Snowplow---Down pressure or Float

[PoleClimber]

I'm starting a project to mount my snowplow directly to the front of my TC35. I need to put a lift cylinder on it to move it up and down.Does anybody have any opinions or ideas on if I should mount the cylinder to create down pressure on the plow or to make it so it floats freely??? I am hooking the hydraulics into the loader controls and it has a float position but i've never used it. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bernie

 

[bigpete]

Float--unless you have an absolutely flat, gouge-proof surface to plow

 

[PineRidge]

I think that if you use the float position you'll find a loss of steering. I'm thinking some flex between the plow and the loader would be best, then you can lower the plow to contact the drive and steering wouldn't be an issue. That way the plow can follow the contour of your drive.

 

[bigpete]

<font color="blue">I think that if you use the float position you'll find a loss of steering. </font>

PineRidge: The opposite is true for a front plow. A non-floating blade will vary the amount of weight on the front wheels causing a loss of steering ability when encountering pavement higher than the front wheels. When encountering down slopes or pavement lower than the front wheels, the plow will leave snow on the pavement. Essentially, when the fixed blade encounters an upslope, the front wheels get light or lift from the pavement or the blade gouges--one or the other. The plow will not follow the contour of the pavement unless it is floating. It will either be above it or trying to get below it, and rarely just in light contact.

You really do not want a non-floating blade for snow plowing on the front of any vehicle. You do want a fixed blade for grading soil and loose materials, though. Also, make sure there is a trip or spring trip for when that plow hits an immovable object /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[PoleClimber]

I haven't seen any up close ,but from the photo's on the new holland site they have a lift cylinder pointed straight down on the frame. It looks as though this would give down pressure all the time unless the loader valve was put in the float position. I couldn't find where New Holland offered a plow that would fully float. I'm thinking to that this might affect the steering. I have depth skidders on the plow ,wouldn't this be enough to keep the plow from digging in.??

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> PineRidge: The opposite is true for a front plow. A non-floating blade will vary the amount of weight on the front wheels causing a loss of steering ability when encountering pavement higher than the front wheels. When encountering down slopes or pavement lower than the front wheels, the plow will leave snow on the pavement. Essentially, when the fixed blade encounters an upslope, the front wheels get light or lift from the pavement or the blade gouges--one or the other. The plow will not follow the contour of the pavement unless it is floating. It will either be above it or trying to get below it, and rarely just in light contact.

You really do not want a non-floating blade for snow plowing on the front of any vehicle. You do want a fixed blade for grading soil and loose materials, though. Also, make sure there is a trip or spring trip for when that plow hits an immovable object </font>

Think I may have been misunderstood.

Here is what we said:
I think that if you use the float position you'll find a loss of steering. I'm thinking some flex between the plow and the loader would be best, then you can lower the plow to contact the drive and steering wouldn't be an issue. That way the plow can follow the contour of your drive.

If you look at the picture that we posted you will see that the blade does indeed flex on the plow mount/loader allowing up and down movement of the snowplow to follow the contour of the drive without loss of steering.

Here is what we meant:
If the loader is placed into float and the loader arms are allowed to contact the ground then steering loss will be an issue.

 

[thcri]

I don't know for sure if this is the same but I think somewhat it would? I use my FEL for plowing snow all the time. I have to use the float or I will loose my steering. Float allows the loader to move up and down with the grade. As the terrain changes so does my loader. There is enough weight on the loader to keep it on the surface, and more than enough weight on the tractor to keep the front end down. If I ever don't use the float then my front tires will come off the ground or the loader will thus leaving snow.

Must my opinion.


murph

 

[DavidVT]

Seems like several different mounting ideas getting confusing around describing down pressure and float. Speaking to only front mounted snow plows I believe we have tractor mounted and FEL mounted solutions.

Of those we have plows with direct hydraulic lift/down force and plows with some kind of chain plow lift that either lifts the plow or allows it to follow the contour of the ground. I'll call this CHAIN FLOAT which is similiar to truck snow plow configurations.

Of those mounted on FEL's, if the plow is fixed in the vertical by curl or dedicated non-floatable hydraulics, then the only float might be from the FEL being in FLOAT MODE. I might call this FEL FLOAT.

So, speaking to Down pressure of Float. If your plow configuration does not have a built in slack mechanism like a chain lift forcing CHAIN FLOAT, then you likely have the choice to:
1) apply down pressure to the cutting edge at the cost of taking weight off your front tires or
2)you can allow the blade or FEL to float allowing the blade to follow a rough surface better.

Surely there are more ways to do this also!

 

[beenthere]

If "FEL float" is used (FEL mounted snow blade) then it seems the skid shoes should be mounted on the FEL arms, or the arms will dig into the ground when in "FEL float". Some of these FEL mounted plows also have a carrier chain, so they get "Chain float" as well, and may not need the FEL float feature. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Normal truck mounted snow plows (tractor-mounted) only have a one-way ram to lift the plow, and a chain which is loose when the plow is down (aptly called "Chain float"). So no need to use the "float" setting when tied into the FEL hydraulic control. This is the way I use mine. The angle of the blade is connected to the 'curl' hydraulics function.

One (at least) member added a two-way ram to lift and lower his tractor-mounted plow, so he could have down pressure when he wanted it for dirt moving and at times when plowing stubborn snow or ice. Then likely he uses the 'FEL float" feature of his hydraulics.

Glad you were helping to sort out the confusion. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[PoleClimber]

I had my plow mounted on my FEL and I decided to make a mount to hook it directly to the tractor because it was hard getting around my place with the rear blade and the snowblade on the FEL. I decided to put a slip clevis on the plow frame in order to give me 3 inches of float on the plow. Now I can raise and lower the blade and have 3 inches of blade floating.(I hope thats enough float ??) Thanks for all the input. If it doesn't work i'll have to modify it as i go.

Bernie