Flip up snow plow wings

[DennisThornton 4,769]

If I don't keep my drive as snow free as possible the snow gets driven on and packed into ice so I really try to scrape it as clean as I can with NO snow spillage off the plow.  So I end up sacrificing several inches of plow width to be sure to get it all.  Adding more width could help some but I'd still not be able to use the full width.  Additional wings to capture the renegade snow flakes would work but I'd still like to angle to one side but then to the other side.  Someone on IHCubCadet.com has had the same problem but he also had an idea.  I see the beginning of an answer here.  I'd want to quickly flip them up and pin them or maybe hang by their own weight over centered to the rear.  Maybe beefed up a little but by the time I'd use them I'm not pushing much snow.

 

Any ideas for improvements?

 

[JoeM 7,874]

Messed with the pusher idea a few years ago. I like that idea may may have to incorporate?

 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

4 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Messed with the pusher idea a few years ago. I like that idea may may have to incorporate?

 

Yep!  There have been times when I wanted that too.  But I'd either want another tractor setup or it's got to be a real quick change over.  I really like the idea of being able to flip the wings out of the way.

[ebinmaine 67,628]

Trina and I have talked about this multiple times. 

Both of us would benefit on each individual machine. 

Our thoughts were to have the leading extension parallel to the tractor. This should let the trailing edge create a snow windrow with success. 

 

I REALLY like the idea of having a Flip-up style!

 

Maybe not something we'd use every storm but wicked handy when you want/need it moved ASAP. 

 

[Handy Don 12,237]

7 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Trina and I have talked about this multiple times. 

Both of us would benefit on each individual machine. 

Our thoughts were to have the leading extension parallel to the tractor. This should let the trailing edge create a snow windrow with success. 

 

I REALLY like the idea of having a Flip-up style!

 

Maybe not something we'd use every storm but wicked handy when you want/need it moved ASAP. 

 

Flip up makes sense to me. But you want it to work without getting out of your seat (or cab).

Shouldn't be that hard to add a linkage that pushes or pulls the "trailing" wing up as you work the lever to position that end of the plow rearward.

pushing snow left? Left wing up, right wing down.

pushing snow right? Right wing up, left wing down.

pushing straight? Both wings down

 

Have a way to latch either or both sides up manually

Be sure to account for the plow "flop" when the blade edge hits an obstacle

[Pullstart 62,912]

18 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Flip up makes sense to me. But you want it to work without getting out of your seat (or cab).

Shouldn't be that hard to add a linkage that pushes or pulls the "trailing" wing up as you work the lever to position that end of the plow rearward.

pushing snow left? Left wing up, right wing down.

pushing snow right? Right wing up, left wing down.

pushing straight? Both wings down

 

Have a way to latch either or both sides up manually

Be sure to account for the plow "flop" when the blade edge hits an obstacle

I was thinking the same!  I think the issue would be timing.  The whole straight / both down thing would be an odd lull.. like a lever operated cam.

 

I guess using the brake pedal / motion control design on the hydro units as a design plan might help with that?

[DennisThornton 4,769]

40 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Flip up makes sense to me. But you want it to work without getting out of your seat (or cab).

Shouldn't be that hard to add a linkage that pushes or pulls the "trailing" wing up as you work the lever to position that end of the plow rearward.

pushing snow left? Left wing up, right wing down.

pushing snow right? Right wing up, left wing down.

pushing straight? Both wings down

 

Have a way to latch either or both sides up manually

Be sure to account for the plow "flop" when the blade edge hits an obstacle

[Handy Don 12,237]

Just now, DennisThornton said:

I have limited availability for detail design services! 

But while we're spitballing....

Bottom edges should curve upward at the front to ride over obstructions.

I'd put the pivot near the top of the plow (as the Cub owner did) so when retracted the wing doesn't interfere with the tractor tire.

If the snow "boils over" the top of the plow at the trailing end, the retracted wing might catch it and drop it behind the plow.

Another idea for linkage would be two throttle-cable style connections to levers mounted on the plow rotator lever to control the wings independently.

I think I'm done for now. 

[peter lena 8,634]

JOEM ,think that side wing flip could be done with a bolt and a spring mounted to it , like the spring that pulls both ways on on the pto lever rod . looking at the initial mount point , lower edge swinging up , would be starting point of , spring assist. have not done this but , a side look at the issue , the answer is there , pete

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I think I'd be moving very little snow with little possibility of the bucket overflowing over the top, mostly just wanting to block one side at a time.

I expect to have to manual change them and even that would be a big help, but if...

 

Wouldn't it be neat if the wings went up and down everytime the angle was changed!

[Handy Don 12,237]

 

2 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

Wouldn't it be neat if the wings went up and down everytime the angle was changed!

So you decided to join in after all!

 

Just noticed that the cub owner had extended the plow with a beveled end before adding the wing plates so they'd fit flush. Stock WH plows are vertical at the ends

[Pullstart 62,912]

What about hinging the wings with a light enough trip spring to auto dump when the load hits it?  Angle the wings so the leading edge is straight forward and the side one auto dumps back?

