Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow plow damaging tractor?
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Iplayfarmer
Super Member
I can't see why a snow plow would put any more strain on the frame than the loader would.
Angle blades can destroy a loader. It is much better to mount front blade to a harness that is under that tractor frame.
Angle blades can certainly be mounted to the loader but you are rolling the dice.
nybirdman
Super Member
I have had both a frame mounted(L3130 Kubota),currently a loader mounted on a L4240 Kubota.Pros and cons with both,
frame mounted
1.stronger system for sure
2.loss of use of the loader
3.limited lift of plow
loader mounted
1.potential for damage to loader frame(side thrust)
2.quick change to bucket if needed
3.huge lift to pile banks
I have a curtis 8' plow on my 4240 it works great,but I must use caution,ie slow speeds,make sure your spring trips are working.I plow about 2 miles total and we get about 170 inches a year.works for me .
frame mounted
1.stronger system for sure
2.loss of use of the loader
3.limited lift of plow
loader mounted
1.potential for damage to loader frame(side thrust)
2.quick change to bucket if needed
3.huge lift to pile banks
I have a curtis 8' plow on my 4240 it works great,but I must use caution,ie slow speeds,make sure your spring trips are working.I plow about 2 miles total and we get about 170 inches a year.works for me .
Builder
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I have one. No damage as of yet, but I only used it for one winter of plowing.
If it has trip springs and power angling cylinders, both of these mechanisms are designed to absorb & relieve shock loads.
I'm sure there will be more expert advice forthcoming, but mine would be proceed with some caution, make sure you don't get over confident and start bashing piles. Keep the blade angled and don't plow in high range.
Here's my set up. I mounted a 2" receiver in mine to push/pull trailers around, too.
This was my protoype set-up. Since the pictures, I installed 90 deg elbows before my couplers to ease the stress on my hydraulic lines.
I would also like to install snow plow shoes on my mounting plate to keep the ends of the loader arms from digging into the driveway.
The angle cylinders won't offer much protection with out a cross over relief valve. I would recommend you get one for yours.
Even then if it is angled all the way one way and you hit a boulder
p) on that side that is where the potential damage will come from.
Diamondpilot
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I have a plow like Builders but no pictures. It came of a S-10 and is a Meyers 6.5' unit. I now have it on my Jinma 28 Hp 4x4 tractor. Works great along with the rear 7' woods blade I have.
Chris
Chris
Builder
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Thanks for trying to find the flaws in my setup, but the cylinders do have relief in them when I hit an object. The reason I know is because I've already hit things with it and the cylinders give before anything breaks.
Even then if it is angled all the way one way and you hit a boulder
If that happens, the springs typically trip and jump over the object (stump, manhole cover, etc.). I guess if you hit a tall object like a tree or parked car with the plow angled all the way at high speed, then yes, you might damage the loader. Anyone plowing that way should probably not be operating a plow in the first place. lol
The benefits of being able to use the bucket and the plow without a massive changeover of equipment and expense outweighed the slight risk of damage for me.
Any plow can damage the power unit behind it. Just use common sense and caution and don't be scared. If we were that scared about everything breaking our tractors, we'd never get much anything done!
Builder
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Ummmm, OK, .....
Yes, the cylinders do have relief in them. If you push hard enough against them, they cushion back. I have seen it happen about 500 times in the last 25 years of snowplowing I've done. On edit: Doesn't the tractors hydraulic system itself have a relief valve?
Another nice advantages I can share with you via actual experience:
You can use the loader to pick the plow up over large objects that a tractor mount plow will not clear. That alone gives you some damage protection.
You can see the plow out in front of the tractor better since it's out further than a tractor mounted plow.
Also, I don't see how a tractor mounted plow is some sort of gaurantee that it won't damage the tractor while plowing.
Yes, the cylinders do have relief in them. If you push hard enough against them, they cushion back. I have seen it happen about 500 times in the last 25 years of snowplowing I've done. On edit: Doesn't the tractors hydraulic system itself have a relief valve?
Another nice advantages I can share with you via actual experience:
You can use the loader to pick the plow up over large objects that a tractor mount plow will not clear. That alone gives you some damage protection.
You can see the plow out in front of the tractor better since it's out further than a tractor mounted plow.
Also, I don't see how a tractor mounted plow is some sort of gaurantee that it won't damage the tractor while plowing.