Plowing on gravel

[motocephalic]

I am floating the loader, but the plow is a bit on the heavy side, luckily the shoes are on the bigger side as well. I think it will just take some getting used to, hopefully it will make plowing this gravel road a bit easier. I am used to plowing with the FEL, and I can move around that sufficiently enough.

Does your blade float at the QA or do you use float on the loader.

 

[PILOON]

With gravel base you will always have some trouble until you have built up a frozen packed base.
Usually we dragged the plow backwards so as to compact a base, that and drive back and forth a lot followed by a back scraping to even things out.
One good overnight cold snap and presto--one good base ('till next thaw)

 

[corey9212]

I gotta figure out how to move huge quantities of snow, with the drifts I have 3' deep of snow to push and the plow just seems to push it aside instead of straight ahead (can't have any rows on some parts of the drive.) I'm thinking of using the bucket but would have to pull the grapple off to back drag close to buildings and vehicles.

 

[Katahdin]

I am floating the loader, but the plow is a bit on the heavy side, luckily the shoes are on the bigger side as well. I think it will just take some getting used to, hopefully it will make plowing this gravel road a bit easier. I am used to plowing with the FEL, and I can move around that sufficiently enough.

On mine I set the loader at about 6-8 inches off the ground and float the plow. I'm basically using a Boss truck plow by mounting the push beam to a QA plate.

 

[94BULLITT]

I am floating the loader, but the plow is a bit on the heavy side, luckily the shoes are on the bigger side as well. I think it will just take some getting used to, hopefully it will make plowing this gravel road a bit easier. I am used to plowing with the FEL, and I can move around that sufficiently enough.

I have the same problem but you can't explain it to some people. I have a 750lb plow. It has some big skid shoes, maybe 6''. When you put the tractor in float the weight of the loader is also ridding on those shoes, so I may have 1200lbs + on them. I have also noticed with the loader on float if unloads the front axle so 4WD does not work as good and the steering is not as responsive. I have noticed if I hold the plow off the ground a inch or two the tractor handles it way better. I am going to modify my plow so it floats itself and the weight of the loader will be on the tractor.

With gravel base you will always have some trouble until you have built up a frozen packed base.
Usually we dragged the plow backwards so as to compact a base, that and drive back and forth a lot followed by a back scraping to even things out.
One good overnight cold snap and presto--one good base ('till next thaw)

Where I live the ground may not be frozen or frozen real hard when we get a snow. The snow may be gone in a few days or a week so it is hard to get a packed frozen base.

I gotta figure out how to move huge quantities of snow, with the drifts I have 3' deep of snow to push and the plow just seems to push it aside instead of straight ahead (can't have any rows on some parts of the drive.) I'm thinking of using the bucket but would have to pull the grapple off to back drag close to buildings and vehicles.

It sounds like a snow pusher may work good for you.

On mine I set the loader at about 6-8 inches off the ground and float the plow. I'm basically using a Boss truck plow by mounting the push beam to a QA plate.

How heavy is your plow?

 

[vtsnowedin]

On mine I set the loader at about 6-8 inches off the ground and float the plow. I'm basically using a Boss truck plow by mounting the push beam to a QA plate.

This is my method and it works good on a frozen road. While it is still soft I drop the loader arms another three inches or so to get the plow setting back on its backer plate instead of on the cutting edge. I still can tear up lawns etc. that aren't hard packed. just something to fix with the bucket in the spring. My plow is an eight foot Fisher with wings. It doesn't have any shoes at present.

 

[motocephalic]

If the plow was configured to self float it would be ideal, however with that design comes the added length which is another compromise for turning in tight spots. I opted for the shorter design, but the chain float option is always doable.

I have the same problem but you can't explain it to some people. I have a 750lb plow. It has some big skid shoes, maybe 6''. When you put the tractor in float the weight of the loader is also ridding on those shoes, so I may have 1200lbs + on them. I have also noticed with the loader on float if unloads the front axle so 4WD does not work as good and the steering is not as responsive. I have noticed if I hold the plow off the ground a inch or two the tractor handles it way better. I am going to modify my plow so it floats itself and the weight of the loader will be on the tractor.



Where I live the ground may not be frozen or frozen real hard when we get a snow. The snow may be gone in a few days or a week so it is hard to get a packed frozen base.



It sounds like a snow pusher may work good for you.



How heavy is your plow?

 

[nybirdman]

I have a very similar set-up.L4240 HSTC with a FEL mounted 8ft.Curtis plow.I built mine with the "float" on the plow.(Chain).I think the FEL float set-up was designed for paved roads and very frozen drives.I plow about two miles total and have very little problems.Early in the year before freeze up it's a little messy.I have a seven ft.rear blade also.

 

[wolfpack2]

Has anyone tried reversing the hydraulic lines so that the float works on the bucket cylinders instead of the loader arms? I am going to try it this winter to see if it lets the blade float and hold the loader frame rigid using the other hydraulic circuits.

 

[94BULLITT]

Has anyone tried reversing the hydraulic lines so that the float works on the bucket cylinders instead of the loader arms? I am going to try it this winter to see if it lets the blade float and hold the loader frame rigid using the other hydraulic circuits.

I have. The first time I did it I had to use regen to lower the loader. Then I switched them in a X pattern and it worked. I asked if it was okay to use it like this in the hydraulic forum and I did not get a real good answer. I decided against it for now. I was afraid somebody may get in the tractor and not know the hoses had been switched around. I think I can do a simple modification to the blade to make it float. Here is the thread I started in the hydraulics forum. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/288785-float-curl-function.html