Anybody modified an ATV/mower snow plow for Model A?

[pyrodork]

In an effort to save my back this year, I bought an ATV snow plow/pusher/blade in hopes to mount it to the Tudor to clear the driveway. The blade came with its original mounting rig. I’d like to see how others have done it. I’ve seen pictures of doodlebugs with plows that are more permanent, but I want to take this one off at the end of the season, and for the car to maintain its original look.

I’ve thought about removing the front bumper and mounting the rig to the bumper mounting arms, but I don’t know if that is wise. Just looking for input.

Thanks!

[ronn]

is your blade thick enough is my first question?
may destroy it with the A.

[denis4x4]

Don't do it!!!

[KGBnut]

The rear end in a Model A will not stand up to plowing. It is not geared for it. However, a AA will plow just fine.

Most doodlebugs have truck or tractor rear ends. My father's was a double-reduction rear end.

Ken

[California Travieso]

Pyrodork,

KGBnut just gave you an excuse to build or buy a Doodlebug.

David Serrano

[pyrodork]

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I’m not thinking any major plowing. Just a couple inches deep, down and up the driveway; before it gets packed down by the other cars driving on it.

My Tudor has the AA transmission installed, so I have the super low gearing.

[DHZIEMAN]

Having done snow plowing, there is always that bump or obstruction in the road that causes the blade and mounting to have heavy extra load! And the sad thing, being under the snow, ya never see it in advance! Henry designed the Ford bumper and bumper arms for loads expected to occur in normal use! Snow plowing is not one of them! Something. sadly will get damaged, in my opinion.

[chiliman]

I say go south for the winter and take the A and forget the snow

[pyrodork]

Originally Posted by chiliman

I say go south for the winter and take the A and forget the snow

Sounds like a much better plan!

[Corley]

If your driveway is really smooth, concrete or blacktop, and you use glides to keep the blade from touching / snagging the driveway, you might get something useful with a frame mount that extends under the front axle to some frame attachments that extend along the frame rails for at least a few feet. However, a small buildup in front of the blade takes a lot of power to push, and traction quickly comes into play. I doubt you will find it worth your efforts.

If you just like plying around with stuff, have plenty of spare time and materials to work with, I say go for it. It will be a good learning experience. I have lots of those in my past that I wonder what I was thinking.

[Richard Lorenz]

With dry snow, you can remove a lot of snow with a leaf blower.

[77Birdman]

Not really any of my business, but do you seriously not have anything better to put a snow plow to than a Model A Tudor? I mean even a good size lawn mower will push snow.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yep, I have only used my 7 H.P. Original Cub Cadet to plow my drive for the past 10 years. It does fine.

[pyrodork]

I only have a push mower. The leaf blower thing might be a good thing to try though.

I’m trying it out. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I love learning and experimenting. Sometimes I’m working 12-14 hour days and my back can’t deal with another hour or two to shovel when I get home. My pockets are nearly empty and I found out today that my landlord is putting the house up for sale, so we may need to move soon. We’ll see what happens. I’m not going to push it if I’m not confident in it.

I’d like a doodlebug anyway for when I get a property out in the country, but if there’s a way I can put a lawn mower attachment on it, that’ll make my wife and I both happy! Anybody know of a mower you can rig to a doodle?

[big job]

Ah the old days of plowing my fathers gas station. Those days nobody but nobody had
a plow or what is a 4x4 never saw one around here. It was chains or you stayed home.
So for $17.50 my father bought this 1933 Plymouth PD from my uncle. Some kind of
shop made plow that was clamped to the front bumper (no such thing as hydraulics) so
it pushed and dragged to back up. Me standing up on the floorboard I still wasn't tall
enough to see out the windshield. I remember that manifold cherry red. No heat either. I
swear we had more snow back then weekly. Poor Plymouth worked to death till 1956
when he bought a real plow a 1946 Chev 1 ton. And then around 1962 oh baby
the real deal a 1961 Ford F250 4 WHEEL drive with hydraulics with wicked heat and
electric wipers....and that truck worked in the 1978 blizzard too.

And I'm still doing it sam

[Liberty Garage]

One other idea; using a rubber plow edge that bolts to the bottom of the steel plow. Will reduce the jolting and damage when the blade hits projections in the driveway.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

When I was a kid in the late 50s/60s my dad would plow our gravel driveway with an old jeep with tire chains, and a plow attached. He had metal caster wheels on it that he could mechanically adjust up/down to slightly space the blade up. Left a little layer of snow, but was better than plowing the gravel into berms at the side of the driveway during the winter. This probably would not work for you, you would still have some packed snow on the driveway.


Even with a blade you may still get a little packed snow on the driveway, unless your driveway is perfectly flat so the blade can scrape the driveway off the entire width of the blade. That is why I like the single stage snow blowers, the paddles actually scrape the driveway, but you have to replace them occasionally due to wear. 2 stage blowers typically do not get down to the driveway as well.

[Bud]

Maybe consider an Ford 8N tractor?

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Bud

Maybe consider an Ford 8N tractor?

Now there's an excellent idea! Your A needs a companion anyway! 9N, 2N and 8N tractors are affordable, rugged, reliable simple machines, even more so than an A!

Just looked on craigslist. $1750 and up for running examples close to The Cities. If you haven't noticed, parts are as easily available as Model A parts, even hoods, grills and fenders. And, kits to put a flathead V8 in!

[pyrodork]

Oh, I’d love a tractor! The wife and I are looking to move out of the city, so it’s not in the cards this year... but someday!

I went ahead and tried the plow. The concept worked, but needs improvement. I got to the end of the driveway, but couldn’t reverse back up it. Nearly bald tires in the back with added weight on the front doesn’t work. If I had chains and possibly something heavy in the back, it would have probably worked.

Notes about my experiment:
1) Chains, better tires, and/or added weight in the back.
2) Add to the ends of the plow to extend past the wheels. Maybe cut pieces from a 55 gallon drum to weld on. Maybe use 55 gallon drum to make the whole thing a lightweight blade.
3) Rubber on the bottom of the blade to account for inconsistencies in terrain. Fleet Farm has thick rubber baler track (?) that is about 8” wide and is sold by the foot. It would be convenient to have a raising/lowering control inside the car instead of at the blade itself. Maybe a come-along from a boat trailer?
4) An easier method of mounting and dismounting the assembly in case I wanted to go for a drive.
5) Marker poles on the ends of the blade so I can see where it is.
6) Keep in mind the total length of the vehicle with the plow mounted in regards to turning.

I wouldn’t say my experiment failed. It needs improvement. Due to not having a heated shop and with my available time in mind, I’ve decided to postpone the improvements. We’ve been blessed with a mild winter so far this year and I have other priorities.