Hydro lift snow plow with down pressure AND variability?

[ebinmaine 67,309]

 

What I'm wondering here is if a front plow can have a hydro lift which would bring it up to the uppermost point and also have down pressure but yet have some variability for uneven ground in between.

 

Here's my logic. 

Trina's 867 and my own Cinnamon Horse are both gear drive transmissions with manual lifts and both have solid links so we can have down pressure for scraping.

As any of you who have ever used a solid link is well aware, the handle itself just floats back and forth to compensate for changes in the ground such as going up a hill or over a bump, into the driveway from the road, things like that. 

I am very much looking forward to trying out the Charger hydro with the hydro lift that I'll be installing as I put it together.

 

Because it is a hydro there is obviously no float mode with a solid link.

 

Have any of you ever thought processed or tried out a way to make a hydro lift float somewhere in the middle while still being able to bring the plow all the way up to the bottom of the frame and have some sort of down pressure maybe right near the end of the Piston travel...?

 

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Is there any reason why I can't make some sort of a solid link with a slot in the middle?

 

Both of us DO use the down pressure nearly every storm. Not a deal breaker on me getting used to the hydro but it would be nice because I wouldn't have to bother Trina to scrape down the areas that I see need to be done...

[pfrederi 17,674]

I have skids on my hydro plow as i plow dirt/gravel and grass.  There is a concrete apron in front of the shop that I like to scrape down bare.  When I am finished plowing every thing I Drop the plow pivot pin down a hole ( to number 3) that puts the blade edge on the concrete and it scrapes it pretty well

[Ed Kennell 38,028]

My thoughts Eric.       Add weights to the plow frame to create the desired down pressure.    Use a chain to allow the blade to float.    The hydro lift should be capable of lifting any amount of download weight you choose to use. 

 

you get it all;

down pressure

floating blade

full height of lift

more traction 

Edited October 5, 2020 by Ed Kennell

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

Most dozer A-frames have two holes to attach the lift link. One hole to match the pin in the lift link and a second hole that is slotted to provide float.

The slotted hole would work good with hydro lift.

 

Garry

[wallfish 16,985]

I'm with Ed on this one. Add weight to the plow frame and use a chain.

[Ed Kennell 38,028]

I actually use the deck lift bar to raise my plows.     It works fine and makes for easy changing of decks and plows.

 

I can see where a plow with a lot of added weight would have a better mechanical with a direct connection from the rock shaft to the plow frame.

[Stepney 2,325]

Eric, have a look at the Farmall plow photos I sent a while ago.

Those had a heavy spring buffered in the lift rod which did exactly that.. making it work on a small scale would be more difficult, but possible. Pondered the idea before, best I could come up with was a front spring/shock assembly from a snowmobile or ATV. offhand thinking just now that the rear spring assembly from an older single spring ATV would be quite a stout unit but still allow a float.. Those are quite sturdy. You'd just have to add a pair of couplings at either end and cut to the right length. 

[ebinmaine 67,309]

31 minutes ago, Stepney said:

Eric, have a look at the Farmall plow photos I sent a while ago.

Those had a heavy spring buffered in the lift rod which did exactly that.. making it work on a small scale would be more difficult, but possible. Pondered the idea before, best I could come up with was a front spring/shock assembly from a snowmobile or ATV. offhand thinking just now that the rear spring assembly from an older single spring ATV would be quite a stout unit but still allow a float.. Those are quite sturdy. You'd just have to add a pair of couplings at either end and cut to the right length. 

How bout a mountain bike suspension spring?

[Stepney 2,325]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

How bout a mountain bike suspension spring?

Im not sure you'd get the force required.. but I never messed with the idea. Also have doubts the resistance to bending is there either. Cant probably have more than 200lbs of capacity in a little spring like that?

[ebinmaine 67,309]

8 minutes ago, Stepney said:

Im not sure you'd get the force required.. but I never messed with the idea. Also have doubts the resistance to bending is there either. Cant probably have more than 200lbs of capacity in a little spring like that?

Valid point. Maybe not that much. 

 

Been mulling the added weight idea above. 

That could work. 

Maybe I'll have Trina ride around on the plow ......

 

[roadapples 6,983]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Maybe I'll have Trina ride around on the plow ......

 

Don't forget, we want pictures....

[photoguy 148]

I have A GT14 Hydro that has float mode. It has down pressure that will lift the frt.wheels of the ground.Maybe its just the controls that would give yours float mode.

[Pullstart 62,803]

Have you ever played with the angle of the blade EB?  I would think that utilizing a negative angle would make it want to bite more... or less depending on your intentions.  Then a chain with minimal weight on the plow would yield what you’re looking for...

[ebinmaine 67,309]

8 hours ago, roadapples said:

Don't forget, we want pictures....

She and I will have a talk...

 

 

36 minutes ago, pullstart said:

Have you ever played with the angle of the blade EB?  I would think that utilizing a negative angle would make it want to bite more... or less depending on your intentions.  Then a chain with minimal weight on the plow would yield what you’re looking for...

We have to leave our blades tilted forward for at least the first month because if we don't they dig right in hard to the soft gravel.

I've also found through some experimentation that the snow rolls off the side a lot better when the plow is tilted forward.

 

[ebinmaine 67,309]

2 hours ago, photoguy said:

I have A GT14 Hydro that has float mode. It has down pressure that will lift the frt.wheels of the ground.Maybe its just the controls that would give yours float mode.

Next time you're messing around with that tractor I'd be curious to know if the float mode is in your hydraulics or if their is some sort of freedom built into the linkage. 

[pfrederi 17,674]

Float is in the control valve,  GT-14s have it as does the FEL control valves on D series.  You might be able to adapt a different control valve to your Charger.

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,309]

I was never aware that was a thing.  I better get that thing up and running first because it has an aftermarket valve on it already. 

Every hydraulic item I've ever run sets exactly where you leave it.

 

[Darb1964 1,042]

Its the valve that control's the float, not sure if the piston is different for the float application. I know my Fisher plow on my plow trucks had the float application and my Kubota tractor also has it on the valve. Not a lot of knowledge on hydraulics, but I think the valve when in float holds steady pressure but also allows fluid to flow back when forced up. When set in down it will not allow fluid to flow back and keeps a steady grade.