Time to hook-up the snow plow UGH!

[PineRidge]

Ever since I converted a Myers snow plow to work with the TC-40D-SS my snow removal duties have been much, much easier.

However making the hook-up to the tractor has in the past always been somewhat of a challenge.

Here's what the plow looks like as you pull up to it with the tractor.

 

[PineRidge]

Herein lies the problem. If you don't get the tractor square with the plow the 1st time around the QA on the plow simply falls over.

Sometimes you need to get off the seat 3 or 4 times to get it right.

 

[millhaven_nice_guy]

Sound like some kind of a folding prop is required!

 

[PineRidge]

I happen to be digging through one of my scrap steel bins the other day when I cam across the old adjustable top-link that came with the TC-40D-SS and a light bulb in my head lit up.

Why not weld a couple of pins to the plow frame to temporarily mount the adjustable link like this.

 

[PineRidge]

Now I can move up on the plow and gently bump it to square it off, & make the attachment without the QA plate hitting the floor.

Then when I jump off the seat to lock the QA I simply pull the 2 spring pins on the adjustable link, slide the link off so the plow can once again pivot and I'm good to plow.

I set the adjustable link on the mat next to my feet as a reminder to replace it before disconnecting the plow.

Thought maybe a few others might have a similar situation. Also a piece of steel with 2 holes drilled in it could just as easily be used instead of an adjustable top link like I used.

 

[6sunset6]

I have a plow just like that but the whole thing is rigid. T?he plow will trip over the springs and I float the FEL control.

 

[PineRidge]

I have a plow just like that but the whole thing is rigid. T?he plow will trip over the springs and I float the FEL control.

Our drive has a lot of whoop-de-doos so the plow was made flexible with shoes on the rear plow frame. That way the FEL control can be put in "float" and the plow will follow the contour of the drive better.

 

[LBrown59]

Our drive has a lot of whoop-de-doos so the plow was made flexible with shoes on the rear plow frame. That way the FEL control can be put in "float" and the plow will follow the contour of the drive better.

Wher ya been hidin ?
Haven't see you round here in a while.

 

[kennyd]

Good to hear from you Mike

I think I would have just tied a string onto the frame to pull it back up from the tractor seat, but your method involved a welder and other heavy tools so it must be the better way

 

[bx24]

Herein lies the problem. If you don't get the tractor square with the plow the 1st time around the QA on the plow simply falls over.

Sometimes you need to get off the seat 3 or 4 times to get it right.

Could you have just made the chain longer so the frame was already leaning towards the tractor?

 

[lhfarm]

Wher ya been hidin ?
Haven't see you round here in a while.

I agree! I've missed your projects (and Web page), many of which I've copied. I was just thinking that I hadn't fired up the welder in some time. What else you working on?

 

[JoeL4330]

dolly the snowplow? if you can't square the tractor to the plow, square the plow to the dolly

 

[jinman]

Nice job Mike, as usual. That's really using your head and the stuff you have available for an elegant solution.

Since I'm "snowplow challenged" due to never owning one, I'm curious what those round pads are on each side of the plow just in front of the QA plate? They look like stands to hold the plow up off the floor/ground. Are they removed while plowing, or do they never get close to the ground when you are using the plow?

 

[kubota00]

Anything related to snow plowing is always interesting. Good idea, I cut a 2X4 and put it between the top of the receiver frame and the é„* frame of the plow and lean the receiver frame on it. Then just push into the receiver grab the top of the receiver with the fingers lift and roll it back and the 2X4 falls out. Works well for me.

Mike I don稚 see your pressure relief valve for the angle pistons do you use one? Someone recommended it to me and it has saved my loader arms on several occasions.


Dave

 

[PineRidge]

Good to hear from you Mike

I think I would have just tied a string onto the frame to pull it back up from the tractor seat, but your method involved a welder and other heavy tools so it must be the better way

Hey Kenny how are you!

Sometimes it's necessary to dig out a few of the tools so the purchase price can be justified in front of the wife if you know what I mean.

I do like the string idea though.

 

[PineRidge]

Could you have just made the chain longer so the frame was already leaning towards the tractor?

Paul I did originally try to lengthen the chain but as I said earlier if you're not quite square with the plow and one QA plate makes contact before the other then the whole mount flopped over.

With the adjustable top-link you can bump the plow to square it up to the QA without fear of tipping it over. Then when the connection is made all you need to do is jump off the seat to lock the QA handles, quickly pull off the top-link, and at that time connect the hydraulic hoses and you're off plowing.

 

[PineRidge]

I agree! I've missed your projects (and Web page), many of which I've copied. I was just thinking that I hadn't fired up the welder in some time. What else you working on?

Well I'm presently working on a new website (straightwayfence) so maybe I can get the tractor pictures back on-line, we'll see. The pictures still reside on my hard drive.

 

[PineRidge]

Nice job Mike, as usual. That's really using your head and the stuff you have available for an elegant solution.

Since I'm "snowplow challenged" due to never owning one, I'm curious what those round pads are on each side of the plow just in front of the QA plate? They look like stands to hold the plow up off the floor/ground. Are they removed while plowing, or do they never get close to the ground when you are using the plow?

Jim our drive is gravel with lots of whoop-de-doos and I quickly found out that if the FEL was in the float position it dug in at the loader arms while plowing. So I mounted a pair of plow shows (adjustable) on the rear of the plow frame which is what you see. Now when the FEL is in float the plow frame rides on the rear shoes and rides the rough drive much better. They do also double as parking stands to keep the plow frame off the ground when parked.

And don't worry a bit Jim about being "snowplow challenged" if you like I'll give Dick Goddard a call and have him send you some snow down to Texas. Then you too will get the full benefit of winter.

 

[PineRidge]

Anything related to snow plowing is always interesting. Good idea, I cut a 2X4 and put it between the top of the receiver frame and the 驗* frame of the plow and lean the receiver frame on it. Then just push into the receiver grab the top of the receiver with the fingers lift and roll it back and the 2X4 falls out. Works well for me.

Mike I don遞 see your pressure relief valve for the angle pistons do you use one? Someone recommended it to me and it has saved my loader arms on several occasions.


Dave

Dave I hadn't even thought of a pressure relief valve. I've never seen one on a conventional plow are they really necessary?

I like your 2 X 4 idea and if it works thats so much better.

 

[Willl]

If you don't get the tractor square with the plow the 1st time around the QA on the plow simply falls over.

Won't your hydraulics dump far enough to match the new angle that the QA now rests in ?