Warn plow conversion from ATV to RTV

[Tkblacktail]

With the new tractor "on board" I'm able to retire my ATV and use it for recreational or admin (to the mail box) uses. I decided to move the 48" Warn Snow plow over to the RTV 500; thought I would share.


View attachment 349310

I got 12 good years of heavy-duty use out of the snow blade; way more than what it was designed-for......


The mounting on the RTV was the only issue to deal-with; I re-used everything from the Honda ATV mounting assembly. I cut @ 2 feet off the tubes and welded the back portion of the mounting tubes onto to the front portion of the mount.

My son in law came over with his equipment and put a real welding job on the assembly as my welds look more like an obsidian field.

-View attachment 349305View attachment 349306View attachment 349307

Since the blade has a sharper pitch, I had to modify the angel-locking lever and remove some of the material on the mount in order to clear the blade's new attack angle.

1/4" on either-side of the interior portion of the Honda mounting bracket had to be removed (angle grinder) in order for the mount to fit around the front differential on the RTV, but I found plenty of room under the front bumper to drill and mount with 4 bolts. One thing I realized was the front receiver pins will not be accessible when the mount is installed.

My son in law was satisfied with dinner in exchange for the welding job; good deal as far as I'm concerned, but I slipped some cash into my daughter's coat-pocket before they left.

Sub-freezing out today so I will upload the final pics; everything works well.

 

[timswi]

With the new tractor "on board" I'm able to retire my ATV and use it for recreational or admin (to the mail box) uses. I decided to move the 48" Warn Snow plow over to the RTV 500; thought I would share.


View attachment 349310

I got 12 good years of heavy-duty use out of the snow blade; way more than what it was designed-for......


The mounting on the RTV was the only issue to deal-with; I re-used everything from the Honda ATV mounting assembly. I cut @ 2 feet off the tubes and welded the back portion of the mounting tubes onto to the front portion of the mount.

My son in law came over with his equipment and put a real welding job on the assembly as my welds look more like an obsidian field.

-View attachment 349305View attachment 349306View attachment 349307

Since the blade has a sharper pitch, I had to modify the angel-locking lever and remove some of the material on the mount in order to clear the blade's new attack angle.

1/4" on either-side of the interior portion of the Honda mounting bracket had to be removed (angle grinder) in order for the mount to fit around the front differential on the RTV, but I found plenty of room under the front bumper to drill and mount with 4 bolts. One thing I realized was the front receiver pins will not be accessible when the mount is installed.

My son in law was satisfied with dinner in exchange for the welding job; good deal as far as I'm concerned, but I slipped some cash into my daughter's coat-pocket before they left.

Sub-freezing out today so I will upload the final pics; everything works well.

Do you think 48" is enough width?..My RTV500 had a 60". Not being critical as this is a real job to convert, that I'm sure...Nice job.

 

[Tkblacktail]

"Do you think 48" is enough width?..My RTV500 had a 60". Not being critical as this is a real job to convert, that I'm sure...Nice job."

10-4, the vehicle does stick-out some on either side of the blade; I figure on adding 6" on each side and amalgamate it with a new sacrificial strip at the bottom, or simply add a new 60" blade to the mount, some time in the future.

We are expecting snow tomorrow, so I will get to test it soon.

 

[Tkblacktail]

Well, I'm almost done.

I have to do some more work on the mounting because the blade does not stay level-enough as it fully-pivots to the left or right (although not depicted very well in these pics).

I think I need to lower the mounts an inch or two by removing the stock tangs and welding extended tangs of the same thickness.


View attachment 349939View attachment 349940

Then I plan to add 6" of mud flaps or thick rubber on each end; tie them in with the blade with 2" of overlap, carriage bolts, and by adding a new 60" sacrificial strip.

 

[timswi]

Nice job...I put a piece of rubber between the sacrifice strip and the blade..Makes a nice squeegee especially on solid surfaces and also prevents gravel digging.

I think you can see it here:

EDIT: Actually, I made a new strip (Lowes stock that I welded) and bolted the rubber between it and the factory blade strip..Forgot to mention that..The bolts and nuts are stainless so that the rubber can be flipped...It's a spent piece of industrial machine belt....All kinds of fun to cut.

 

[aczlan]

Nice...

Aaron Z

 

[Tkblacktail]

Nice job...I put a piece of rubber between the sacrifice strip and the blade..Makes a nice squeegee especially on solid surfaces and also prevents gravel digging.

I think you can see it here: View attachment 349951

EDIT: Actually, I made a new strip (Lowes stock that I welded) and bolted the rubber between it and the factory blade strip..Forgot to mention that..The bolts and nuts are stainless so that the rubber can be flipped...It's a spent piece of industrial machine belt....All kinds of fun to cut.

Great idea, thanks!

I will need that too; because of what you like about it and because I removed the safety feature that allows the blade to tip forward (and loudly slam back) such as when/if a solid object is hit. I'm strictly on flat surfaces now; no more slash-pile work for this implement.

I'll keep my "eyes peeled" for the rubber....

 

[timswi]

Great idea, thanks!

I will need that too; because of what you like about it and because I removed the safety feature that allows the blade to tip forward (and loudly slam back) such as when/if a solid object is hit. I'm strictly on flat surfaces now; no more slash-pile work for this implement.

I'll keep my "eyes peeled" for the next semi-truck re-tread I see on the road....

I've heard of Tractor Supply horse mat rubber being used for this too...Be careful without the springs, even plowing snow...Abrupt stops can still happen, that'll leave a mark..I'm not a safety police type, but my springs have hit pretty good on ice and stuff when moving snow..The rubber helps that but doesn't solve it.

 

[aczlan]

I've heard of Tractor Supply horse mat rubber being used for this too...Be careful without the springs, even plowing snow...Abrupt stops can still happen, that'll leave a mark..I'm not a safety police type, but my springs have hit pretty good on ice and stuff when moving snow..The rubber helps that but doesn't solve it.

Ayep. We have a plow on our BX2660 with trip springs and even going slower in the BX than you would in the RTV I have almost hit the windshield of the BX a time or two...

Aaron Z

 

[Tkblacktail]

Ayep. We have a plow on our BX2660 with trip springs and even going slower in the BX than you would in the RTV I have almost hit the windshield of the BX a time or two...

Aaron Z

The preponderance of evidence presented here has convinced me to re-install the safety feature; thanks gents.