FEL Snowplow/Forks Build

[Rayrla]

I had a similar experience with a Marathon Hot water heater off of craigslist. I wanted for a heat storage tank for my infloor heat.......another story. But the guy assured me it was new, never hooked up. I get there after driving 2 hours and it is a 10 year old model with marks from pipe wrenches all over the conections........unbelieveable.

Ray,

Good Luck buddy. I just finished mine an hour ago and hope to get my thread updated soon with the pics. I thought I would save myself the sandblasting and painting so I took it to a powdercoater...........He did such a S*&^ job I either have to drive an hour and half to take it back to him or repaint over the powder coat myself. No body cares about your project like you do.

Thanks, bubbacuse77. Congradulations on your plow. I plan on painting mine next summer. My plan is CHEAP. Paint myself with paint left over from my mini-ex thumb project, no hydraulics, and all work done by me. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised with the condition of the moldboard. I expected a lot more rust.

 

[Rayrla]

Update 1: After cleaning up the A frame, was able to remove it from the rest of the plow. After taking measurements, I cut the A frame to shorten it. I used my sawsall to cut it. The A frame was made up of two 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1/4 inch angle welded together. Surprised how well the sawsall cut through it. Had never cut anything that big before with it. Also decided that I would float the plow with a chain. Just felt more comfortable with this setup than with floating with FEL. Also bagged the idea of using hydraulics to control the blade angling. Although the plow cylinders were included in the purchase of the plow, they were not in very good condition. For the past five years I have removed snow using my back blade and by manually angling. Therefore, felt comfortable going with manual angling of the plow. Did I mention I am CHEAP and need exercise. Made two pins, one to pivot A frame on plow and other to control plow angle. Plow appears to be an old Western with five holes in A frame to enable manual plow angling. The original plow came with three trip springs. A 2 x 2 x 1/4 inch piece of angle was added to connect the trip springs to the moldboard. Two additional trip springs were added for a total of five springs. I removed the angle and plan to use only two trip springs. Thinking is to minimize weight and also an attempt to minimize potential damage to FEL. Bought $260 worth of steel. Wow! Dont remember steel being that expensive. There goes the budget. Mocked up the upper and lower bars of the FEL attachment. These will be made of 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1/4 tubing. Originally planned on these being five feet in length, but after some deliberation decided to go with four feet, again to minimize weight. Thought about further reducing A frame but decided not to. Tack welded fork bars to tubing.

 

[radioman]

you are off to a great start! My plow looks exactly like yours that I modified too as well.

 

[Jw5875]

Where are the trip springs? I hope that they will be on the final mounting!!!!!


JW5875

 

[Rayrla]

Where are the trip springs? I hope that they will be on the final mounting!!!!!


JW5875

Originally the plow was setup with five trip springs. I would like to use only two, but three will probably be more realistic. I have cleaned up the spring mounts. Springs will be mounted later.

 

[Rayrla]

Update 2: Located and drilled holes for the snowplow/fork lift attachment mounts to FEL. Mounts are 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 1/4 angle 14 inches long. Bottom holes were reinforced with 1/4 inch plate. Machined pins and spacers. Mocked up FEL attachment.
Decided to connect snow plow to FEL attachment with receiver hitches. This seemed to be the best method which would not interfere when using the forks. Receivers would be mounted behind fork bars and receiver tubes would be removed when plow is not used. Cut to length receiver hitches and receiver tubes.

 

[Rayrla]

you are off to a great start! My plow looks exactly like yours that I modified too as well.

Thanks Radioman. If you have used your plow, how did it work with your tractor?

 

[Rayrla]

Update 3: Finally got everything welded up. Prior to this project I have only welded on repair jobs. First welds were not very good looking. Last welds were a big improvement. I believe that I got the penetration that I need. Will find out soon. Primed remaining bare metal.

 

[Rayrla]

More pics. Decided to shorten upper receiver tube that chain connects to. Stuck out too far and put additional stress on receiver hitch welds. Also decided to reinforce this hitch. May need to also reinforce lower two receiver hitches.

 

[JB4310]

You made short work of that project, I like to see clever uses of receiver tubes. are those factory clevis inserts or did you make them?

Only critique would be to have the receiver tubes below the bottom structure, to keep the frame and more importantly the lower loader arms up higher and out of the fracas of the terrain being plowed.

JB