A search brought up nada. Have a 72" plow on the FEL. 1500' steep drive; banks getting too high; drive getting too narrow. Want to build some kind of add on blade that I can hook on/chain onto the plow, sticking out to the side 4-5 feet or so to clip off the banks pushing them further into the woods. Anyone ever done this? Photos? ideas?
Add a "wing plow"...need ideas
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JK22
Gold Member
Following... I’ve been looking for a similar solution but my problem is that I’m a annoyed by the amount of seepage out the sides of my 60” on my long, wide driveway. Maybe something like this Blizzard 2 16 - Kubota BX23 with Front Blade and Wing Plow - YouTube or in the image below would work for you?
Sonny580
Veteran Member
Look at the big cat grader wings then scale one down to your size!--Be sure to make it like a tank, or you will tear it off and maybe wreck your tractor in the process.--The snow will push you away from the banks, turn you sideways, etc.!---I drove the big cats for 30 some years and know just how nasty wings can be!--Light cuts work the best.--also a LOT of speed is the key factor when using a wing to help get the snow over the bank. thanks; sonny580
Thanks for the input. I'm certainly not contemplating anything near the size or scale of a highway grade device. Currently my banks are perhaps 4' high. I'm thinking of slicing a piece of 6" or 8" well casing in half lengthwise, chaining it in front of the plow blade (open side forward), forming a "scoop" that would slice off perhaps 6-8" of snow at a time, and schussing it behind the current bank. Multiple passes; small bites.
I don't currently have grab hooks welded to my plow at the ends, but could put some on and pick the auxiliary "blade" up pretty easily. I'd end for end it if I wanted to work on the other side.
I don't currently have grab hooks welded to my plow at the ends, but could put some on and pick the auxiliary "blade" up pretty easily. I'd end for end it if I wanted to work on the other side.
Everhard
Gold Member
Not the answer you're looking for (apologies) but a good solution that will likely cost no more (possibly less) is simply get a snowblower for the tractor. When I moved here and got my tractor I got a rear blade to clear the snow, worked fine but then eventually I ran into the same problems as you had with the huge amount of snow my banks got too big. Had to push them back with the loader to make room for more snow. Had to do that a few times thru the winter. That got old. So I finally got a blower - found an old unit in decent shape, cost me $600. I painted it, replaced a couple bearings. I no longer have big snow banks.
You'd have the best of both worlds I think - blade on the front (I'm thinking of doing that myself) and a blower on the back. Blade is great for fast clearing of snow, particularly if it's not a lot and blower is great for big dumpings/cutting those banks back. Around here when the road snow banks get too big to wing back they use a snow blower as well!
I bet you'll be way happier in the long run, I know I am since I got the blower.
E.
You'd have the best of both worlds I think - blade on the front (I'm thinking of doing that myself) and a blower on the back. Blade is great for fast clearing of snow, particularly if it's not a lot and blower is great for big dumpings/cutting those banks back. Around here when the road snow banks get too big to wing back they use a snow blower as well!
I bet you'll be way happier in the long run, I know I am since I got the blower.
E.
nybirdman
Super Member
For starters;your plow is a little small for a L5240.I have a 8ft.on a L4240;you have similar weight and more power.Adding 4-5' to the front plow "may" be too much.
I have thought of doing something similar,maybe adding a removable two foot section to one side for cutting back banks;not a true wing to the side of the tractor.
Need to be careful here because it's a lot of side torque and will push your tractor side ways.
Second thought;4' add may be o.k since you are starting with a 6' plow.
I am going to work on something similar this summer.
I have thought of doing something similar,maybe adding a removable two foot section to one side for cutting back banks;not a true wing to the side of the tractor.
Need to be careful here because it's a lot of side torque and will push your tractor side ways.
Second thought;4' add may be o.k since you are starting with a 6' plow.
I am going to work on something similar this summer.
On a front blade, the turning forces have a lot to do with the angle of the blade. The more the blade is angled, the more force is applied to one side of the center line. And, the more it tries to turn the machine.
On a side blade, all the forces are applied to one side of the center line. The only resistance to turning forces will be the weight of the machine, and the friction of the tires to the ground. Since there is less friction on snow covered ground, it won't take much to create a lot of turning force on a lighter machine.
Adding length on to the front blade will provide a better result. Make some wings, and do some testing.
I can push a 72" plow on my little GC2310. You don't know what your equipment can do on your ground, until you try it.
On a side blade, all the forces are applied to one side of the center line. The only resistance to turning forces will be the weight of the machine, and the friction of the tires to the ground. Since there is less friction on snow covered ground, it won't take much to create a lot of turning force on a lighter machine.
Adding length on to the front blade will provide a better result. Make some wings, and do some testing.
I can push a 72" plow on my little GC2310. You don't know what your equipment can do on your ground, until you try it.
airbiscuit
Super Member
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Would an offset rear blade work for you? You can swing it out to the left or right.
cat fever
Elite Member
I was thinking the same thing. Just get a really wide back blade and swing it to the side. Shown here is mine pushing dirt and it does just fine.
davedj1
Veteran Member
You need a plow on a truck and go much faster to sling the snow back! I'm guessing you will just have to push the snow back with the loader or the blade on the loader. I like the idea of a wing if you could make it high enough and have the power and weight to push it back.
ktm250rider
Silver Member
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I seem to remember someone building a wing for his deere. Front of wing was hinged on the loader mount and used the 3 pt for lift. I think it was in the projects forum.
