Snow plow on Loader. How's yours holding up?

[TroySD]

For the guys that have attached an adjustable snow plow to a SSQA for their loader....hows it working? Any problems with the plow not tripping or loader damage. Does it work as good as on a pickup?

I'm having some problems with my pump for my Western 8'. The 4way valve for the angling of the plow doesn't work right. I've tried adjusting but its not doing much.

Thinking about adding the SSQA to my Boomer 35. I've got 1.5 miles of gravel to clear and all the yard cleaning.

Thanks

Troy

 

[VTFireftr]

My plow (Meyers ST 7.5 welded to a QA plate) has held up great, except for the pivot pins.

I bought my plow used and don't know how old it is. Last time out plowing, I sheared one of the pivot pins. I have an appontment with my local welder to use his plasma cutter and welder to remove and replace both pins/tubes. I was able to locate replacement parts pretty easily.


I had to replace one angle cylider when I bought the setup, but other than that, no major issues, and the plow works great with the WR Long valve that also runs my 4 in 1 bucket.

 

[catdozer]

I got one for the tractor and skidloader, I thought the tractor would be faster than the skidloader(bobcat t190) it is but it throws the tractor to the side to much! I'm not using chains, and I'm actually planning in cutting the SSQA plate off and making a frame mount, Beenthere has a very nice mount I want to use

 

[JB4310]

8 foot would be too large for that tractor, unless you only get 6" snows. Though a narrow drive is not as challenging as an open area, since it may only take a pass in each direction, so 8 ft might do it but there are other things that make the truck more practical.

I would get the pump straightened out and run it on the truck, especially if you use the truck for other tasks. If you keep the truck just for plowing then maybe it would make sense to put the plow on the tractor, so you could lose the truck.

Compare the power and weight of the tractor to that of the truck, you'll see the truck is a better choice to do the work. Plus take into account the the cab issue, don't know if you have one but that would be another advantage to the truck if you didn't.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

I got one for the tractor and skidloader, I thought the tractor would be faster than the skidloader(bobcat t190) it is but it throws the tractor to the side to much! I'm not using chains, and I'm actually planning in cutting the SSQA plate off and making a frame mount, Beenthere has a very nice mount I want to use

My plow also pushed the tractor to one side when the plow was tilted, but front chains put a stop to that altogether.

 

[PILOON]

I got one for the tractor and skidloader, I thought the tractor would be faster than the skidloader(bobcat t190) it is but it throws the tractor to the side to much! I'm not using chains, and I'm actually planning in cutting the SSQA plate off and making a frame mount, Beenthere has a very nice mount I want to use

To avoid the side slipping be sure to keep the pusher arms parallel to the ground.
With arms sloping downwards towards the tractor, the heavier the snow load the heavier the steering will be .
Withe the reverse (up towards tractor) the snow load will tend to jack your front upwards= no steering.

This is why plow manufacturers always provide 3 mounting holes on the A frames.
When I contracted I'd use the highest setting early season to avoid grabbing gravel and when I had a good base I'd switch to higher holes to clean clear down to the base.
Even on the heavy plow truck you felt the steering changes that followed setting changes.

 

[catdozer]

To avoid the side slipping be sure to keep the pusher arms parallel to the ground.
With arms sloping downwards towards the tractor, the heavier the snow load the heavier the steering will be .
Withe the reverse (up towards tractor) the snow load will tend to jack your front upwards= no steering.

This is why plow manufacturers always provide 3 mounting holes on the A frames.
When I contracted I'd use the highest setting early season to avoid grabbing gravel and when I had a good base I'd switch to higher holes to clean clear down to the base.
Even on the heavy plow truck you felt the steering changes that followed setting changes.

I'm going from asphalt to concrete then to gravel so chains are not my best option. And I'm using a 7ft blade on the CT235 and that's why I want to switch to a frame front mount to keep the plow closer to tractor and that the plow can follow the ground better. And that 8 ft will be pushing the limits of that TC35

 

[nybirdman]

My eight ft.Curtis is on a L4240 HSTC,about 7,000lbs total,R1 tires and no chains.I plow about 2 miles total.Worked fine for the three years I have had it.I also run a seven ft. rear blade.

 

[sunnyside360]

I got one for the tractor and skidloader, I thought the tractor would be faster than the skidloader(bobcat t190) it is but it throws the tractor to the side to much! I'm not using chains, and I'm actually planning in cutting the SSQA plate off and making a frame mount, Beenthere has a very nice mount I want to use

I had similar experience with my JD 4320 and FEL snow plow. Filling the front R4 tires with Rim Guard made a huge difference. One of my previous tractors, Kubota L4200, had a frame mounted snow plow and it worked great w/o adding any weight.

 

[JB4310]

I got one for the tractor and skidloader, I thought the tractor would be faster than the skidloader(bobcat t190) it is but it throws the tractor to the side to much! I'm not using chains, and I'm actually planning in cutting the SSQA plate off and making a frame mount, Beenthere has a very nice mount I want to use

You can see some influence of Beentheres in my setup.

I prefer frame mount myself, mine was so simple I don't know why the manufacturers don't offer front frame mounts anymore.

I took the front main frame mount from the truck set up, welded some heavy plates on it and gusseted it up a little. Bolted it right to the frame rails behind the weight bracket. Existing holes, 8 grade 8 bolts, that was it, the thing is as solid as can be. Stays on year round, doesn't interfere with loader install. Loader stick/ valve is already set up for 4 way function. Simple and very effective.

