Plow Angle - Drilling an additional hole for storage/clearance?

[Alrashid2 310]

Hey guys. As some of you might have saw, I got my plow installed and was sad to see that, go figure, it hits my shed door opening when going up my shed ramp - by just about an inch or so. I'll plan on building a longer shed in the spring to hopefully help with the clearance, but I had an idea tonight I figured I'd ask you guys about. 

 

There are 4 holes on the back of the plow that attach the trip springs to the plow, and adjust the attack angle of the plow. Well, my thought was to maybe drill one more set of holes all the way at the top, which would angle the plow to being nearly horizontal. This obviously wouldn't be for plowing purposes but just for when I'm driving around and not plowing. 

 

Took some measurements and my plow currently sits about 6" off the ground when lifted. If I was able to drill those holes and put my plow in "Storage Mode" with it swooping upward, I'd get 10" of clearance - that's a 4" gain!

 

This wouldn't be for just my shed though. I also have some steep hills and a steep sand mound I'd like to be able to get the tractor up and on top of sometimes, and this would help me acheive that too, as well as just giving me some additional approach angle on the front end, with the plow up and out of the way. 

 

Photos attached - I highlighted in Yellow where I'd want to drill some additional holes for Storage Mode. What do you guys think? Any detriment to me doing this? 

Edited December 18 by Alrashid2

[Bar Nuthin 542]

Could you just use a bungee strap or ratchet strap to hold it back and hold the springs off the ground?

Edited December 18 by Bar Nuthin

[Alrashid2 310]

Not a bad idea @Bar Nuthin... let me look at that. My only dilemma is that that might make it a lot easier for me to lose a hitch pin or the bar that holds it all together... was thinking this might be easier overall 

[Bar Nuthin 542]

1 minute ago, Alrashid2 said:

Not a bad idea @Bar Nuthin... let me look at that. My only dilemma is that that might make it a lot easier for me to lose a hitch pin or the bar that holds it all together... was thinking this might be easier overall 

 

You can still put the pin back in one of the holes for safe keeping

 

[Alrashid2 310]

Fair point. I'll give that a shot first before making any permanent modification!

Any inherent issue with having the plow angled that way when not plowing? 

[Bar Nuthin 542]

2 minutes ago, Alrashid2 said:

Any inherent issue with having the plow angled that way when not plowing? 

 

As long as you don't bump into it with your shin, it should be okay. 

[mrc 841]

i see you are running a 312-8 with the 6 inch front wheels.  i assume you have the stock taller spindles. correct?  you could get 16 x 6.50 x 8  front tires/wheels and get more height from the plow that way.  

 

also a vendor on this site (K&B horse products) sells an axle bracket that will make your plow lift higher.  he also makes blocks that you can install with your current axle bracket that will make the plow lift higher.  give jim a call.  good guy 

 

regards

mike

 

 

[Alrashid2 310]

22 minutes ago, mrc said:

i see you are running a 312-8 with the 6 inch front wheels.  i assume you have the stock taller spindles. correct?  you could get 16 x 6.50 x 8  front tires/wheels and get more height from the plow that way.  

 

also a vendor on this site (K&B horse products) sells an axle bracket that will make your plow lift higher.  he also makes blocks that you can install with your current axle bracket that will make the plow lift higher.  give jim a call.  good guy 

 

regards

mike

 

 

Hey there. Not sure actually what spindles I have. Good point about more height with bigger wheels/tires, but I was just trying to work with what I got for now. 

 

Just saw the axle bracket you were talking about after searching. What a good idea! I actually had to shim one side of my bracket because my frame was tweaked, causing the plow to sit uneven (1.5" higher on one side) - the bracket shim did work to even it out. And, now that I go back and look at photos I took before/after, it did raise the lower end from 4" to 5", so that makes sense! Fulcrums, right?  

 

I have a good axle bracket right now though so don't want to replace that. I've also dumped a lot more money into this thing than I'd like to think about, as much fun as I'm having. My original budget for a tractor was $1000. I got this beauty for $500, but have dumped about $900 into it at this point!!

 

Think I'm going to drill those holes this weekend. I did some testing though - had I drilled the holes all the way up top, and turned the plow, it would now hit my front tire! Again, "Storage Mode" is the idea here, but you never know. I'll sacrifice a bit of ground clearance drill the holes an inch lower from the top than I originally wanted to, to ensure if the plow were angled when set in that position, it wouldn't hit my tires. 

 

Thanks guys!

[Ed Kennell 38,684]

56 minutes ago, Alrashid2 said:

 

Any inherent issue with having the plow angled that way when not plowing? 

Be careful when you open the hood.

[Alrashid2 310]

30 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Be careful when you open the hood.

Funny you saw that, literally just banged my hood on the plot with it set in the normal position! Woops 

[mrc 841]

another idea is just remove the plow from the 'A' frame when you do not need/want the plow.  no drilling required

[JCM 9,407]

Some years of the 312-8 came stock with the 6'' front wheels. This is a1989.  FYI  

[JCM 9,407]

Also this 1986 had the 6'' fronts. I did a refurbish on this tractor and sold it 20 years ago.

[Alrashid2 310]

Well, I ended up doing the mod. And it was successful!

 

Photos attached. First shows the new 5th hole I drilled - obviously not for plowing, but just for keeping it in "Storage Mode" while traversing bumpy woodland ground.

 

Other photos show before/after of the plow angle and the subsequent ground clearance gain of nearly 3".

[Alrashid2 310]

And... I've got more than enough clearance going into my shed now!