QA plate to mount my 7.5' plow on FEL

[BruceNorthEast]

Re: QA plate to mount my 7.5\' plow on FEL

Dave,

What a great job! I love it! (Tractor looks good too)

My plow truck died and I've been hunting for several months for the right deal on a used tractor (my first. I almost bought new, but hands were shaking too badly due to cost...).

I had in mind saving the plow/frame/etc. and doing what you did, but now that I've seen it I'll use yours as an example. You said you got the plate on ebay. Do we search for anything special (i.e. skid steer plate)? Do they have a "store" where you can buy them all the time or just auctions?
Bruce.

 

[DavidVT]

A follow up to my plow setup thread since I found it tonight:

Overall I am pleased with the ability to move snow and the ease and speed of turning the plow when needed.

The lift chains have broken several times as there may be too much stress on the very shallow angled nearly horizonal path the chain follows. I will build an arm off the qa plate out of out some tubing I have so that the chain will pull vertically rather than as it has been

I have yet to shorten the frame (but still need to).

My drives have many twists and right/left pitches. I fear the stress on the FEL when the wide plow attempts to twist clockwise or counter clockwise while negotiating those uneven surfaces. I suspect the same plow on a truck would simply pass the stress to the springs and roll the body a bit. Naturally the tractor does not have that ability....

I have considered trying to build in some kind of rotation hub but have not done much more than think about it. Example, move the two pin mounts to a new heavy plate. Then drill a large central hole in that plate and the qa plate and use a bolt to create a pivot point to allow for that clockwise/counterclockwise rotation. Weld some stops to the QA plate to limit the new plate's rotation ability.

But, how do I create a centered neutral position so the plow wants to be level unless the ground pushes it out of center??

For now I only need to worry about mowing grass and stacking wood for the outdoor boiler.... But that white stuff will return soon enough....