Simple snowplow

[snowman]

Seems like alot of people use the FEL for snow removal, or have it rigged up to run an actual plow off the FEL or FEL arms.

I've been thinking about this and, in general, the basic concept of doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

Seems to me that someone with just a FEL that really wants a blade up front, but doesn't want to spend the money or doesn't have the ability to weld could make a relatively good plow using using a wooden board.

If my FEL was 5' wide, get a piece of 8' by 2" by 10" (or 12") - cut it down to 6' wide, and then chain it to the FEL on either side (screw eyebolts on the tractor side of the board to latch the chains onto). Would have to add some type of clamps to keep the board fro shifting side to side or up and down - could just drill bolts from the "face" of the blade so that they slip in over the FEL edges.

Could "angle" the board by sticking a 2' or so piece of wood inside one side of the bucket - that would keep the "blade" from being flush with the FEL. Stick it on the right side of the bucket and the snow would be pushed off to the left side.

Could even rig up wings to make it scoop.

Weight isn't an issue because you could add a little down angle pressure (not too much of couse) with the FEL.

The wood board would definitely wear down - how fast depends on how rough the surface is (gravel vs asphalt). can just flip the board over after one side wears down.

Even if you had replace the board each year, only cost is about $20.

Kind of a "poor man's plow", but should work for pushing snow.

Would also be a "quick detach" - easy to take off and not heavy, so you can pull it off and use the FEL for normal stacking and moving.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

snowman,
If you lve in an area where you have to deal with snow removal, THERE has to be plenty of old rusty pickup plows hanging around in junkyards etc.
With a few dollars and a little creative ingenuity, it is quite simple to rig one of these to your bucket and loader. There has been hordes of discussion on this site on this matter along with many pictures of brackets and setup's that members have done or are going to do (me included). My plow, as I type, is fastened to my front bucket with a heavy chain and a chain binder. It works FANTASTIC !!! See pic.
Do a little hunting and make a few inquiry's in your area, I bet you will turn up an old blade in no time.

If there is anybody in the Meredith, New Hampshire area looking, there is an old (nice shape) Fisher blade / with trip edge sitting on thee scrap pile behind building #2 (I think) at Wickes Lumber. I am sure it could be had Real cheap if not Free. I looked at it the other day and decided that I didn't really need 2 of them.

 

[Mike_Dumond]

I went one step simpler. Bought a used 6ft plow, ($50) and four 6in chain binders ($20) and attached the plow directly to the bucket. It doesn't angle, but for $70, it pushes alot of snow. Takes about 3 minutes to put it on or take it off. Guess I'm just cheap.

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

When I was a little boy, my Father used the inner tank from an old water heater, cut in half and welded end to end to make a plow for the front of the John Deere. A steel pipe frame allowed the blade to be raised and lowered. It worked pretty good and I can remember him using it for several winters, the problem was that the blade had to be raised and lowered manually, via a long lever located near the seat. The weight was enough that it required stopping the tractor and using both hands.

SHF

 

[beenthere]

Sounds like the plow I had on a JD model LA in the late 60's. I transferred the plow to a TO-30 Ferguson after rigging it to the front with a cable to the 3pt lift arms. Worked well but because it didn't have a trip mechanism, I drove over it a few times when the plow caught on some hard frozen object or caught some mud.

When I was a boy, a neighbor had a wood board V-plow, that leveled a path about 12' wide. It was built to be pulled by horses unless a tractor was handy. It would not scrape down to the ground, but made a wide smooth snow path. I don't think a board attached to a loader would work for very long, before the wood would break up. But I would like to see someone try it anyway. Any takers?

 

[snowman]

Mark;

I'm not looking to do any of this; was just kind of thinking out loud. It actually popped into my head one time when I was using my back blade - I figured that I could have saved the $400 or so that I spent by just somehow dragging a large board back there. I know...there's more to it than that, but for just pushing the majority of snow out of the way, it should work.

I know alot of people on TBN have rigged up front plows using old actual plows. I was just thinking of something even simpler. A board is so much lighter than a steel (or poly) blade, and you can just stand it up in the corner of the garage when you don't need it.

I guess one problem would be in wet snow in that it would stick to the wood. Would probably have to stick some type of coating on it.

 

[snowman]

<font color=blue> went one step simpler. Bought a used 6ft plow, ($50) and four 6in chain binders ($20) and attached the plow directly to the bucket. It doesn't angle, but for $70, it pushes alot of snow. Takes about 3 minutes to put it on or take it off. Guess I'm just cheap.</font color=blue>


Mike;

Could you make your blade angle by sticking something in the FEL bucket that the blade would push back against?

Say your FEL is 12" deep. Get a 4"x4" that is 18" long and stick it in the right side of the FEL bucket so that the extra 6" sticks out. Put your blade on and tighten the chains. Your blade would now be angled to the left.

If want more of an angle, make the wood stock longer than 18".

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Don't remember if Dad had figured out a way to make the blade trip or not. I was only about 7 or so at the time. But I remember it was a mighty big parking area and it was always real clean. I think I remember him talking about being able to angle the blade, but I don't know if he ever got it worked out.

A lot of my childhood was spent following him around Army Surplus yards. Back when Surplus yards carried things like airplane tires (make nice trailer tires), and in fact one time, an entire jet cockpit. (Sure are a lot of wires coming out of those things)

SHF

 

[Thomas]

I look at Mark setup real close and I like his design.

My setup cost less than $150.oo even painted /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif and this will be the seventh winter of plowing w/this setup.

 

[Thomas]

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[Thomas]

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[Thomas]

#4

 

[hazmat]

Thomas,

I'd like your input, see my post under build it yourself

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Thomas,
At present, I like your setup over mine for the shear fact that it is more properly and securely fastened to your bucket / loader.
Mine is most definatly Jury Rigged and sticks out in front approx. 1' more then necessary. Eventually when I stop procrastinating and get that bracket made up that I have shown and mentioned in previous posts, I will secure mine more properly and safely and it won't strick out as far.
Although I feel confident that mine is not going anywhere, I do have a fair amount of weight dangling by a thread (so to speak) I will feel better about have it more properly mounted.

 

[Thomas]

I decide a ridge plow fasten to the bucket there would be to much wear and tear on the fel,also wouldn't do a good clean job.

With the single pin setup the bucket 3" off the ground,and curl forward until the shoe rest on the ground.

When the plow set for 45 degrees,the back of the plow rest against the bucket for added strenght.

I added piece 3/8" plate steel to the back of the bucket,for this will give the plow frame more strenght and not damage the bucket.

Depending how far your plow reaches out from your bucket,you may want to added rear weight..for traction plowing up hill & pushing up those big etc..

I'll try and snap some photos this weekend and post them to you.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Thomas,
I will most definatly reinforce the back of the bucket, as you did. And if you recall from some of my earlier posts, I purchased a JD green ballast box in early spring and at present, I have approx. 800 lbs. of lead ingots in it, I also have approx. another 700 lbs. of same to add if necessary.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Last winter I used my plow for snow removal but I had the backhoe on as ballast, the tractor performed flawlessly.
I truly believe and expect that it will perform the same this year using the rear ballast box etc.
Time and snow will tell.