Quick and simple lift with a cheap TSC cylinder. Converted a truck plow to tractor for a few hundred dollars.

JB

 

[PILOON]

One way to eliminate front end drift with a tractor mounted truck blade would be to make a long ladderlike frame that would take the loads back to the rear.
I would envision the rear attachment to sort of resembling a pair of crutch ends butting up to the axle housings.
That or pinned to the drawbar somehow.
Remember that the design of a tractor is to pull or work from the rear as really the front, by design, is not the 'work end'.
You might argue FEL's but consider that ALL FELs require additional framework.

 

[catdozer]

You can see some influence of Beentheres in my setup.

I prefer frame mount myself, mine was so simple I don't know why the manufacturers don't offer front frame mounts anymore.

I took the front main frame mount from the truck set up, welded some heavy plates on it and gusseted it up a little. Bolted it right to the frame rails behind the weight bracket. Existing holes, 8 grade 8 bolts, that was it, the thing is as solid as can be. Stays on year round, doesn't interfere with loader install. Loader stick/ valve is already set up for 4 way function. Simple and very effective.

Quick and simple lift with a cheap TSC cylinder. Converted a truck plow to tractor for a few hundred dollars.

JB

Well looks like I have to get on that right away. I kinda wanted a removable bracket but I think your setup is the way to go! And I think with the bobcat loader I can just pull the cylinder and lever and leave the stand on.

 

[RockyNY]

Just a thought, but how many of you that have trouble with front end drift when the plow is angled are using a chain float plow? Using a chain float leaves all the FEL weight on the front tires, unlike using the FEL's hydraulic float.

 

[sunnyside360]

One way to eliminate front end drift with a tractor mounted truck blade would be to make a long ladderlike frame that would take the loads back to the rear.
I would envision the rear attachment to sort of resembling a pair of crutch ends butting up to the axle housings.
That or pinned to the drawbar somehow.
Remember that the design of a tractor is to pull or work from the rear as really the front, by design, is not the 'work end'.
You might argue FEL's but consider that ALL FELs require additional framework.

Agree. I've had and/or worked with many tractors over the past 50+ years which had frame attached plows attached either to the axle housing or to the draw bar and they worked very well. Biggest advantage of a QA fel snow plow is the ease with which it connects and disconnects to/from the tractor --- very fast without any wrenching. That's been my experience anyways, but I'm sure one could devise a frame mounted plow which required no wrenching but probably wouldn't be as easy to connect/disconnect as the QA fel type.

 

[sunnyside360]

Just a thought, but how many of you that have trouble with front end drift when the plow is angled are using a chain float plow? Using a chain float leaves all the FEL weight on the front tires, unlike using the FEL's hydraulic float.

Don't think there is much difference if you use the "free float" position on the fel joy stick.

 

[k0ua]

I'm going from asphalt to concrete then to gravel so chains are not my best option. And I'm using a 7ft blade on the CT235 and that's why I want to switch to a frame front mount to keep the plow closer to tractor and that the plow can follow the ground better. And that 8 ft will be pushing the limits of that TC35

Did you look at the Siping of R4 tires thread?.. some guys are reporting it helps.. I did mine 2 weeks ago, but I dont know. Might be an alternative to chains, and provide some more side traction.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a.html

James K0UA

 

[JB4310]

Agree. I've had and/or worked with many tractors over the past 50+ years which had frame attached plows attached either to the axle housing or to the draw bar and they worked very well. Biggest advantage of a QA fel snow plow is the ease with which it connects and disconnects to/from the tractor --- very fast without any wrenching. That's been my experience anyways, but I'm sure one could devise a frame mounted plow which required no wrenching but probably wouldn't be as easy to connect/disconnect as the QA fel type.

Mine requires removing the loader, (no tools, couple of minutes)

Pinning the plow to the frame mount undercarriage, (no tools, 1 minute?)

Installing lift cylinder/ frame, I chose to use 2 bolts thru my weight bracket to stiffen it up, but it's designed to just slip on, so it could be used with no bolts. (2 wrenches, 2-3 minutes)

Connect 4 hoses (1 minute)

Compact, solid plowing machine, more efficient and less wear and tear/ abuse than loader mounted IMO, but I respect those that disagree.

JB

 

[PILOON]

My personal installation consists of homemade plow mounted to a subframe that transfers all forces to my loader frame.
My lift is a KISS one as I simply unpin my loader bucket and have a length of chain that drops down to the plow blade frame.
The installation is so successful that I never miss my FEL bucket during snow season.
I find that I can simply bulldoze snow banks as far as I want.
Being a CUT I can actually ride up onto snow banks or push my way clear thru.
To bulldoze I defeat the blade tripping and use lowest gear ratios.
Seasonal changeover consists of 4 bucket pins in or out plus the 2 plow pins in or out (probably 10 mins total)
In winter I never miss the FEL bucket as all it did was frustrate me due to snow clinging no matter what tricks I tried.

The build is documented here on TBN.

 

[nybirdman]

I have a chain float set-up on my FEL mounted snow-plow,I never float the FEL.The plow trips as needed.My tractor weighs 7000 lbs;it doesn't push the tractor around.

 

[sunnyside360]

JB,

No question, you have a very nice setup. :thumbsup: