[Ford-ferguson] TO-20 for snow plowing

[Daley Family]

Bob-
Mike is correct- the Ferguson/Fords were designed specifically as pulling
machnes but they will push a blade backwards, until you hit a hidden object
(like I did) such as a rock or tree root and bend your blade.  Worse-you
could do damage to the hydraulic system or even break a lift arm.  I learned
the hard way-now I just pull and it take3s longer but I know I'm safe.

Hey Mike-what year is your 860??? I'm looking for a '56.

Tim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Sloane" <mikesloane at verizon.net>
To: "Ford-Ferguson mailing list" <ford-ferguson at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 5:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Ford-ferguson] TO-20 for snow plowing


> Well, I would argue about the difference between pushing and pulling
> snow. For one thing, you will very quickly discover that it is literally
> a pain in the neck to run a tractor backwards plowing snow for any
> length of time. Second, your tires are designed for best traction going
> forward, so you really need to swap them side to side for what you want
> to do. Either way, you are going to need chains AND weights in back.
>
> I have a 7' blade on the back of my Ford 860 and clear two miles of dirt
> road, half a dozen driveways, and clean up around my barn and garage
> with it. The only problem I have is when I let the snow get more than
> about a foot deep - the front of the tractor tends to get pulled around
> by the blade. (I now use a truck mounted plow for the really heavy work
> and leave the tractor for clean-up.) The advantage of pulling is that
> you can back right up to a garage/barn door with the blade up, drop it
> next to the building, and pull it away with you.
>
> As far as hitting something, generally, whether you are going forward or
> backward, those light blades (under about 400 pounds) just bounce up. If
> you really ram the whole mess into something like a big rock, you stand
> a good chance of breaking something in the hitch or bending the blade. I
> have never had that happen. But you won't upset the tractor - generally
> the TO-20 will run out of traction in the snow long before it causes any
> damage.
>
> See <http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/fordcab2.html>
> for an image of this setup.
>
> Mike
>
> Bob Erickson wrote:
> > I'm thinking of putting a 6' blade on the back of my TO-20.  Pushing
> > snow is more effective than pulling it, so if I reverse the blade and
> > drive backwards to push snow off my driveway am I in danger if I hit
> > something solid like ice or digging into turf just off the pavement?  I
> > really don't want to flip the tractor on top of myself or tear it up.
> >
> > I could keep using a shovel but it takes an hour or more to clear the
> > whole drive that way, and even more time yet if the kids 'help'.
> > Besides, shoveling was more fun in 1970 than it is today.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Bob
> >
>
> -- 
> Mike Sloane
> Allamuchy NJ
> mikesloane at verizon.net
> Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
>
> The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.
> -Thomas Carlyle, writer (1795-1881)
>
>
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