Snowplowing

[randyo]

one of the issues the 450i has, is the winch is not in an ideal location. it does not lift the plow up, it has poor geometry.

if I had better fabrication skills & tools, I'd have a pulley mounted in a way that the winch would not be fighting geometry

[airshot]

How true, that winch angle could be much better!! I moved the hookup point further forward toward the blade and that does help.

[randyo]

[airshot]

Good lookin plow there!!! Cant tell from your pic, but on mine I have the line comming off the winch drum over the top and the hookup point right behind the blade.  Yep it is more of a pull than a lift, but hasnt caused me any issues...yet...

[randyo]

Good lookin plow there!!! Cant tell from your pic, but on mine I have the line comming off the winch drum over the top and the hookup point right behind the blade.  Yep it is more of a pull than a lift, but hasnt caused me any issues...yet...

ya, can't see too good, very dark, rollers are off, I just dug for buried rope after it broke, never buried it like this before, took pic before I reassembled that is why rope looks loose, cause it is

I am really satisfied with the tires, we had a freezing rain ice layer under the snow, I expected that I would have to switch to my set with chains, but never had too

[randyo]

I went out and did some cleanup plowing I've been putting off, but with who knows how much coming on Monday, I had to get it done, even if our high temp today was -5f, tires stick even better to cold ice,

I had to crank it over a bit before it started, but it did, and reved right up on it's own, and idled down after a couple minutes.

This is coldest I've ever been out on it, shifting was really clunky, fighting with the shifter several times

[airshot]

Had that cold start issue in years past.  Bought a battery tender maintainer and keep that hooked up all winter when not using my machine.  Makes a BIG difference when starting!!!  Also better for long battery health...
You might try shortening your rope for plowing, many winch mfgrs recomend using an 8' long winch rope or some even recomend using a flat strap to stop the rope from burying itself. A short flat strap cant bury and might help your issues.

[randyo]

hadn't thought of a short flat strap to prevent burying,

[airshot]

The flat straps actually work quite well. If I started having issues with mine, I was going to the flat strap, but so far so good....

[randyo]

The flat straps actually work quite well. If I started having issues with mine, I was going to the flat strap, but so far so good....

thanks for that flat strap suggestion,  only way to use the winch for a plow.  up, down, your only going up and down a few inches, not waiting for the rope to bury itself tight before it picks up, and unbury itself before it goes down,  the plow comes up with a bounce

[airshot]

Good to hear, I know of a few that use flat straps for plowing with great sucess...  Havent had an issue with mine ...yet. .but I know what to do if it becomes a problem. .

[randyo]

somehow I tweaked my plow frame last winter, couple busted welds as well, blade is fine, so I ordered a new frame last Wednesday, to my surprise, only took 2 days, and My AK550 was ready with a new battery as well, worked perfect, when my GF dropped me off, we threw the frame in the back of the truck, and I took advantage of a 60°+ day, and took the long way home.

All I got to do is assemble, and I'm ready for winter with the UTV, still got to do some electrical troubleshooting on my Tacoma to get power to it's plow, I'd rather just have a belt driven hydraulic pump, and a couple hose connections like my old Fisher 4-way 

[airshot]

Do you have a front mount for your plow or a mid mount ?  Just curious as I have heard complaints about frame damage from front mounts.  When I made my mid mount, I tied three crossmembers together as support for the mount.  Knock in wood...so far so good!!

[randyo]

mine is mid mount, I damaged the frame the first year I plowed, had to have it welded and gusseted, my front end was pulling away when i backed up, not noticeable going forward, now stronger than new, could have/probably was already broken/weak before I even put the plow on.  I have beat the crap out of it skidding logs

[airshot]

Glad to see you have it up and running, but snow already??  Wow, we are lucky to see a small snow after thanksgiving to early Dec.. never get plowable snow until mabey late Jan or around here, Feb is snow plowing month.  While I enjoy plowing, not yet ready for the cold temps.  I would like to find a place to live where we could have snow with temps in the 60's......lol...