RTV 900 sucks at snow plowing?

[Gowfster]

Has anyone had the following experience with their Curtis Plow on the RTV:
I was inching between two stumps in my yard, and at about 1mph, i nicked the edge of one stump with the blade, and while I was expecting it to stop me, the blade just happily rotated to that side, and I drove on through. Thinking it was a fluke, I then purposely eased into a stump and it did the same thing. The hydraulic angle works just fine, but no back pressure. This will be a problem when plowing real snow of course. It's like a valve is missing in the system. Any ideas?
Tim (gowfster)

 

[timswi]

Has anyone had the following experience with their Curtis Plow on the RTV:
I was inching between two stumps in my yard, and at about 1mph, i nicked the edge of one stump with the blade, and while I was expecting it to stop me, the blade just happily rotated to that side, and I drove on through. Thinking it was a fluke, I then purposely eased into a stump and it did the same thing. The hydraulic angle works just fine, but no back pressure. This will be a problem when plowing real snow of course. It's like a valve is missing in the system. Any ideas?
Tim (gowfster)

Did you blow out a cylinder?...

 

[Gowfster]

I definitely shouldn't have, I haven't even used it yet. I had taken it off twice to use the dump box, but still waiting to use it. I haven't tried to see if it gives way in both directions or just "left", I'm going to try that tomorrow.

 

[samandmax]

If you have a pump, the spring in the hydraulic relief valve may be broken.

 

[art]

I intially discounted them being in the NYS snow belt and watching people try and plow with four wheelers. After using one I found them to be great!!!

As far as the blade releasing the hydraulics against a tree stump, I would certainly hope that they would!!!!! Other wise you'd have a good pile of scrap metal!

 

[timswi]

I definitely shouldn't have, I haven't even used it yet. I had taken it off twice to use the dump box, but still waiting to use it. I haven't tried to see if it gives way in both directions or just "left", I'm going to try that tomorrow.

OK...I was assuming that you thought something was broken....I've never had my plow "give" on anything yet, so I can't speak to what you saw happen...been lucky I guess.

 

[Gowfster]

I checked it again... the plow "freely" rotates in either direction. Art- this isn't "running" into something... this is the equivalent of pushing on it with your hands (although I didn't try this, I'm guessing it would work).

 

[art]

If it doesn't hold at all then there is a problem! I have personally never hit anything hard enough to get them to alter the angle or seen your problem. There is a protection system there so start with that.

 

[SpudHauler]

Gowfster, this is a long shot, but could it be your hydraulic lever is in the very forward position, the float position, when this is happening?

And does the left/right swing work normally when using the lever?

I'm thinking some dirt might have gotten into a release valve or something, perhaps a good time to flush the system and put some new fluid in and give that a try.

The aluminum block on the plow that the hoses connect to is a relief block so that hitting immoveable objects the plow will swing and not get bent. It's possible that is where the problem is but unlikely as it would have to be leaking on the by-pass valves in both directions to do what you are saying.

Do you have any pictures of your plow and connections for the hydraulic lines?

I have seen my plow give when pushing hard snow on just one side, but that takes a lot of pressure, not something you could do by hand at all.

Mystery.

 

[Mike007]

Sorry to disrup[t the flow of the blog string, but had a question on plowing with a Kubita versus a Gator. I live in the mountains in Colorado. Does anyone know which plows more snow, either a John Deere Gator 825i or a Kubota RTV1100? I have heard the Hydrostatic Transmission on the Kubota's loses too much power to handle a heavy load (plowing, hauling, going up steep hills) and the Gator has great power for these loads. Has anyone plowed snow with both and can compare? Or has anyone plowed 2 feet of light snow or a foot of heavy wet snow with the Kubota RTV1100?