Snow Blade and the wheels

[joshlee]

When you guys are plowing snow, does the weight of the snow push back enough on the blade to angle it back? So, then you would keep needing to tilt the bade forward?

 

[MossRoad]

When you guys are plowing snow, does the weight of the snow push back enough on the blade to angle it back? So, then you would keep needing to tilt the bade forward?

Not quite sure what you're asking, but, no matter what angle (left or right), or curl (back or dump) I set the plow at, it never, ever moves from that angle until I move it with the joystick. Hope that helps.

 

[joshlee]

Yep, you answered my question. I guess my question wasn't stated real well. The blade curling back was what I was concerned about. I would like to sell the Steiner, but the Ventrac plow works so well on that machine for plowing snow and that makes me want to keep it, unless the plow for the PTwould work just as well? I noticed there are no trip springs on the PT plow. How intense is the shock when the blade catches something hard that does want to move?

Not quite sure what you're asking, but, no matter what angle (left or right), or curl (back or dump) I set the plow at, it never, ever moves from that angle until I move it with the joystick. Hope that helps.

 

[MossRoad]

Pretty darn intense! I've only done it a couple times, but when you hit something hard at speed, you fly forward and it rattles your bones. After 14 years, the outside lower corners of my plow are bent back about an inch from original. I am tempted to put a cutting edge on it in the future. But, it was only $450 new, so I've got about $32.00 per year in it! Well worth it. :thumbsup:

 

[joshlee]

Haha! There's a guy I was talking to that works for the local township and he was pushing snow with a skid loader (bucket) and he hit something solid under the snow; lets just say that he was thankful for the seatbelt. Have you ever thought about putting a winter cab on your PT?

Pretty darn intense! I've only done it a couple times, but when you hit something hard at speed, you fly forward and it rattles your bones. After 14 years, the outside lower corners of my plow are bent back about an inch from original. I am tempted to put a cutting edge on it in the future. But, it was only $450 new, so I've got about $32.00 per year in it! Well worth it. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Sure, I've thought about it. The only thing that would justify a cab for me, I suppose, would be if I get a snow blower. Then I'd seriously consider it. It would be easy to do a frame hung from the canopy. Solid most of the way down and then fabric skirt for the bottom foot or so to allow for flexibility since the darn thing bends and oscillates so much between the sections. Lexan front window with a wiper. Probably vinyl fabric windows for sides and rear. I'd have to figure out a defroster to remove my breath from the inside ( I go ice fishing in a fabric shanty, so I know how fast breath condenses on fabric and vinyl). Wouldn't need a heater, but could probably put a hydraulic cooler in the return line from the steering/FEL circuit if I wanted one.

In all reality, I just don't get cold very easily. I can stay out for hours and hours as long as I'm dressed for it. Many times this winter I found myself in just jeans, a T-shirt and sweatshirt and a light knit hat doing firewood, shoveling and plowing.

 

[joshlee]

Yeah, just simply dressing warmer is always the simpler solution, but the issue I have is not being able to feel my feet anymore. So, if they are near frost bite stage I couldn't tell. The skirting on the bottom would solve allot of hassle with trying to get things to fit. Maybe, some brass grommets( the kind on tarps) would work nice on the skirting to attach it to the frame with screws. So, I take it you have seen hydraulic coolers that would be a convenient size for fitting inside a cab on the PT?
Here it is spring time and I'm still talking about winter stuff, haha. Let me change the conversation for a moment to a warmer subject. This past weekend was the first I got to play around with the mower deck for the PT and I gotta say, its so awesome how easy it is to attach and detach. That QA system Power Trac has is the coolest thing since sliced bread! Another dynamic is the ease of being able to get underneath the mower deck to scrape the grass out and take the blades off, because of the FEL having 5' of lift, I love it!

