My snowplow adaptation

[zmansmac]

I've always had a problem with the mushroom feet digging in the gravel. So my final fix several years ago was to use a 10 inch solid rubber tire on each side. I basically copied the bracket design for the tire from my Swisher tow behind mower. It uses a 3/4 inch shaft to allow the tires to rotate when angling the plow. My plow is mounted to my loader arms so I can scrap the cement garage apron clean then "curl" the blade back on the tires to plow the gravel driveway. I have it set for a maximum of 1 inch clearance for the gravel. This is done by making the tire bracket shaft extra long and then using shims (washers and/or short pieces of pipe stock) either above or below the DOM tubing that the shaft goes into. This allows me to control the space of the moldboard from the gravel as it wears and should work nicely on a fixed plow setup. My plow is only 6 feet but this same concept would work on a larger plow. I would just upgrade the tire size and shaft.

 

[mikehaugen]

I got the lights installed, still need to get outside and get them adjusted, but probably not tonight. Right now I just guessed at the angle... the inner two are spot beam and the outers are flood beam. They are on 2 separate switches. From what I can tell they seem to be pretty bright, but I haven't put them to the test yet. When I do I will try to get some pictures.

 

[murphy1244]

That looks really nice!:thumbsup: Good job, hope you don't have to use it often.

 

[mikehaugen]

That looks really nice!:thumbsup: Good job, hope you don't have to use it often.

Thanks Murphy, so far this year we haven't had much snow. We'll see how the rest of the winter plays out. I really don't mind moving snow, except I sure wish I had a cab sometimes.

 

[murphy1244]

Thanks Murphy, so far this year we haven't had much snow. We'll see how the rest of the winter plays out. I really don't mind moving snow, except I sure wish I had a cab sometimes.

Try a rain cover from a golf cart.

 

[PILOON]

Very well thought out installation.
You made pivot points low enough to get a straight push so that you should not lose steering with angled blade.
IMHO most tractors need a plow subframe for decent results as the plow arms (A frame) need to be parallel to the road surface otherwise you end up jacking the front end and result in light or no steering.
With most blades being wider than the tractor the lightness gets amplified as well.
Nice work and good thinking.

 

[ericher69]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/customization/405952-my-snowplow-adaptation-forumrunner_20150108_172736-png"/> I got the lights installed, still need to get outside and get them adjusted, but probably not tonight. Right now I just guessed at the angle... the inner two are spot beam and the outers are flood beam. They are on 2 separate switches. From what I can tell they seem to be pretty bright, but I haven't put them to the test yet. When I do I will try to get some pictures.

Two questions

1. What brand of belt/disc sander is in the background to the right of the tractor

2. Where did u get the Orange lift? What make is it and how high does it lift

Thx

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[mikehaugen]

Try a rain cover from a golf cart.

I've considered that, do you have a problem with the windows fogging?

Very well thought out installation.
You made pivot points low enough to get a straight push so that you should not lose steering with angled blade.
IMHO most tractors need a plow subframe for decent results as the plow arms (A frame) need to be parallel to the road surface otherwise you end up jacking the front end and result in light or no steering.
With most blades being wider than the tractor the lightness gets amplified as well.
Nice work and good thinking.

Thanks, yes the steering seems to be fine (at least from the little I have tested it) as I was able to still utilize most of the weights, and as you mentioned the mounting point is low (nearly level). Now traction will be the problem. I'm going to make a counterweight for the rear instead of the rear blade I have on there now... hopefully it will help, eventually I'd like to get the tires filled.

 

[mikehaugen]

Two questions

1. What brand of belt/disc sander is in the background to the right of the tractor

2. Where did u get the Orange lift? What make is it and how high does it lift

Thx

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

Leave it to you guys to be looking through my junk pile :laughing:

The belt sander is a porter cable g4 from I believe the 40's. I just finished resurrecting it a couple months ago.

The lift only says "economy" on it. It is 12 volts so I just stick a battery in it once in a while when I want to use it. I bought off craigslist for $100 about 7 years ago (and I've probably used it 7 times :laughing: ) I can't tell you exactly how high it lifts off the top of my head, I would say 5 feet maybe? IIRC it's rated for 1500# at the backstop and 1000# at I think 18" out.

 

[ericher69]

Leave it to you guys to be looking through my junk pile :laughing: The belt sander is a porter cable g4 from I believe the 40's. I just finished resurrecting it a couple months ago. The lift only says "economy" on it. It is 12 volts so I just stick a battery in it once in a while when I want to use it. I bought off craigslist for $100 about 7 years ago (and I've probably used it 7 times :laughing: ) I can't tell you exactly how high it lifts off the top of my head, I would say 5 feet maybe? IIRC it's rated for 1500# at the backstop and 1000# at I think 18" out.

ok thanks

Great job on the plow fit up!

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