Another pipe-on-the-FEL for pushing snow

[rus_geek]

After reading through a few other threads on the topic of plowing snow on gravel, I experimented with PVC (shattered in ten feet) and ABS (got one plowing done before destroyed). Now, I've bolted a piece of two inch pipe to the bottom edge of the bucket. Works like a charm! I'll be figuring out how to "round" the ends of the pipe, since those corners occasionally dig in, but at least most of my gravel will be on my driveway in spring and not in my snowbanks!

As an added bonus, this design works really well for back-dragging, too. Let's me pull snow away from the garage doors and other tight spaces without worrying about the pipe coming off.

-rus-

 

[JJZ 109]

I wonder if the pipe were extended on each end just a tad, threaded and then had pipe caps put on them if that would help with the ends digging in? Just an idea off the top of my head.

 

[George2615]

If you have access to pipe fittings, you could weld a 45 degree elbow on each end of your pipe pointing up. Or just cut yourself a couple 2" pipe extensions on an angle and weld them on each end.

 

[t man]

Here is one I made last winter. I mounted it like a tooth bar.I installed it on the bucket before I bent it ,then stuck a crowbar in the ends of the pipe and heated it with torches and bent it around.If you have access to a pipe bender that would work even better.Tim

 

[Johndeere3720]

These are very good ideas. If i had a FEL on my Yanmar I would do the same. I wonder how to do this for my Rear blade.

 

[sandman2234]

Interesting, I never thought about need a round surface to push anything. Guess it makes sense, so you don't dig into whatever the snow is sitting on. If you mount the pipe far enough back on the underside of the fel, you can still tilt the front edge down to bite into ice if that is a problem. Capping the ends with a screw on would leave tracks in your drive, but weld-on caps would be fine. Are there disadvantages to leaving the ends open versus sealed, when it comes to rusting, or is it something you will wear out before it rusts out?
Would a strip of delron work? *I think that is the plastic that is easy to machine, but wears like a piece of steel?
David from jax ( a place where we just wonder about snow)

 

[dcyrilc]

After reading through a few other threads on the topic of plowing snow on gravel, I experimented with PVC (shattered in ten feet) and ABS (got one plowing done before destroyed). Now, I've bolted a piece of two inch pipe to the bottom edge of the bucket. Works like a charm! I'll be figuring out how to "round" the ends of the pipe, since those corners occasionally dig in, but at least most of my gravel will be on my driveway in spring and not in my snowbanks!

As an added bonus, this design works really well for back-dragging, too. Let's me pull snow away from the garage doors and other tight spaces without worrying about the pipe coming off.

-rus-

One possibility would be to use good metal fence post caps, The good ones not the pot metal ones, and tack weld them in place. One note... fence companies use outside diameter measurements... 2-3/8" for 2" pipe.

 

[Usta]

I was playing with a design just this morning. I was thinking of a small (3" wide x 6" 3/8 steel)ski design on each end. Then this afternoon I was scraping hard packed snow and ice by backdragging using the cutting edge with the bucket about 45 degrees. I could not do that with your or my design. I like the pipe Idea. What do you think of the pipe set back about 4 inches from the cutting edge and bolted to the side of the bucket (where I bolt my toothbar)

 

[Cantoo]

I used a grinder and cut a 1/2" wide slot full length on a 2" steel pipe. I hammered it onto my blade then welds two 2" pieces of steel onto it to bolt it to the blade. Works good and comes off easy. No pics but I've been using the same one for at least 3 years now and it's not in too bad shape yet. Worn flat on the bottom but still working.

 

[Chilly807]

I was playing with a design just this morning. I was thinking of a small (3" wide x 6" 3/8 steel)ski design on each end. Then this afternoon I was scraping hard packed snow and ice by backdragging using the cutting edge with the bucket about 45 degrees. I could not do that with your or my design. I like the pipe Idea. What do you think of the pipe set back about 4 inches from the cutting edge and bolted to the side of the bucket (where I bolt my toothbar)

I did pretty much what you were discussing, and it works fine.

With the front and back of the skids angled it allows you to angle the bucket to get the cutting edge in play if you want to. I used 1/4 x 3 flat bar with a 1.5 inch spacer in the middle. 3/8 flatbar would wear longer, I'd use that the next time around.

Chilly