drop the bucket and mount the plow to a quick attach plate would help some. Do a search here you will find lots of info. Good luck!

 

[Case485Guy]

Just an FYI..
Tie-down straps are made using Polyester not Nylon. Nylon will stretch, Polyester does not.

 

[RidgeHiker]

I still am not clear on a few things:
The lever. If you lift it will add extra stress due to the extra length. At the same time you are not using the plow to lift, but push. If you push straight with a long or short lever it probably comes out pretty much the same. If the blade is not angled this would seem to be the case.

I would imagine that there is less force on the closer in side of an angled blade than the other since it is releasing snow off to the side but I am not sure if that is the case. At any rate, I could see how if the force is unequal and the lever is longer it would magnify the difference. That is the only way the longer lever seems to make a difference???

Since the plow is generally going to be sliding on the ground, with most of the weight supported by the ground, would it really un-weight the rear tires that much?

 

[mwb]

Since the plow is generally going to be sliding on the ground, with most of the weight supported by the ground, would it really un-weight the rear tires that much?

In a straight line, pushing the plow without it angled, and with and evenly distributed load - then no, it won't operate significantly different than having it mounted properly. The problem will be when you want to angle the blade (snow will push your front end around) or at the end of your push when you decide to try to push a pile up and raise the loader. Basically having it mounted like that is a lot less than ideal. If your intention is to only push forward (not angle) then why not just get a wider bucket?

Either remove the bucket to mount it, or mount the blade on the 3pt (you have to drive backwards and obviously won't work if you use a blower).

 

[Patches]

I have used a very similar setup before I got the blower(sometimes even use it now for 1 to 2 inch snow falls).My plow is somewhat lighter than the one pictured(one of those home owners units made in Canada for small pickups/SUVs [Snow Bear]. I've noticed no illl effects on the loader bucket nor the arms. If there has been any damage, it is so minimal as to be insignificant