Float Lifts Front Wheels?

[Industrial Toys]

I find the plow of a truck intended plow often doesn't have the necessary travel for plowing in varied terrain. If you put on a longer chain, now you have changed the attack angle of the blade as the loader and pivot point is now higher.

Using a plow is more fun then blowing, but I find one time it works great and then the next time it doesn't.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I find the plow of a truck intended plow often doesn't have the necessary travel for plowing in varied terrain. If you put on a longer chain, now you have changed the attack angle of the blade as the loader and pivot point is now higher.

Using a plow is more fun then blowing, but I find one time it works great and then the next time it doesn't.

While a total PITA to get on, once on, the Hiniker Big Ox Plow for skid loaders works well.

 

[avc8130]

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.

Don't laugh, but I went outside with a level and found the curl position where the frame was level. Then I installed the plow shoes set to this height.

We'll see how it goes when it snows for reals.

ac

 

[PILOON]

Easy to understand, just look where the loader arm pivot point is. Up high and whenever the snow load gets heavy it pushes the arms backwards which pushes the front upwards.
You want a 'straight line push' otherwise stated, the push arms need to be parallel to the ground.
All truck mounted plows are set up to be parallel with generally 3 mounting hole options to optimize that feature.

Might add that in 'float' the hydraulic passages are open allowing the lift arms to pivot freely and thus lever the front upwards when there is adequate resistance from heavy loads etc.

In non float the FEL would be like locked and would not fold and lift the front and then probably the traction wheels would spin.

 

[JJZ 109]

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?

I've had this happen with 2 tractors that I owned in the past, a JD 790 and Kubota B3030. Had the lever in what should have been the correct position, but sometimes it just made down pressure instead of floating.
But as I've learned here, maybe it was a result of a little too much pressure on the bucket from moving forward that caused the loader to continue pushing the front upward. Since I've gone to a skid steer, when using the bucket for snow removal I put in float and continually feather to make curl adjustments on the fly. Seems to work nicely for the most part. The 73 inch Erskine blower comes out for the heavier stuff.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I even have this happen on my wheel loader if it is pointed up hill and the attachment isn't very heavy (like a snow blade).

 

[Buggs67]

Don't laugh, but I went outside with a level and found the curl position where the frame was level. Then I installed the plow shoes set to this height.

We'll see how it goes when it snows for reals.

ac

I think the shoes will help. If you curl more it will lift the edge and curl less and the edge will dig in. I think the alignment of the blade, how tilted forward or back might make a difference too.

I use my quad for plowing and the tractor bucket for moving and pushing back the snowbanks. This year I also have the box blade on the back and will see how that works.

I have to go out now and set my machine, this mild winter has made me complacent.

Where in North Jersey; I'm in WM Oak Ridge.

 

[varmint]

I have read posts here on TbN from experienced tractor front snow plowers that they keep their blade not in float, but slightly lifted... I, being less experienced, just use float and carefully tilt the blade so it doesn't dig in. Having shoes is a great help, I think. This will be the first year I have had the pleasure of plowing pavement- always been gravel up until now. By the way, I hate watching videos of guys in heated cabs, bare handed, listening to their radios. Hate it!

 

[avc8130]

I think the shoes will help. If you curl more it will lift the edge and curl less and the edge will dig in. I think the alignment of the blade, how tilted forward or back might make a difference too.

I use my quad for plowing and the tractor bucket for moving and pushing back the snowbanks. This year I also have the box blade on the back and will see how that works.

I have to go out now and set my machine, this mild winter has made me complacent.

Where in North Jersey; I'm in WM Oak Ridge.

Fredon here. They just knocked the forecast down to 40% chance of 1-3" Saturday. With any luck this will remain a mystery until next season!

ac

 

[skyhook]

I have read posts here on TbN from experienced tractor front snow plowers that they keep their blade not in float, but slightly lifted... I, being less experienced, just use float and carefully tilt the blade so it doesn't dig in. Having shoes is a great help, I think. This will be the first year I have had the pleasure of plowing pavement- always been gravel up until now. By the way, I hate watching videos of guys in heated cabs, bare handed, listening to their radios. Hate it!

