l3400 snow plow

[wvcamper]

OK, I have an L3400.. NO FEL.......
The L3400 does an excellent job of plowing snow with a rear blade, but my neck is starting to hurt. I envision a front snow plow for the L3400, which consists of using a 72 inch UTV plow. I plan on building my own push tube bracket, as I do realize that the tractor will push with much more force than a UTV can.
So here is my question:
Do you all think that the front bumper plate would be strong enough to withstand the weight of the blade while "lifted", and the forces exerted while plowing??
My other option is to utilize the mounting platform on the side of the clutch housing where the FEL would typically attach..
Any thoughts??

Thanks,
Dave Shaver

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I have seen the local VDOT around here use Meyers snow plows on the front of their tractors and it looks like DOT monuted the plow under the tractor in the same fashion a midmount mower would be hooked up. Just be careful on the front, a snow plow will trash the front end of a pickup truck quicker then anything. A friend of mine had a 6ft plow on the front of this 88 Ford F250, he never actualy pushed any snow but he said just from haveing the plow mounted it tore up so many tierods and bushings on the front axle.

 

[wvcamper]

Thanks Eric..
My gut was telling me to mount it in the middle where the FEL arms attach. Obviously this spot is designed to withstand extreme pressures. I do not have a FEL and do not know how much the buckets are rated for..... Let's just say 750 pounds suspended in front of a tractor, attached at the middle.. Has to put a lot of pressure on that attachment point.
Just got done taking some rough measurements on the tractor.
Figure I could use 1/2 inch plate suspended down from this attachment point. Same scenario at the attachment point on the side frame near the engine.

I plan on running two 1/4 inch wall x 2 inch square tubing foward to a point beneath the bumper plate. A third attachment may be made to the bumper plate. This ought to be a bomb proof platform.
May be a little overkill but I would rather the frame be too heavy than break something on the tractor.

The "subframe" will be running underneath the front axle. Taking into consideration maximum pivot of the front axle, I should still maintain plenty of ground clearance.

Dave