Float Lifts Front Wheels?

[gladehound]

I cleared 30" of snow from 10 long driveways, some gravel some paved, using a snow bucket with edge Tamers and I only lifted the front tires once and that was with a 1200 pound counter weight 5 feet behind the rear axle. I removed the counter weight and replaced it with 450 pounds 18" behind the rear axle and with that could push in float forever or until the tires would spin (depending on drift height and grade).

Bottom line, if your lifting the front in float move balast forward on the tractor.

 

[avc8130]

I cleared 30" of snow from 10 long driveways, some gravel some paved, using a snow bucket with edge Tamers and I only lifted the front tires once and that was with a 1200 pound counter weight 5 feet behind the rear axle. I removed the counter weight and replaced it with 450 pounds 18" behind the rear axle and with that could push in float forever or until the tires would spin (depending on drift height and grade).

Bottom line, if your lifting the front in float move balast forward on the tractor.

It's a little tough for me to move ballast around as I have a backhoe as my rear weight. I'll be loading all 4 tires next week in hopes of increasing traction. That will also put another 160lbs at the front wheels.

ac

 

[gladehound]

It's a little tough for me to move ballast around as I have a backhoe as my rear weight. I'll be loading all 4 tires next week in hopes of increasing traction. That will also put another 160lbs at the front wheels.

ac

Sorry, didn't realize you had the backhoe. No doubt the BH is making your front light.

Filling the fronts is a good idea. In addition, you could also add some weights to the frame in front as long as you are creative enough to do it without interfering with the loader.

How hard is it to remove the backhoe?

 

[avc8130]

Sorry, didn't realize you had the backhoe. No doubt the BH is making your front light.

Filling the fronts is a good idea. In addition, you could also add some weights to the frame in front as long as you are creative enough to do it without interfering with the loader.

How hard is it to remove the backhoe?

Backhoe on/off is pretty easy, but I've got nothing better to put on the back for weight to support moving firewood pallets around so configuring the tractor for each task I perform in the winter gets a little too complicated to swap back and forth fast.

ac

 

[DK35vince]

The backhoe will make the steering worse when plowing.
I left my backhoe on one time plowing snow. The front end just wanted to push with the snow blade angled and it did not want to steer.
I now never plow with the backhoe left on.

 

[PILOON]

If U want the ideal tractor plow you'd want to have long arms back to the rear axle that the plow would be mounted on.
That would result in what I call a 'straight line push' coming from the best traction area of your tractor.

Recalling basic hi school physics, 'for every action there is a reaction', the more snow piled up front, the more force pushing backwards.
If you are not pushing in a straight line that snow load wants to push your front upwards and you end up with less steering as the front gets lighter.
Also the further your plow is from the front, the more effect that snow load will have on pushing you sideways.
The answer is close as possible to the front plow and push arms parallel to the ground.

I made my own plow, low mounted, straight push and can plow just as fast and as easily as when I drove a diesel plow truck.
My tractor (MT180D) is 4' wide and my plow is 6' and I have no problems curling snow off to the side flat out at my max 8mph. LOL.
(with 4" of nice dry snow.) Wet heavy snow is a totally another challenge.

 

[avc8130]

If U want the ideal tractor plow you'd want to have long arms back to the rear axle that the plow would be mounted on.
That would result in what I call a 'straight line push' coming from the best traction area of your tractor.

Recalling basic hi school physics, 'for every action there is a reaction', the more snow piled up front, the more force pushing backwards.
If you are not pushing in a straight line that snow load wants to push your front upwards and you end up with less steering as the front gets lighter.
Also the further your plow is from the front, the more effect that snow load will have on pushing you sideways.
The answer is close as possible to the front plow and push arms parallel to the ground.

I made my own plow, low mounted, straight push and can plow just as fast and as easily as when I drove a diesel plow truck.
My tractor (MT180D) is 4' wide and my plow is 6' and I have no problems curling snow off to the side flat out at my max 8mph. LOL.
(with 4" of nice dry snow.) Wet heavy snow is a totally another challenge.

My tractor's max road speed isn't even as fast as I'd plow with my diesel truck...LOL

 

[avc8130]

The backhoe will make the steering worse when plowing.
I left my backhoe on one time plowing snow. The front end just wanted to push with the snow blade angled and it did not want to steer.
I now never plow with the backhoe left on.

So do you plow with no added weight on the 3 point? I know when I put the plow on my truck I have to ballast the bed behind the rear axle.

ac

 

[PILOON]

So do you plow with no added weight on the 3 point? I know when I put the plow on my truck I have to ballast the bed behind the rear axle.

ac

That is what I did also, usually loaded with sand and covered with tarp. Sand proved handy at times. LOL
Having a bed liner salted sand was nor a worry.
A truck with its long wheel base and heavy engine up front is more ideally adapted to plowing. Speed also is a factor as snow curls better and farther. Slow tractor simply piles it while truck flings it.

 

[avc8130]

That is what I did also, usually loaded with sand and covered with tarp. Sand proved handy at times. LOL
Having a bed liner salted sand was nor a worry.
A truck with its long wheel base and heavy engine up front is more ideally adapted to plowing. Speed also is a factor as snow curls better and farther. Slow tractor simply piles it while truck flings it.

Yeah, I know with the truck any weight is good weight. I was/am using the same mantra with the tractor.

I noticed the tractor didn't fling the snow off to the side, assumed it was due to slower travel speed. I probably plowed ~5-8 mph in the tractor. I would regularly do 15+ mph in the truck. The tractor did seem more like a bulldozer moving the snow. The ability to pile right up and over my retaining walls in my parking areas was welcome with the tractor. I also appreciate the visibility and maneuverability improvements of the tractor vs the truck.

Overall I am quite happy with the tractor vs the truck as of now. I've got 84 gallons of windshield washer fluid coming and I'm armed with a tire groover.

ac

 

[gladehound]

I've got 84 gallons of windshield washer fluid coming and I'm armed with a tire groover.

ac

Sounds like a good solution. My tires are grooved and filled. I do use just a little extra weight on the back but it is tucked in very tight to the tractor. Not on the 3pt. My front has never lifted in float with this set up. Not even when pushing though 4ft drifts!

 

[DK35vince]

So do you plow with no added weight on the 3 point? I know when I put the plow on my truck I have to ballast the bed behind the rear axle.

ac

I generally have a back blade or the snow blower on the 3 point. Rear tires are loaded.
I have a 9' truck plow on the front

 

[PILOON]

While theoretical, back weight helps traction we know, so front weight should help steering.

When I first got my tractor they had loaded the front tires but the problem was that the calcium rotted out the valves and then the rims.
I guess the previous owner wanted to improve steering.

I had to fabricate* new front rims and in doing so made the centers from 3/8 plate stock (laser cut) as I knew weight was desirable.
I did notice some miner improvement in steering.

* Used 12" trailer rims with new centers to match the tractor hubs.