He Uses Pickup Snowplow On Tractor 3-Pt. Hitch

He Uses Pickup Snowplow On Tractor 3-Pt. Hitch PICKUPS Accessories 26-1-7 "It has more capacity and is built heavier than any 3-pt. scraper blade I've ever used," says Jonathan Engels, Franklinville, N.Y., who converted an old pickup-mounted snowplow into a 3-pt. tractor blade. Key to the conversion was a simple "pin-on" adapter that allowed the unmodified blade to fit the 3-pt. The adapter consists of an angle iron "A" frame with a pair of metal tabs that match the snowplow's original hinge pin locations. The tractor's hydraulics are used to power a pair of hydraulic cylinders that control the blade's angle. The snowplow's original lift chain is attached to the "A" frame, allowing the blade to follow the ground contour. "I can attach the blade as quickly and easily as any 3-pt. implement," says Engels. "The pickup blade is taller than most tractor blades and is equipped with a spring trip mechanism. Pickup-mounted snowplow blades are widely available and can often be purchased for $100 or so. Replacement parts and wear items such as skid shoes, springs, and cylinder rebuild kits, etc., can be found at just about any auto parts store in cold weather states. "In my opinion, this setup also works better than using a pickup because the tractor is more maneuverable and can push more snow with less effort than a pickup. The tractor lets me plow at slower speeds, with more control and with less wear and tear. By raising the 3-pt., I can push snow into much higher piles than I can with a pickup. I'm not protected from the weather like I would be in a pickup, but the tractor provides better visibility and also allows me to get closer to buildings, which reduces the amount of hand shoveling that's required. "I didn't make any modifications to the blade, so I can still use it on a pickup if I want to." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jonathan Engels, 3849 Route 98, Franklinville, N.Y. 14737 (ph 716 676-2276).

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