Plow and ROPS tricks?

[snowbound]

I have a new TC35D. It stays in a convenient garage we have, and I was very happy to find out that even with the loader mounted snowplow the tractor fits in the garage with at least 1" of clearance all around and the ROPS folded. It is remarkably easy to park the thing in there because of the good steering and the creep speed.

One thing I would like to sort out that picking up the Curtis snowplow is slightly tricky. We have the quick-attach skid-steer type loader which is very simple to pick up the other attachments but the snowplow sometimes has to be picked up just exactly the right way or else the levers can't be pushed down. Is this a common problem with a simple trick?

The other problem is that the ROPS is a bit hard to use. It isn't a problem to unfold it, but the flanges that have the pin holes in them bind on the ROPS uprights so the ROPS needs to be shifted a bit side to side in order to fully unfold it and put the pins in. Today, I couldn't line it up at all, even using a rubber mallet to try and nudge the ROPS into place. I'm going to call the dealer and see what he can do, because I want to use the ROPS (my place is not flat) and I want to park the tractor in the garage too.

But I thought I'd ask if anyone here has a tip for these things too.

 

[tc35dforme]

I can't help with the plow mount...I didn't get the quick attach option on my TC35D.

As for the ROPS binding, mine does the same thing. I solved the problem by putting in a garage door that's 8'-6" high /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

 

[tpaulson]

Initially I had problems with getting the rops unfolded. I purchased some washers that fit the rops hinge bolt. Remove one of the hinge bolts and insert washers as needed to keep the rops in the correct position when unfolding. You may need to add washers to the other hinge bolt also.

I also had to slightly spread the flanges with the pin holes. I did this by putting a bolt through the pin hole with 2 nuts on the inside of the flanges. Then take a 2 wrenches and turn the appropriate nut to spread the flange. This may make more sense if you look at my simple sketch. I didn't have to spread it very far to make it work smoothly. I can put the rops up and down with one hand without any binding.

 

[tpaulson]

I also removed the keyring type pin holders and replaced with pin spring clips(not sure on the name, see picture). I am sure the keyring type are more secure, but were very time consuming to put in. I know that things that take too long, don't get done. I wanted to make sure the rops was fast and easy to fold and unfold, so I didn't get in the habit of Not putting the rops up when taking the tractor out of the garage.

 

[snowbound]

Yeah I had already decided to go with snap pins for the ROPS too.

As to spreading, I'm not sure whether the best solution is spreading the flanges or maybe there is an adjustment for aligning the uprights. I'll get back here after talking to the dealer.

 

[EagleEye]

Snowbound, I have the same problem with my basic TC35... The only suggestion I can make is to grease the two connecting points to help facilitate the connection... Like yourself, I am just trying to get it to move a bit laterally so that it goes up... a pita but minor compared to other potential "problems"...

Grease solves or dimishes a lot of problems while protecting your investment /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[techinNY]

The first thing you may want to check is the width of the slot that the pins go down through. I would bet the curtis ones are a bit narrower than the rest of your attachments. If that is the case, (you or better yet the dealer if it is still under warrenty), mount the blade so the levers will latch and mark the mounting plate as to give you some clearance side to side where the pins come down through the bottom of the mounting plate. Then remove the blade from the tractor and open the slots with a torch or plasma cutter. Basically the problem is that Curtis did not cut the holes any bigger than they had to. Let us know how you make out.

 

[avclay]

I've found with skid steer quick connects if you get the top to hinge, lift up off of ground, and then rock it back and forth using the bucket angle controls it will shift the attachment around until the pins are lined up just right.