Snow Plow Woes

[doesleap]

I purchased and excellent 8' snow plow from MTL Attachments for my new Kubota MX5200 for $1800. It is a heavy, super-rugged plow. The problem is that it is too stiff and doesn't flex with the crown of the road. Mostly it is OK, but there are times that one side of the plow is digging deep while the other side is off the ground. My old plow rig had enough slop that it followed the road better. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Fallon]

I'm in the same boat. No vertical or lateral float on my newish plow. I knew it when I bought it though. It's been on my todo list to rebuilt the mount between the SSQA & plow frame to add both, but I have yet to get to it as with most projects. The old yellow plow I built for my old tractor had plenty of both. Probably to much vertical actually as I could flip it backwards. There are a handful if threads on here about making a compact mount with float in it.

 

[nybirdman]

That is the biggest problem with factory built snow plows for tractors;no float.They work on paved surfaces but not gravel or uneven.
It will take some work but you need to add pivot points and a chain(will give you vertical float).

 

[fruitcakesa]

I bought one of these: Hydraulic Angle Snow Blade Skid Steer Attachment | Jenkins Iron & Steel. It is a beast, pretty much a Bobcat clone.
While you can't see it in the pics, nor do they mention it but all the plow components are mounted to a plate that is attached to the QA plate by a greaseable pivot that allow a few degrees of horizontal oscillation so it does follow some contours

 

[Thomas]

Maybe until you get some time on plow shoes/skids might help???

 

[Katahdin]

Attaching a 2 inch steel pipe to the cutting edge will help with the digging. This involves removing a slice of the pipe and mounting to the cutting edge with welded tabs and bolt holes. There are threads about making these if you use the the search function.

But yeah, truck plows have hinge points and the flex to follow the road contour comes from slop in the hinge points. They also don't have the loader weight bearing down on them.

 

[ray66v]

Yes, stiff doesn't work unless you want a bulldozer.

Having a hinged mounting system like they use on trucks, is the simple way to allow up and down movement. My plow isn't extremely heavy, so I put stops at the bottom of the hinges. The plow bottoms out on the stops when I pick it up, rather than having to use a chain hanging from above it, to lift it up.

You also need to have some ability for the blade to rotate a few degrees up or down on each side, to follow the pavement. The simplest way to accomplish that, is to have some slop in the pivot point which the plow turns side to side on. This can be done by enlarging the hole the bolt goes through that it pivots on.

 

[ray66v]

Attaching a 2 inch steel pipe to the cutting edge will help with the digging. This involves removing a slice of the pipe and mounting to the cutting edge with welded tabs and bolt holes. There are threads about making these if you use the the search function.

There is no need to slit a steel pipe.

Just weld the tabs on and attach it in front of the cutting edge.

 

[SGreene]

Sounds like you're needing a plow that oscillates. Most of the higher end ssqa plows have about 5 degrees of lateral oscillation but the price does go up.

 

[Egon]

Some folks use these.
[video]https://www.homedepot.ca/product/snowbear-38-inch-heavy-duty-skid-shoes-for-snowplows/1001102721?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D28%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_Outdoors_Outdoors_PLA_EN_ _PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-416433435590&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8tHi6bCN5wIVyZ-zCh0kLwTZEAQYASABEgKJk_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds[/video]

 

[s219]

There is no need to slit a steel pipe.

Just weld the tabs on and attach it in front of the cutting edge.

Agree, I did the same thing.

 

[Fallon]

Some folks use these.
[video]https://www.homedepot.ca/product/snowbear-38-inch-heavy-duty-skid-shoes-for-snowplows/1001102721?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D28%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_Outdoors_Outdoors_PLA_EN_ _PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-416433435590&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8tHi6bCN5wIVyZ-zCh0kLwTZEAQYASABEgKJk_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds[/video]

Standard plow shoes. I have those on mine & they help a bit, but not enough. Our ground doesnt always freeze up. So you are left with soft dirt or gravel that plows easily. Shoes are part of the solution, but they can't cary the weight of the plow, loader, possibly the front of the tractor on softer roads. You need float on the plow so they are only carying that weight, which is still to much at times. Then you add the rounded pipe "cutting" edge to the equation.

 

[Threepoint]

Haven't used an FEL-mounted blade, so I've never really though about this problem until now. If it's such a known issue, as it seems to be, and if the smart guys here on TBN have come up with effective ways to address it, I'm wondering what good fabricators like MTL in Georgia and Everything Attachments in NC say about.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Haven't used an FEL-mounted blade, so I've never really though about this problem until now. If it's such a known issue, as it seems to be, and if the smart guys here on TBN have come up with effective ways to address it, I'm wondering what good fabricators like MTL in Georgia and Everything Attachments in NC say about.

I'm not sure those guys know what "snow" is?

 

[Fallon]

I'm not sure those guys know what "snow" is?

True to some degree I bet. But a lot of it is the intended usage too. A lot (most?) SSQA plows tend to go on skid steers plowing parking lots. Skids & especially flat paved parking lots dont need the float stuff a tractor on gravel does.

 

[Threepoint]

True to some degree I bet. But a lot of it is the intended usage too. A lot (most?) SSQA plows tend to go on skid steers plowing parking lots. Skids & especially flat paved parking lots dont need the float stuff a tractor on gravel does.

Agree with this. But it seems to me that this is a design opportunity for an innovative fabricator like EA and some others. My guess is there are lots of crusher-run driveways and outlet roads out there that are plowed by front blades CUTs and Utility Tractors.

 

[Blue14]

Landpride has FEL snow blades with 5 degree side float left and right,I just bought one about 2 months ago.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Landpride has FEL snow blades with 5 degree side float left and right,I just bought one about 2 months ago.

How do you like it, which size did you get, and what was the approximate cost of your Landpride? Just looked at the website, and the information is "sparse".

 

[Industrial Toys]

When you aren't plowing level ashalt and are out in the country, all these problems of varying terrain crop up. Not really much you can do about it. Even if I don't get all the snow, as long as I don't tear up grass and dirt, that I'm going to have to repair in the spring, I'm satisfied.

 

[Blue14]

How do you like it, which size did you get, and what was the approximate cost of your Landpride? Just looked at the website, and the information is "sparse".

I love the blade,I got the STB1584,$2500 out the door. There is a feature you can unlock and lock side float whatever surface your plowing on and it comes with very well detailed operators manual.