Adapting Truck Snow Plow to Quick Attach

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Got the blade, A-frame, and D-frame blasted yesterday while the weather was nice.
Tonight after work and kids gymnastics I did the POR-15 Metal Prep and rinsed the parts.


Later this week I'll be doing the 2 coats of POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating and then 2 coats of POR-15 Top Coat.

We will see how well their safety orange matches Kubota orange.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Got things painted today.



I also picked up a 3/4" thick 4'x6' mat from tractor supply. I'll try using that for my cutting edge as others have done.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Got things assembled today.



I still need to get the cushion valve and hydraulic lines to finish it up. And also get a piece of 2" wide steel to run the width of the plow to better secure the rubber cutting edge.


Here is the plow at full angle. There is probably 6" clearance at the corners of the QA plate.


This is about how it would look when running it without down pressure from the loader.


Curled forward to provide down pressure.


Overhead view.


View from the back.

So now to get the hydraulics finished up and get some snow. I'm betting on the 2' storm in march this year. We've had almost nothing this far this year. Kind of sad...

 

[dstig1]

Looking great!

 

[Fallon]

Nice tight setup. Kind of like I'm planning on for my 2nd build. Will the hydraulics hit the SSQA frame when applying down pressure?

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Will the hydraulics hit the SSQA frame when applying down pressure?

Thanks, I'm not quite sure what you are asking though. When tilting the SSQA plate forward in order to apply down pressure the plate / plow mount should not hit or interfere with the hydraulic cylinders or the hydraulic lines. I am planning on running the lines out of the way and also having sufficient lengths of line to allow the movement required for applying down pressure.

Let me know if I'm headed off in the wrong direction and didn't answer your question. I will post pics once I get everything complete.

It could be another week though. That is the one thing about Surplus Center that I don't like. If you order something and have it shipped UPS ground it seems like they sit on the order for 3 days before sending it out. If you pay 2-3 times the shipping price they will ship it the same day. Not a good business model in my book.

 

[Fallon]

In the later pictures it looked like the bottom of the SSQA plate was close to where the cylinders would be. But its hard to tell without them there.

Also, how much lateral float does it have, if any?

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Well, come to think of it the cylinders are largest in the middle. I will have to check on that.
If there is interference I will weld a stop on either the SSQA plate/frame, or the plow A-frame.

There is about 1/4" of lateral play back where the A-frame pins onto the QA plate/frame.

It is an old, well used plow so there is plenty of slop in the center pivot to allow the plow to conform to the pitch of a crowned road.

 

[94BULLITT]

You have the best of both worlds, a chain for float but you can still add down pressure.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Finally got the hydraulic goodies from Surplus Center and got it all finished up tonight.


Got some 3" wide x 3/16" thick steel to hold the cutting edge on a bit better.


Here is a pic of how I mounted the cushion valve. Drilled and tapped the C-channel.


Last a view of the fittings and angled lines to avoid pinching when I pivot the plate forward for down pressure. Out of every female NPT fitting I converted it to JIC and then used JIC 90* fittings so I could reliably angle the fitting wherever I needed.

We had about an inch of snow when I finished up so I had to test it out. Worked great. I did not test the down pressure yet, Maybe tomorrow.
Also, there is no interference between the frame and the cylinders.