Truck plow conversion to tractor

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Well this is not ground breaking by any stretch of the imagination but I figured I would post it seeing winter is just about here and the last time I posted was for the Crazy Cart and the Trailblazer trailer.The new Kubota tractor I bought came with a quick release bucket (Skid Steer attachment) so I figured I would adapt my old Arctic poly plow to that system seeing I wouldn't be plowing with the truck anymore now that I have the tractor. Then plow is about ten years old so seeing I was going to go through all this to adapt it to the tractor I figured it was a good time to sandblast the complete blade and paint it as well.I purchased the quick release from the tractor dealer. I shouldn't have done that because it wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be so I spent the best part of the day reinforcing it. If I had my time back I would have made the attachment from scratch. The end result worked out great for me. Took about 22 hours to complete. I'm happy with it. Just need some snow now!Miller 302 Trailblazer/Custom TrailerMillermatic 350P/Spool gunMillermatic 252Miller Spectrum 875Miller Dynasty200DxHypertherm Powermax 85Tracker CNC 4X8 Pro Table (Down Draft)Visit us @ www.specialtyrepairscustommods.com
Reply:Some more pics!Miller 302 Trailblazer/Custom TrailerMillermatic 350P/Spool gunMillermatic 252Miller Spectrum 875Miller Dynasty200DxHypertherm Powermax 85Tracker CNC 4X8 Pro Table (Down Draft)Visit us @ www.specialtyrepairscustommods.com
Reply:Another top quality job there by the look of it.I can't say that I've seen the Skid Steer Attachment system used on a tractor here. I must have a better look next time I'm at the tractor yard.That looks like genuine Kubota orange. So, is the counterweight from the Toyota painted in "Toybota" orange?"One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375
Reply:Hello Paul.              First class job,a worthy addition to your excellent portfolio.Will definitey be up to the task,Looks like you're getting ready for some serious snow. Can't beat good gear that ticks all the boxes, Strong,functional and looks great,Best regards from the U.K.   Gordon.
Reply:Thanks guys. Glad you enjoyed seeing the photos. I've actually did a few more mods to the tractor including this next one pictured. The tractor got steel tubes to support the loader arms and I was thinking this was a bit of wasted space so I machined, tiged and machined the aluminum aluminum to place over the ends of the tubes making the tubes a storage compartment now. I cut groves in the end caps, installed o rings and now there water tight. Here's a few more pics to bore you with. Miller 302 Trailblazer/Custom TrailerMillermatic 350P/Spool gunMillermatic 252Miller Spectrum 875Miller Dynasty200DxHypertherm Powermax 85Tracker CNC 4X8 Pro Table (Down Draft)Visit us @ www.specialtyrepairscustommods.com
Reply:That is SLICK. Sure glad I don't need something like that though.
Reply:Wow thats very good work. I like the storage spot. Very clever!! Great job on the plow too.
Reply:4Shorts you sure do nice work. That really looks nice.And this paint thing... that sure seems to have caught on, I'll have to check into that some day. You probably figured on this, but... The plow originaly was designed to hang on a chain with only it's own weight on the cutting edge. With the plow frame now mounted rigid to the coupler, the weight of the lift arms and coupler will be on the cutting edge; you'll get a good scrape, but obviously the float will have to come from the lift arm cylinders; and the weight of the arms will have to be lifted to float. Does the lift control valve have a float position?With the rigid hanger there's a chance that the weight of the whole front of the tractor could be placed on the plow frame, which again was designed to hang freely by a chain, without down pressure. Could the tab over the swivel frame stand down pressure?But what I really wonder about... How did you teach the dog to sit and stay so nice, with all that industrial activity going on?  Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by denrep4Shorts you sure do nice work. That really looks nice.And this paint thing... that sure seems to have caught on, I'll have to check into that some day. You probably figured on this, but... The plow originaly was designed to hang on a chain with only it's own weight on the cutting edge. With the plow frame now mounted rigid to the coupler, the weight of the lift arms and coupler will be on the cutting edge; you'll get a good scrape, but obviously the float will have to come from the lift arm cylinders; and the weight of the arms will have to be lifted to float. Does the lift control valve have a float position?With the rigid hanger there's a chance that the weight of the whole front of the tractor could be placed on the plow frame, which again was designed to hang freely by a chain, without down pressure. Could the tab over the swivel frame stand down pressure?But what I really wonder about... How did you teach the dog to sit and stay so nice, with all that industrial activity going on?  Good Luck
Reply:Wow, that looks factory. Nice work. UnrealYup
Reply:Originally Posted by BurnitWow, that looks factory. Nice work. Unreal
Reply:The conversion is excellent.Is that a salt/gravel spreader hangin' on the back?"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice jobs all the way around. You must really move a lot of snow glad that its you and not me that has to move that quantity. Though it looks like your set up should handle it well. Does your neck get sore turning around when using the gravel thrower (snow blower)?