[DennisThornton 4,769]

38 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 

So you decided to join in after all!

 

Just noticed that the cub owner had extended the plow with a beveled end before adding the wing plates so they'd fit flush. Stock WH plows are vertical at the ends

I thought being the original poster I was automatically joined in?

I don't care if the wings are angled or not.  And my intended work wouldn't strain them much but I know how I can push things so I suppose they should be "Wheel Horse Rugged".  Flip down to a stop point and flip up overcenter to hang there would be a big improvement for me, even if I have to hope out to swap them.

 

My recent Bolens with blade had NO means to change the angle from the seat.  Unexceptable after using my WH for years.  Bolens's suggestion was to use the factory holes in the top corners of the plow and the release lever with ropes to release and change the angle.  Crude by comparison but it works.  I could live with similar for the WH flip wings, not sure what that would be just yet.

[Handy Don 12,237]

21 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

I thought being the original poster I was automatically joined in?

 

Why didn't I notice that before I commented? IDK. 

 

22 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

I don't care if the wings are angled or not. 

Could always make them like the snowblower wings where the angle is built into the wing itself.

Without the angle, the wing would want to push snow to the outside, cutting the effective width of the plow--exactly what you are trying to overcome.

 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

35 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Why didn't I notice that before I commented? IDK. 

 

Could always make them like the snowblower wings where the angle is built into the wing itself.

Without the angle, the wing would want to push snow to the outside, cutting the effective width of the plow--exactly what you are trying to overcome.

 

You are forgiven!  

Problem identified.  Possible solution as well! 

Now, implementation?

Long ago I thought of some brackets for the wings to slide in.  You know!  The ones that get bent a little, or rusted a bit or some snow that freezes solid and can't be removed until spring time unless there's a torch handy.  Then the swing ups showed up and a light bulb lit up so now I need to get up and fix them up!  But for the darned details...

 

I think this is going to require yet another working tractor.  Blower tractor, blade tractor and finishing blade tractor just might be required!

[Handy Don 12,237]

1 hour ago, pullstart said:

What about hinging the wings with a light enough trip spring to auto dump when the load hits it?  Angle the wings so the leading edge is straight forward and the side one auto dumps back?

Same idea as the plow's dump springs only sideways. Good one.

With the right balance of spring tension and snow load, the "tripped out" trailing side wing would end up as a sort of graceful extension to the blade!

[DennisThornton 4,769]

2 hours ago, pullstart said:

What about hinging the wings with a light enough trip spring to auto dump when the load hits it?  Angle the wings so the leading edge is straight forward and the side one auto dumps back?

So, spring tensioned wing against a stop that would hold that wing pointing forward when the blade was angled but only under a very light load?  Then when overloaded it would just get pushed completely out of the way?  LIke under regular use?  I think a wing on an angle 48" blade would still clear the outside of the front tires.

 

Am I understanding correctly?  If I am then I'm liking it as well!  Why won't that work?  AND automatically!  Too easy!  I must be missing something...

[Handy Don 12,237]

Hi, @DennisThornton. I think this is what @pullstart had in mind.

Myself, I'd opt for the upward pivot so they could be out of the way when plowing icy or crusty stuff.

 

[Handy Don 12,237]

Just realized the "back" of the wing should be squared off and not follow the curve of the plow and extend backward beyond the edge of the plow. That way when "open" there well be something to stop the rotation outward. Attach springs with screweyes through the wings.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

2 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Hi, @DennisThornton. I think this is what @pullstart had in mind.

Myself, I'd opt for the upward pivot so they could be out of the way when plowing icy or crusty stuff.

 

Would take me some fiddling but I think it's doable.

Thanks for the drawings!

 

For much of my drive, the final cleanup could use either a right or left wing for the duration.  But an auto trip that worked well could really be handy!

 

[Handy Don 12,237]

1 minute ago, DennisThornton said:

For much of my drive, the final cleanup could use either a right or left wing for the duration

I try for the same with a blower working out from the middle, not changing the chute, and just looping. Works as long as there is no wind!

[DennisThornton 4,769]

13 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I try for the same with a blower working out from the middle, not changing the chute, and just looping. Works as long as there is no wind!

I quit using the BIG blower because I got tired of the wind always figuring out which way I was going!  I just never could get a break!

 

I've got 2 GT cabs and multiple blowers including a big 2 stage for my XI and I'm going to build a cab for my NH TC35 but until then I just don't think I'm going to be blowing anymore.

[Handy Don 12,237]

Updated drawing 

Show the longer, squared off wing and eyebolt for spring. Enjoy.

[JoeM 7,874]

Already got a name, Pterodactyl Plow Wing  Option!

 

Edited February 13, 2021 by JoeM

[Handy Don 12,237]

If you use the drawings, I expect to see pictures of the build!