FEL Snowplow

kennyd · Jan 4, 2005

( Ken, thanks for the posting. lots of good work done on your part.

I recently bought a 60 inch John Deere front blade made for the 1400 and 1500 series front mowers and plan to attach it to the FEL arms on my John Deere 2210.

Several questions.

1) What size and thickness of angle iron did you use across the bottom between the loader arms?
 The angle is 5/16" thick by 3"x3" 
2) What size rectangular tubing did you use for the uprights and across the top?
 The tubing is 2"x3" box with 3/16" wall

3) How did you attach the pin to the angle iron? I am refering to the pin that goes through the hole in the loader arm bracket to complete the FEL attachment. It's the same pin that is found on your bucket. Did you just weld the pin to the surface of the angle iron or did you drill a hole in the angle iron to fit the pin and weld a bead to one or both sides?
 The angle was drilled, then the pin welded on the back side, If you weld on the pins side, you will have to grind it flat so the angle rests flat on the plate on the FEL. Clear as mud?
See the picture in this POST
 Thanks again for your timely posting. I was just sizing up the steel I need to make my mount and found the information in your posting to be very valuable.

Mike )
 Also, the pins and hooks are available from JD for about $20.00, it saves alot of fabricating time.

kennyd · Jan 4, 2005

( kennyd
Nice work.

Couple of comments----
(I plow with an 8' fisher on a GMC 4 x 4 and also use a MT180D 4x4 tractor)

Your skid shoes--,
I'd suggest that they be allowed to swivel(use a round pipe to fit the square 'socket' with more trailing than leading surface, otherwise you might find that when the plow is angled you will be scoreing the asphalt drive.
Fisher uses round skid plates for that reason.
 Thats a good thought, I agree that the skid may need to be redesigned, it was late, we were tired and just needed to get done. 
Also noted that your angle cylinders are attached with bolts from bottom only. I think you will find that they will break or certainly bend. I'd suggest that you add top 'ears' so that the bolts act more like pins with upper and lower support.
My plow uses hardened 3/4" pins and even then I bend them all out of shape.
 There is a tab on top, it was part of the origanal A-Frame,look closely ate the "side view of plumbing" post. 
Plowing with the forward leading corner (or hitting a curb etc) will place awsome loads on that bolt.

Someone talked about 'float problems' and I agree, you need all the wt possible on the front wheels, and even then stearing is difficult.
Good skid shoes may cure that.

What fisher does is stack washers between the shoe and the holder to accomplish the adjustements (They use a 1' rod as shoe 'pole' in a 1 1/8" 'holder'.
 Yes, I have seen that, Meyer's does the same, I just did not have access to them when I built it.
Otherwise nice job and good workmanship.
Thank you. )

gbirky · Jan 4, 2005

mhalla,
Take a look at this thread where I describe how I mounted a JD 54" hydraulic front blade to my Yanmar YM1301D tractor. I also have some information on my web page.

No snow yet this year - more like 55 deg F and raining today. Figures, I guess its because I now have insurance - see attached photo.

PILOON · Jan 5, 2005

gbirky

Had a look at your detailed pics. Kinda like the plow 'quick attach' setup.

Noted that your geometry gives you a fairly 'straightline' push.
Do you find that you have adaquate steering control?
The answer interests me as my MT180D is about in the same size catagory as your Yanmar.

I have been thinking of adding mounting so as to be able to use my truck blade on the Mitsubishi in case I need to have a backup.(I have snapped the odd axle on the truck from time to time)
Mind you the truck blade is 8' wide and the Mitshubishi only 4' wide. Might be a bit of overkill for the MT.

I might attempt a jurry rigging for a fast test just to see if all I do is spin the wheels.
Might work as I have chains and rear tires are filled as well as a 5ft blower mounted on the 3pt.

gbirky · Jan 6, 2005

The blade is from a JD317 which my Dad owns. I took a look at the 317 mounting height and just recreated it with the mounting bracket for my YM1301D. So it should perform as is did on the 317. I just did all this work in the fall, and we haven't had a flake of snow yet (49 deg F and raining today). The only thing I have done is to use it as a dozer blade in some loose dirt I had tilled up. It seemed to work quite well for that. I'll let you know how it works in snow once I have tried it out.

kennyd · Jan 9, 2005

Ok guys, Thank for all your kind words and suggestions.
The skid shoes have been bugging me, and I need some advice...
I saw these Iron Caster Wheels at TSC and I thought they might work great. I was thinking the 3" ones.
I could mount them to the shoes I already have,would be good for the asphalt drive I have, and do OK in gravel should the need arise(side job).

Need more thoughts and advise from the experts please... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Tevi · Jan 9, 2005

I think the air filled caster would be better.I think it would roll on gravel better and be less likely to jam up with a rock

kennyd · Jan 11, 2005

( The skid shoes have been bugging me, and I need some advice...
I saw these Iron Caster Wheels at TSC and I thought they might work great. I was thinking the 3" ones.
I could mount them to the shoes I already have,would be good for the asphalt drive I have, and do OK in gravel should the need arise(side job).
)

No more opinions from the TBN Collective?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

ronjhall · Jan 11, 2005

No more opinions from the TBN Collective? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
You have to be kidding? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Why else would you start a thread on TBN?
IMHO I do not think the Sintered metal casters will hold up. Look at using a round shaft and allow your original skid shoes to swivel. This is a proven design that is on most commercial snow blades.

PineRidge · Jan 11, 2005

Kenny it's been our experience that TSC is a bit higher in pricing on casters. We did a bit of research when we built our backhoe dolly. Try this search at Surplus Center to compare casters

TC-40D SS web pictures click here