Float Lifts Front Wheels?

[avc8130]

What is the secret to plowing with a tractor that keeps the front wheels engaged? I put the loader in "float" when using my SSQA plow and the front end has a tendency to climb and render the front tires useless. Is there some magic procedure/position I'm not understanding?

ac

 

[4570Man]

If you have the plow set too aggressive it will cause too much resistance and the tractor rids up on the loader arms.

 

[bcp]

The loader is connected high on the tractor, so any resistance from the bucket lifts the front of the tractor.

"Real" blades connect very low on a tractor or truck so this doesn't happen without far more effort.

Bruce

 

[Ford850]

Does your blade float? Many are made with chains to allow the blade to float independent of the SSQA. That way you can keep your FEL raised slightly, allowing the blade to float on it's own. This keeps the weight of the FEL off the blade.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I might be wrong, but I expect that a loader that is really in float will not lift the tractor. Are you sure it is in float?

Anybody else see it this way or am I mistaken?

 

[ch1ch2]

I find my FEL will dig with very little help. My problem is keeping it from digging once it starts. All my plowing is done on the back.

 

[bcp]

I might be wrong, but I expect that a loader that is really in float will not lift the tractor. Are you sure it is in float?

Anybody else see it this way or am I mistaken?

The loader in float won't lift the tractor if the bucket is raised, but in this case the force is not up but is mostly back, toward the loader arm pivot pins mounted up high.

When a loader lifts the front of a tractor the arms are going down in relation to the tractor, but that motion is stopped by the ground and the tractor goes up instead.

Bruce

 

[Gary Fowler]

I might be wrong, but I expect that a loader that is really in float will not lift the tractor. Are you sure it is in float?

Anybody else see it this way or am I mistaken?

Due to FEL geometry, going forward in float mode WILL raise the front wheels. Going backward it works OK.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Ok. It's been so long since my loader worked correctly that I couldn't speak from experience. Yah, now I remember the float works in reverse.

 

[LD1]

Ditto what others said. If you are plowing, you really need the plow to float and not the whole loader.

Float works great on a FEL going in reverse

 

[TripleR]

About the only time float works going forward in any of our tractors is in the snow.

 

[nybirdman]

Ditto what others said. If you are plowing, you really need the plow to float and not the whole loader.

Float works great on a FEL going in reverse

I agree but some of the snow plow designs are rigid and won't allow "plow"float.Mine does and I am very happy with it.

 

[ch1ch2]

I agree but some of the snow plow designs are rigid and won't allow "plow"float.Mine does and I am very happy with it.

Float allows the FEL to go up and down. When the plow digs the FEL goes down. When the FEL goes down the tires go up.
So, what am I missing about your question?

 

[avc8130]

My plow does not float independent of the SSQA. So I need to find the magic curl angle that keeps the plow from digging into the asphalt. Admittedly there wasn't really enough snow to play with today.

Will plow shoes help my issue?

ac

 

[Rustyiron]

Pics AC!
"shoes" might help. Does it do this with the blade angled?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Does your blade float? Many are made with chains to allow the blade to float independent of the SSQA. That way you can keep your FEL raised slightly, allowing the blade to float on it's own. This keeps the weight of the FEL off the blade.

Exactly right. The video below I made demonstrates my Hiniker protecting the loader from torsional forces. The plow is bouncing up and down, left to right, sometimes hanging on a stump and changing the windrow angle though the blow-off valve so as to protect the loader from all kinds of crazy forces.

 

[mrtwister]

I have the same issue as the OP with my FEL mounted snow plow....what I have learned to do is to engage the FEL into "float" position then disengage it once I start moving forward with a few minor tweaks/feathering to lift the FEL ever so slightly off the road surface so there is no "dig-in"...I also have shoes that will help if I tilt the blade back a bit.....twister

 

[avc8130]

Pics AC!
"shoes" might help. Does it do this with the blade angled?

This is the attachment I have:

96" Hydraulic Snow / Light Material Blade - Erskine Attachments LLC

I don't have any pics of my setup, but I'm sure you can imagine .

I didn't really get to try it angled. We had a dusting of maybe 1" of really light snow. I was just "plowing" to play!

It looks like Saturday there will be more opportunities to practice.

ac

 

[RockyNY]

I can't imagine using a blade plow without independent float (chain) unless you are plowing a perfectly level paved area.

 

[Rustyiron]

My plow does not float independent of the SSQA. So I need to find the magic curl angle that keeps the plow from digging into the asphalt. Admittedly there wasn't really enough snow to play with today.

Will plow shoes help my issue?

ac

Usually when the "A" frame is level, the blade will rotate left/right parallel to the (flat) ground. I'd try this position and see how things work along with the wear shoes.