LOL, just for you, next time I plow, I will leave the heater off and door open, honest.

 

[skyhook]

I have read posts here on TbN from experienced tractor front snow plowers that they keep their blade not in float, but slightly lifted... I, being less experienced, just use float and carefully tilt the blade so it doesn't dig in. Having shoes is a great help, I think. This will be the first year I have had the pleasure of plowing pavement- always been gravel up until now. By the way, I hate watching videos of guys in heated cabs, bare handed, listening to their radios. Hate it!

LOL, just for you, next time I plow, I will leave the heater off and door open, honest.

 

[Ford850]

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.

I have a Hiniker Big Ox plow too. Luckily this was a line my dealer suggested, because it has several features that make plowing easier and puts less stress on the FEL.

 

[Ford850]

While a total PITA to get on, once on, the Hiniker Big Ox Plow for skid loaders works well.

Holy moly, I don't have that issue attaching mine. I have at least 1/2" space on my Hiniker SSQA plate, so mine goes on in seconds just like my OEM bucket. I wonder if my Hiniker side is larger or if my CaseIH FEL is narrower. I do keep mine in the barn on dollies which makes it that much easier to align too. But there is no binding or tight fit on the SSQA.
I agree that a tapered plate would be the best.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Holy moly, I don't have that issue attaching mine. I have at least 1/2" space on my Hiniker SSQA plate, so mine goes on in seconds just like my OEM bucket. I wonder if my Hiniker side is larger or if my CaseIH FEL is narrower. I do keep mine in the barn on dollies which makes it that much easier to align too. But there is no binding or tight fit on the SSQA.
I agree that a tapered plate would be the best.

I even called the Hiniker engineer to tell him his design needs a rethink. The engineer didn't seem to own the problem, and so a year later I eventually got around to making the video to highlight the problem.

 

[mrtwister]

ETO: watch for a brand new design reflecting your suggestion.....and that flea-bitten-varmint engineer taking full credit for the "rethink"!!unch:

 

[kcender]

This is my first winter plowing with an L45,like the OP.I just use the loader bucket so it isn't really the same situation.I had a hard time keeping the front wheels on the ground with float at first.After trying different things I find medium,slow works the best for speed.The angle of the bucket is also critical.As the base builds up I am able to keep the bucket flatter to the ground.One thing I think contributes to the lifting is the weight of the backhoe making the front lighter to begin with.I am thinking that removing the backhoe and using a weight box would help keep the front wheels on the ground when plowing in float mode.I don't have a TPH or weight box so I can't try out my theory.Last year I plowed with a B2620 with FEL and weight box.I could plow snow all day in float mode with no issues,even while making turns.

 

[coralhead]

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

Here is how I carry my snow plow. I like the pushing low and closer to the front of the tractor.

 

[avc8130]

As it turns out this is much less of an issue once there is actual SNOW! It wasn't hard to get the hang of the right curl/float/lift position that resulting in a nice and consistent push of snow. I did ~6" yesterday and have another 6-8" out there waiting for me right now.

ac

 

[Buggs67]

Here is how I carry my snow plow. I like the pushing low and closer to the front of the tractor.

I like that setup. Is that homemade? It looks like a hydro cylinder raises/lowers the blade. Do you have another to turn it right/left?

 

[varmint]

I can see advantages to that, but set up likely requires more than popping your SSQA levers and hooking up hydraulics. Plus, you couldn't push snow up over 6-7' piles, which is something I have been doing too much of the past few days. If we get another 30" storm, I will be going between my plow and loader bucket. Two tractors would be nice, and then I could have a cabbed one, too. Not going to happen.