Just plowed my driveway for the first time

[Jetbird]

Yahoo! Been fixing my new to me Ford 3400 since July and just plowed the driveway. All went well. Plenty of traction with the tire chains and the 400 pound counterweight I just made from a 55 gallon barrel. Used the loader to plow, which will take some practice to get down. Would appreciate any tips on how to do this. I also scored a plow today. Found a heavy duty 8 foot fisher with a new cutting edge, but it was too expensive for me right now, even though it was a good deal at $160. My buddy wanted to upgrade so he sold me his smaller lighter duty fisher with some rust through for $50. That I can afford. Planning to build a frame to mount the plow to the loader frame, then use the hydraulics for the bucket curl to angle the plow. Any suggestions on this appreciated also. Post pics if you got 'em. Anyhow, glad I could express my excitement among people who understand. My wife doesn't seem to get it. I guess that's how it usually goes.
 

[Greg Wolodkin]

Glad to hear it's working! I'm trying to work up the nerve to plow mine as we speak.. right now it's raining pretty hard here, about 3-4 inches of slush on the ground.
 

[Shetland Sheepdog]

Jet, I have one recommendation for you! Mount a cushion valve on the plow that will allow the swing cylinders to bypass! Without a cushion valve you can do big damage to the system if you hit something solid with the lead end of the plow!
HTH, Dave
 

[Ed Hotaling]

I've been using my 850 with a loader to plow the driveway for
years. The trick is setting the bucket at the right angle to get the
snow up but leave the gravel on the ground. That just takes
practice. The really nice part is that when I get a pile of wet snow
too heavy to push, I can just pick it up and pile it off to the side. My
kid loves the fact that I can make one huge pile for her to play on.
 

[Greg Wolodkin]

[Stick welding]

A light duty plow on a tractor might be a recipe for disaster.
 

[George Marsh]

Two years ago I put a 3 inch slag pipe on my 7 ft rear blade. Got to use it yesterday for the first time. Leveled drive before the snow. The slag pipe left about 1 inch of snow and all the rocks, sweet.

Why not get a back blade? I found that TSC'S sale prices are as cheap as used junk ones on craigslist.

 

[Jetbird]

Thanks for the replies, all. I have the stacked control valve with compensating control valve for the bucket curl and it has float. How do i set the loader to float? I am plowing a paved driveway and would like to try using the float.
 

[Shetland Sheepdog]

Push lift/lower control valve handle forward to beyond lower position, and it should stay there and allow the loader arms to follow the ground. pull handle back to lower position and release for normal operation.
HTH, Dave
 

[Jetbird]

Thanks, Sheepdog. I wasn't pushing forward hard enough to get past the detent. I will get to try it out tomorrow as it is snowing again here in MA.