Reply:Originally Posted by flatbustedbrokeNice jobs all the way around. You must really move a lot of snow glad that its you and not me that has to move that quantity. Though it looks like your set up should handle it well. Does your neck get sore turning around when using the gravel thrower (snow blower)?
Reply:much nicer than my conversion.  I wish I had the $$$$  for that setup.Carlohttp://public.fotki.com/Naudi2U/
Reply:Originally Posted by Naudi2Umuch nicer than my conversion.  I wish I had the $$$$  for that setup.
Reply:4shorts Great fab work Wish I had a cab. Here is my setup.NH 45D Great little tractor.  4x4 hydrostatic.  The Hydro robs a lot a power and not the fastest on the road but the hay spear keeps the tailgaters off  I have found that I don't need the down pressure.  The ability to change the attack angle will make the plow trip very easy.This is my parents driveway last year.  What you can't see is that the ditch is ~4 feet deep on each side and 1/8 mile more up a steep hill.  A blower would do wonders on their drive.Last edited by Naudi2U; 11-02-2008 at 06:39 PM.Carlohttp://public.fotki.com/Naudi2U/
Reply:The interior of the tractor looks better than a Lexus.  Amazing what they do with plastic these days.Just don't hit it before the cab heater warms the cab.  The stuff likes to crack at low temps.  Guy with a new Deere had the same problem.  He wasn'nt too happy.  85 grand tractor with cracks first year out.  Didn't affect the operation, but it was a letdown I guess.  It colored the guy's whole opinion of the tractor, which seems sort of crazy.He was less upset when the 3 point failed due to a faulty valve."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThe interior of the tractor looks better than a Lexus.  Amazing what they do with plastic these days.Just don't hit it before the cab heater warms the cab.  The stuff likes to crack at low temps.  Guy with a new Deere had the same problem.  He wasn'nt too happy.  85 grand tractor with cracks first year out.  Didn't affect the operation, but it was a letdown I guess.  It colored the guy's whole opinion of the tractor, which seems sort of crazy.He was less upset when the 3 point failed due to a faulty valve.
Reply:It's a beauty.Ought to pay for itself in short order, then have good resale value if you decide to get a newer one.Four years sounds like a good warranty.BTW....  I sure wish I could weld that good"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Finally saw the thing on the back.  It's a snow blower.   It took me around three views of the thread for my dial up to finally finish downloading the pics.  And the pics are still tryin' to download"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Looks pretty bad a-word!*insert welding gibberish here*                    Mandy
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammIt's a beauty.Ought to pay for itself in short order, then have good resale value if you decide to get a newer one.Four years sounds like a good warranty.BTW....  I sure wish I could weld that good
Reply:WOW... Amazing work!What type of paint did you use? Some type of epoxy?I have a baby compared to yours ....lol  Fabricating for the tractor is fun, you take it to another level. Great work!
Reply:It surly is grand but.After seeing all this I have to wonder why you put out big bucks to buy the tractor?  It appears you could have built that too.A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bugI envy people that have the talent and equipment to fab up things that are truly works of art. That's some serious talent and experience there 4shorts. Do you have a cnc cutter in your shop to? How did you cut all those parts?
Reply:Very Nice work. Beats the crap I have seen the dealers sellling.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by yellowI envy people that have the talent and equipment to fab up things that are truly works of art. That's some serious talent and experience there 4shorts. Do you have a cnc cutter in your shop to? How did you cut all those parts?
Reply:First of all great work, I have done plenty of functional mods to my tractors and equipment but non of them look near as good when I'm done....  Is that the A&I Cab cam? I am an A & I dealer and they just came out with a wireless and a quad cam setup...They seem to be pretty poular...JimLincoln Power Mig 255Hobart Stickmate AC/DCMiller AEAD 200LECutmaster 81
Reply:Originally Posted by JiminIAFirst of all great work, I have done plenty of functional mods to my tractors and equipment but non of them look near as good when I'm done....  Is that the A&I Cab cam? I am an A & I dealer and they just came out with a wireless and a quad cam setup...They seem to be pretty poular...Jim
Reply:for clearing  snow on decorative concrete or just to be gentle to your blacktop,you can get a 1 1/2 " thick rubber/urethane blade that mounts between existing steel and the moldboard. it hangs down an inch or two below the steel.you remove or raise the skid plates and it works like a squeegee.
Reply:Originally Posted by boatbuoyfor clearing  snow on decorative concrete or just to be gentle to your blacktop,you can get a 1 1/2 " thick rubber/urethane blade that mounts between existing steel and the moldboard. it hangs down an inch or two below the steel.you remove or raise the skid plates and it works like a squeegee.
Reply:Originally Posted by Magnetic MechanicIt surly is grand but.After seeing all this I have to wonder why you put out big bucks to buy the tractor?  It appears you could have built that too.