QA plate on 7.5' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

[PineRidge]

QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

For the past several years we have used a combination of the FEL bucket to remove snow from our 650' gravel drive and a Woods 3 point mounted snowblower. The FEL proved to be extremely slow and with the gravel drive we seem to go through 5 or 6 shear bolts every time we have a decent snow. It seems that no matter how the adjustable skid shoes are set on the blower sooner or later the larger gravel finds the auger or impeller.

We have had a snowplow project dancing in our mind for a couple of seasons. So when the wife told me a couple of weeks ago that a neighbor had a Meyers snowplow sitting in his yard with a for sale sign attached to it I figured it was time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The Meyers plow turned out to be a 7'6" width, just right for the TC-40D and with the exception of some surface rust was in pretty sound shape. It had a new cutting edge and was only lacking the plow shoes which are readily available. The first picture shows the plow just as we acquired it.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

The game plan was to keep the project as simple as possible and still end up with a usable snowplow that could quickly be mated to our 17LA loader using the quick attach feature.

I called Andy Tatro in Illinois and had him fabricate me a set of heavy duty 3/8" steel QA plates to mate to our loader. Andy has access to a CNC plasma cutter and really knows how to use it. I would really like to see the brake that he used to bend and shape these 3/8" plates.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Then it was time to sit down and scribble a rough drawing on paper. Once that was completed we headed off to Summit Equipment for the steel to set the project in motion.

Rswyan was kind enough to let me use his band-saw to cleanly cut the 1/4 inch 2 X 2 square tube, Thanks Randy! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You can also see the QA plates in position on the loader arms in this picture.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Time to get the saw horses out and start tack welding some steel.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Needed to cut and drill the pivot brackets.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Further assembly of pivot brackets.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Time to mate the assembly to the 17LA loader.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Let's add a parking stand to keep the plow assembly out of the snow when it's not attached to the TC-40D and a chain hook on top for adjustment purposes.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Different angle.

 

[PineRidge]

Re: QA plate on 7.5\' snowplow for FEL, let it snow

Let's add a little primer to the mix. We also needed to clean up the hydraulic cylinders a bit before we finished the hydraulics.