T-Dub's Snow and Mud Plow project

Well, I got this plow as a freebie from a friend.  It's a Craftsman plow that is supposed to hook to the tractor in the rear pin (pintle?) location.  That was the easy part!

Here's a pic of the frame under the tractor.  There was no way of lifting or steadying the plow frame.  So I needed to figure out how to restrain it from moving left to right, but also lift it vertically.


I gathered some brackets and some angle from an old bed frame and started fitting and looking.  Imagination is key here.  still not quite sure what to do...   Never seen a LT plow lift mechanism up close before.


Top plate + two brackets + a piece of pipe + Toro RER steering column = an idea...


Putting the ideas together and using some more imagination...
I want to be able to disconnect the entire thing easily and simply.
The pipe will be pinned through the lift rod by bolts.


Mount the top plate to the stamped steel frame (hope it's strong enough)!!!
And add the next channel links to connect the two mechanisms.




Welded and pinned.  I used 1/4-20-UNC bolts as pins for now.  Nyloc nuts so I can hand tighten and they won't fall off.
Used a torch to form the lift bar.
Used 1/2-13-UNC nuts and bolts for pivots.


Used the handlebar from an old Ariens snowblower for the handle.
Took a while to get the position right for raising / lowering from the sitting position!


How do I hold the plow in the upright position?  Welded a hook onto the handle to hook under the fender.  I hope the fender is strong enough and doesn't fatigue after some use...



And DONE!  No snow around here anymore, but she does plow mud pretty well!      
Plus, I can pull two clips in the rear and remove two hand tightened nuts / bolts in front and leave the entire thing behind.

good job! maybe you could use it for a bulldozer!

Very well done! If I got a plow for free I'd def stab it on my mower.

Thanks Man! Yeah, I was pushing around a big leaf pile and some pretty thick mud the other night. Still running an open Diff, so it doesn't push too much dirt.   

Nice fab work. A locked rear end makes a big difference plowing.

Stretch44875 wrote:

Nice fab work.  A locked rear end makes a big difference plowing.

I can imagine. This thing is still the "Family Garden Tractor" though haha. So I'm worried about tearing up the lawn etc while doing chores and whatnot.

I'll report back after I get to push some snow.   

It finally snowed a little up here in the Northeast.  My GF took a couple vids of me playing with the plow with her cell phone.  Next time I'll get better vids with sound.

Plowing 1

Plowing 2

Edit: Hey! The sound came through. That's funny. Cool! Still running a stock muffler can.