Wolfy
Veteran Member
Beenthere built one.
Thanks for the ideas. I'll search "Beenthere". I brought long piece of 5x3x3/8" aluminum angle home from work; will try bolting it on to the lower edge of the plow (using a couple of the plow blade bolt holes. Might end up being a bust, but it's cheap try. Stay tuned.
PILOON
Super Star Member
You probably will find that the result will be simply to push the tractor sideways as a lot of front weight is needed.
Damage to the front wheels or rims might occur. (I trashed mine that way)
The safest would be to occasionally attack the banks at an angle every 8-10 ft or so, OK, slow but safe and probably only once or twice per winter. And doing so with front wheels not angled.
I once made an extension like you propose on my heavy plow truck and it resulted in a few shattered front right axel shafts and Ujoints.
Now on a heavy tractor (like 60-100 hp) that would not be a problem.
In fact with my 20 hp CUT I tackle snow banks every so often always now 'straight on' a couple time a season.
Best time is whenever there is mild day or better a brief thaw as then the snow banks are soft and easy to push back.
Even our road contractor attacks the snow banks with his tractors and loaders whenever we get a mild break as he simply needs the room to push next snow events.
We get , like 100-200 inches around here.
LOL, my worst event when I truck plowed was a 34" dumping in one day. I almost cried as my blade was only 24" high and all my drives were downhill towards lakeside and most were long.
Easy going downhill but would I get back up?
Damage to the front wheels or rims might occur. (I trashed mine that way)
The safest would be to occasionally attack the banks at an angle every 8-10 ft or so, OK, slow but safe and probably only once or twice per winter. And doing so with front wheels not angled.
I once made an extension like you propose on my heavy plow truck and it resulted in a few shattered front right axel shafts and Ujoints.
Now on a heavy tractor (like 60-100 hp) that would not be a problem.
In fact with my 20 hp CUT I tackle snow banks every so often always now 'straight on' a couple time a season.
Best time is whenever there is mild day or better a brief thaw as then the snow banks are soft and easy to push back.
Even our road contractor attacks the snow banks with his tractors and loaders whenever we get a mild break as he simply needs the room to push next snow events.
We get , like 100-200 inches around here.
LOL, my worst event when I truck plowed was a 34" dumping in one day. I almost cried as my blade was only 24" high and all my drives were downhill towards lakeside and most were long.
Easy going downhill but would I get back up?
Well, I'm learning a lot. First the good:
It definitely can dig down and break up the banks, making it easier to push them back some with the plow. Typically, after a few storms, with the plow angled, it tends to "trowel" the banks smooth. Then they freeze, so that trying to plow subsequently they just keep you inside like a luge. With my "angle iron wing plow", I can break up the big chunks, loosening the banks.
Now the problems:
My "blade" is not high enough; the snow scootches over the top. My first idea of a half pipe would probably have worked better. But I have a foundation to work with now. I can add a curved blade to the end of the angle, capturing the snow long enough to funnel it away from the road.
Second, My plow pivots at the center (so that it follows the camber in the road. This is a disadvantage when trying to carve the banks, because the end can lift up and the left corner of the plow dips down into the drive. Gotta work on something to keep it from pivoting.
Work in progress.
It definitely can dig down and break up the banks, making it easier to push them back some with the plow. Typically, after a few storms, with the plow angled, it tends to "trowel" the banks smooth. Then they freeze, so that trying to plow subsequently they just keep you inside like a luge. With my "angle iron wing plow", I can break up the big chunks, loosening the banks.
Now the problems:
My "blade" is not high enough; the snow scootches over the top. My first idea of a half pipe would probably have worked better. But I have a foundation to work with now. I can add a curved blade to the end of the angle, capturing the snow long enough to funnel it away from the road.
Second, My plow pivots at the center (so that it follows the camber in the road. This is a disadvantage when trying to carve the banks, because the end can lift up and the left corner of the plow dips down into the drive. Gotta work on something to keep it from pivoting.
Work in progress.
Wing Plow; Rev 2.0:
It works OK, but the tilt on the plow is really screwing it up. I tried putting a piece of steel in the notch that allows the plow to tilt back and forth, so that the starboard side of the plow was tilted downward (enabling me to carve the banks sloping away from the road), but I couldn't keep anything firmly in the notch. I'm giving this version a C+ and will keep thinking about it.
It works OK, but the tilt on the plow is really screwing it up. I tried putting a piece of steel in the notch that allows the plow to tilt back and forth, so that the starboard side of the plow was tilted downward (enabling me to carve the banks sloping away from the road), but I couldn't keep anything firmly in the notch. I'm giving this version a C+ and will keep thinking about it.
allanlebar
New member
I remembered seeing one when I was looking for ideas for my plow "build". I did some searching for you and look what I found:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/159770-wing-plow.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/159770-wing-plow.html
Thanks! I searched high and low for posts by "been there" and did not come up with that. Great thread; good design. I'm totally rethinking now. Lot more beef going on at the 3 pt hitch than using the FEL. Need to find a front attachment point though. If I can't find anyplace on the tractor, there is a large round pipe connecting the two arms of the FEL; I might be able to use that just to hold the front end; shouldn't contribute much twist to the FEL as my current design does.
Here are some similar links:
