Looking for 8N front plow ideas

[Jeff Edgarton]

Was wondering if some folks would be willing to share some photos of their front snow blade creations and why they chose those applications?

Thanks in advance

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 00:04:37 12/23/08) Was wondering if some folks would be willing to share some photos of their front snow blade creations and why they chose those applications?

Thanks in advance

There's at least three threads running on the "other" board right now with pics of how to and how not to including a rather lengthy lecture on Physics , mechanical advantage, and plane geometry....

TOH

 

[Paul in MN]

Quite a discussion with photos today on the other N site...NTC

Paul in MN

 

[old]

Here is a picture of one I built years ago for my 841. It hook to the loader that I have on it. The V plow works great and one pass down my mile long drive and I have the job done

 

[Anonymous-0]

There was a V plow that lifted with cables from the 3 point hitch.It did a good job on a long drive way that had to be kept open for the milk truck.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

The best ones I have seen are mounted with long arms under the rearend where the sway bars go. I have a V plow and have seen straight ones too.
The V plows good but is very heavy and steers very hard.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You guys keep mentioning the "other site" . My PC crashed last year and info lost. Now I can't remember where that was. Got a link to the other site?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Here is my setup. 12v winch with chain - works great, moves as much snow as you can put at it!! Photos are at our little hunting cabin.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 15:24:35 12/23/08) You guys keep mentioning the "other site" . My PC crashed last year and info lost. Now I can't remember where that was. Got a link to the other site?

Munged to pass the filter: www.ntracktorclub.com

TOH

 

[Ultradog MN]

The photos on the link have been around the internet for a long time.
But I guess there's always new N owners.
This was a rough draft, in steel, of a front mounted plow. It went through several design changes - particularly with the frame to blade/ angling/ tip over apparatus. Unfortunately there are no other pictures of it.
To lift the plow it used the 3 point, two hyd cylinders with "captive" oil between them.
All that extra linkage in front was a simple lift amplifier - to get 20" of lift out of a 12" cylinder. The cable lift plows mentioned below only had about 10" of lift but worked very well.
On an N series Ford you will need to push off the rear axles.
So, A simple frame, the means to lift it, the plow of your choice - preferably one you can angle - is the goal. A lot of folks have devised ways to lift the plow with a 12V winch.
It is a good way.
FYI, Ford offered several front mounted plows that lifted off the 3 point with a set of cables and pullys. They were simple, effective and reliable. Lots of folks have built theirs to lift with cables.
You might advertise for a Ford/Dearborn plow. They are available in the $3-$500 range.
One thing to consider, before you commit yourself to a front mounted snow plow is you really should have tire chains to go with it AND some sort of ballast on or in your rear tires. Otherwise the weight in front will offset any traction your rear tires might have and make your tractor entirely helpless in the snow.
So the sky's the limit for you to come up with your own scheme for a front mount snow plow.
There's plenty of help available here.
Post some pictures if you build something. Pictures are always welcome.
By the way, an N will move an Awesome amount of snow with a front mounted plow - properly ballasted and chained of course. Easy 3 to 1 over a back blade.
Sorry this is so long...
Jerry

Thanks to Dave #1 for the clever use of a back blade on the front.

Here's another great idea:

Thanks to Mike in MI on the other board.
Heres the pics of the Old hydraulic lift plow.

 

[Paul in MN]

Jerry,

I know we have talked about your 2 cylinder design for lifting the plow, but I don't think I ever told you that I think it rates right up there as a solution based on pure genius. If I was doing a similar setup, I'd modify that front lift mount to be something even simpler. But you designed it, built it, and it worked, so it has earned my respect.

I think you are right about making the mounts attach to the rear axle housings. The forward pushing force is really at the wheel (tire and ground), and thus it makes complete sense to mount as close as possible to that point with the backward pushing force of the blade frame. But I'd be concerned about unusual sideways forces created by hooking the end of the blade on some rock or hidden stump (did that on one of our big tractors and busted up stuff). The Dearborn and Arps systems have side force restraining pieces mounted to the front axle. Picture the huge leverage created when the end of blade hooks some hidden solid, and begins to pull the tractor around. The blade frame transmits this sideways force to one of the axle trumpets and jerks the tractor motion out of the straight path it was travelling. The impact force is many times greater than than the static force needed to pull the tractor sideways, and may be great enough to break the trumpet housing. (Speed, ballast weight, traction are all contributors to increasing this destructive force). So the engineers came up with the not so elegant solution of braces extending down from the front axle to limit the sideways motion. They are not pretty, but are cheap and functional.

Enough physics and engineering for today!!

Enjoy your Christmas.

Paul in MN

 

[Jeff Edgarton]

Thanks for all the input guys, they are some great ideas!

Jeff