Snowplow front bucket replacement

[jnporcello]

Here are some pictures from a snowplow attachment that was made this time last year. I don't have the photos, but the back side has the 3/4 round at the top and round stock on the bottom so that all that needs to be done is remove 2 pins and then the bucket off of the loader. Then the back plate for the plow just slides on and replaces the bucket and I made 2 hydraulic lines that plug into the bucket roll quick connects -- this gives me left and right plow angle instead of up and down bucket curl. Whole thing pops on and off in under a minute.

 

[tommaple]

Nice job converting the old ST Meyer plow for use on your loader. I'm hoping to do the same when I find a suitable old snowplow. Putting skid shoes on your mounting plate is a clever way to get the back end of the a-frame at the proper height.

 

[Deadman]

Awesome, but it makes me nervous with all that force being applied to the loader arms. Its just so far out front, and has alot of leverage.
I bet it works great! :thumbsup:

 

[TWD]

How do those hydraulics work with no return line

 

[beenthere]

I connected my Western plow in a similar manner. Works great and has for about 10 years now.
Bucket curl circuit runs right and left angle, and FEL lift/down-float operates the single acting lift cylinder.
Custom made the quick hitch to the front frame.

 

[kennyd]

How do those hydraulics work with no return line

Each SA (single acting) cylinder is hooked to the valve...the valve will see the two SA cylinders as one DA (dual acting) cylinder. No problems unless the valve has a regen (regenerative) function that can't be turned off.

 

[Thomas]

Nice neat clean job,shall be looking forward to action pics soon.

 

[beenthere]

Good note mentioned by kennyd, as the regen feature (pushing joy stick full right) will stop the angle function. On my JD 4300, pushing stick part way to the right is necessary to avoid the regen feature to operate the single acting cyl.

 

[jnporcello]

Putting skid shoes on your mounting plate is a clever way to get the back end of the a-frame at the proper height.

I actually put them on there so I could use the float position of the loader. Without them I would have had to keep the backplate just off the ground and adjust continuously. This way I can put it down and into float and just go.

 

[Ford850]

I actually put them on there so I could use the float position of the loader. Without them I would have had to keep the backplate just off the ground and adjust continuously. This way I can put it down and into float and just go.

I doubt you'll want to float the whole loader and blade. That's a lot of weight dragging and ends up putting more stress on the loader arms as well as sinking the shoes into any soft or loose ground. You have the chain on the blade so you can take advantage of that by tipping the blade (dump) forward and raising the loader a few inches. This keeps the loader wheight off the ground but still allows your blade to float on it's own.
This has been my experience anyway, and keeping the loader slightly raised with only the blade floating lets me move snow much easier.