atv plow push frame build

[ArlyA]

I'm building my own and stronger, pushframe than the KFI wet noodle design that we got with our outlander. Would anyone here care to see this build?

 

[ArlyA]

Rebuilding has began with warmer temp on our forecast. 1st was the change the drop shaped mounting plate seen in top photo with the lifting attachment on it. I doubled its thickness and added a better lifting location as seeing the the lowest photo.

 

[ArlyA]

This is the push frame with extension that KFI sells to make the frame longer and miss tracks. Its 1/4 thick and much heaver than there normal mount. I'll weld 2 x 2 x 1/8 tubes to it as seen where the wood is at in the bottom photo.

 

[ArlyA]

The plows mound plate was beefed up. The larger hole is where the angle pin passes through. Last photos show the mount plate where the push tubes mounting pins are applied under the atv. Bottom shows where the new push tubes will be mounted on it.

 

[ArlyA]

Got things done. As stated above, this square tubing is 2 x 2 x 1/8 wall. You can see I left the inside space open so snow can pass through. In the bottom photo you can barely see the 2 x 1/8 flats added to the outsides, effectively making the outer wall 1/4 thick and connecting the plow mount plate to the attachment plate via that.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is the light weight original frame

 

[airbiscuit]

Has KFI ever acknowledged their wet noodle design?

 

[ArlyA]

Got it on and in use yesterday. Sure do like the improvements. Snow was super heavy and wet.

 

[JeepHead]

You need to get yourself a tractor!

 

[pmsmechanic]

You need to get yourself a tractor!

He already has one. It even has tracks!

 

[JeepHead]

He already has one. It even has tracks!

I would not want to live anywhere that would require me to have tracks on my machines! lol

 

[airbiscuit]

So, did the OEM ever acknowledge their weak design?

 

[John_Mc]

So, did the OEM ever acknowledge their weak design?

I was actually wondering: now that he has beefed that up, what is the next weakest link in the chain that will break?

 

[pmsmechanic]

I was actually wondering: now that he has beefed that up, what is the next weakest link in the chain that will break?

I quite often weld up machinery etc. for farmers. I'll often ask them "what do you want to break next?" if they want me to reinforce things.

I think the plow has a spring trip so that will help to soften the impact of tripping the blade over something.

 

[ArlyA]

I quite often weld up machinery etc. for farmers. I'll often ask them "what do you want to break next?" if they want me to reinforce things.

I think the plow has a spring trip so that will help to soften the impact of tripping the blade over something.

And how do you two suggestion the frame gets repaired. Our 6x6 has more push power than KFI thought a atv could ever have.

 

[John_Mc]

And how do you two suggestion the frame gets repaired. Our 6x6 has more push power than KFI thought a atv could ever have.

That's exactly the problem. In your configuration, it probably has more push power than the ATV manufacturer thought it could have as well. ATV's certainly have a place in snow removal. Your use of it often seems more suited to a tractor. Your equipment, your call.

I ran into the same thing using my compact tractor for small-scale logging. It's really too small for the job I'm asking of it. It does fine when I take it easy, but sometimes I misjudge, and some of the stresses are cumulative as well. If I could justify owning two tractors set up for working in the woods, I'd also own a significantly larger one. As it is, I appreciate my current tractor's ability to get in to places I couldn't go with a larger tractor (including fitting in to my garage with the ROPS up, since once I've added the limb risers and FOPS, the ROPS is up permanently.)

 

[John_Mc]

I think the plow has a spring trip so that will help to soften the impact of tripping the blade over something.

Apparently, that spring trip needs some adjustment, if the frame is breaking from the loads imposed on it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

And how do you two suggestion the frame gets repaired. Our 6x6 has more push power than KFI thought a atv could ever have.

Ar

 

[pmsmechanic]

Arly I was just making a comment not criticizing. In your situation I would probably do exactly what you did. So much of my response to farmers is based on what kind of an operator they are. If they or their hired men are hard on equipment you want the easiest repair to break as you know that if you over reinforce that particular part something else far harder to repair is going to break. In your case I'm sure you would prefer to bend the frame of the plow rather than the frame of the Polaris. I'm guessing that you are a careful operator but I would still make sure that the plow trip springs are set as light as possible.

 

[airbiscuit]

Apparently, that spring trip needs some adjustment, if the frame is breaking from the loads imposed on it.

The frame didn't bend from pushing, it bent from being lifted up while there was a build up of wet heavy snow on the frame. His reinforcements look great to me. It is a strap winch which helps. If he wanted one other level of protection, he could attach a (deformable) spring clip, or a heavy spring between the strap hook and the plow.