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, just simply dressing warmer is always the simpler solution, but the issue I have is not being able to feel my feet anymore. So, if they are near frost bite stage I couldn't tell. The skirting on the bottom would solve allot of hassle with trying to get things to fit. Maybe, some brass grommets( the kind on tarps) would work nice on the skirting to attach it to the frame with screws. So, I take it you have seen hydraulic coolers that would be a convenient size for fitting inside a cab on the PT?
Here it is spring time and I'm still talking about winter stuff, haha. Let me change the conversation for a moment to a warmer subject. This past weekend was the first I got to play around with the mower deck for the PT and I gotta say, its so awesome how easy it is to attach and detach. That QA system Power Trac has is the coolest thing since sliced bread! Another dynamic is the ease of being able to get underneath the mower deck to scrape the grass out and take the blades off, because of the FEL having 5' of lift, I love it!

Yeah, I've touted the Power Trac quick attach since the first time I saw it. After battling a 3pt hitch for 10+ years I was pretty much in shock at how stupidly easy it is to change implements on the PT. Made me want to slap myself silly! :laughing:

I forgot about you not being able to feel your feet. I guess you'd have to take precautions to prevent freezing more than I would and that may be tough when the mercury creeps towards anything below 15-20. I warm up mine by moving them, but never thought about how it would be if I couldn't.

As for heating the cab, there are several options. You could put a fabric tunnel over the existing cooler fan on top of the engine compartment and blow it into the cab. The fabric would flex plenty for movement side-to-side. If you hooked an always-on switch to the hydraulic fan you would be good. Just let the thing run at 1/3 throttle for 10 minutes and the hydraulics will be warm enough to provide heat, I believe.

Other option is 12v electric heater, but those are kind of wimpy and the electrical system doesn't provide enough amps to run it without killing the battery, I believe.

Third option is like I mentioned... get a small hydraulic cooler with a small 12v fan and mount it on the ceiling as far towards the front as possible. I've seen some hydraulic coolers that are about 5" wide by 15" long by a couple inches thick. I bet if we put one up under the front of the canopy and put a couple 12v computer fans on it, it would be enough to defrost the windshield and provide heat in the cab yet not pull too many amps. I'd have to experiment. But I think the oil returning from the steering/fel/aux PTO circuit would flow through nicely with low pressure. I'd have to put a pressure gauge on that return line to measure it to be sure the cooler could handle it. And of course check the flow specs. Summer's the time to do these things. :laughing:

 

[jfischer]

Josh, and M R, I wear a pair of the heavy hunting socks, along with large shoes or boats of some type when I am out there, as I am like Josh and don't know, or can't feel any of the lower portions of my body. Also bought some booty style things that zip up the back and come up and cover the bottom of your pants a year or so ago that a lot of hunters use that zip over top of your shoes, and that along with quilted pants seem to keep me good for 4 or 5 hours, that is about as long as I have been out plowing at one time.

 

[MossRoad]

Spats or gators are the things that keep you pants legs sealed. I finally got some flannel lined blue jeans this year! :thumbsup: Just like wearing a pair of pajamas inside your jeans.

One thing I've found over the years is its easy to put on too tight of socks or two pair of socks and then squeeze them into too tight boots. It cuts off the circulation in my feet. Many years ago I switched to a good pair of thick socks and large boots with felt liners. They are loose enough to allow my feet to move and they let the socks expand and do their job of trapping air to insulate rather than squeezing the air space out and cutting off my circulation. Some day I'll get a pair of mickey mouse army boots for ice fishing, but I don't need them at present. My feet haven't gotten cold in many years.

Typically, if I'm going to sit in the cold for hours and hours, I'll wear:
A pair of silk long underwear bottoms and long sleeve top (or under armor brand instead of silk).
A pair of thick, loose socks over the long underwear legs.
A T-shirt.
A pair of flannel pajama bottoms.
A sweat shirt.
A pair of carhart coveralls.
A carhart jacket with integrated hood.
Good boots with felt liners.
A silk balaclava.
A knit ski mask that goes way down my kneck.
A pair of socks on my hands with finger holes cut out to keep the breezes out of my sleeves.
A pair of winter welder's mittens....
I can't put my arms down!!!