Viking Expansion Project

[Pelican]

Many may have seen my complaints of the plow on my 550 not being wide enough, the rear wheels tracked through the windrow even on straight runs. It's(was) a 9' Viking Snow King, here's a shot pre-expansion:

[Pelican]

The hold up on this project was finding a source for the poly moldboard. I finally found a company called Mentor Dynamics who understood what I wanted and was able to supply it. I hadhoped to have this complete pre-season, but I just got the poly a couple weeks ago.

First order of business was to strip down the plow frame:

[Pelican]

Here's the steel used for the project. I went to the local steel supplier with some cardboard templates, they cut 2 new ribs from 1/4" plate and bent 3/8 plate to shape for the bottom main rail. Total on added steel is under 100 lbs.

[Pelican]

First step in construction was the bottom rail. I added 12" to the right side and 6" to the left. I didn't want an 11' blade, I'd have settled for 10'. Six inches still wouldn't get the snow past the rear wheels, so I offset the width by 6" to the right. I was afraid 12" to the right with no extension to the left would make for excessive loading on the framework, I don't think it will be a problem with just 6" difference.

This trucks job is plowing streets, so 90% of the plowing is to the right, hence the extra extension.

[Pelican]

Next the top rail was added, 2x2x1/4 angle

[Pelican]

Then comes the rib

[Pelican]

With the 3/8 plate, I Chamfered the edges about 2/3 deep, then turned up the heat!

[Pelican]

A couple more pieces are added, then primer. Process was repeated on left side

[Pelican]

Metal work completed, painted, ready for moldboard.

[Pelican]

Finally the moldboard and new 11' Superior Tire poly edge are added. The edge is mounted so I end up with 3" curb feelers on each end. I use this truck in the sidewalk clearing operation for cleanup, so this will come in handy.

The hardest part of the job was fitting the new mold board. I had to overcome the curve it was shipped with (rolled up lengthwise) to mount it. A lot of patience and clamping, it finally took shape. 1/3 of the mounting bolts were blind located behing the lower quadrant, they were a bear to tighten!

Here's a shot of the plow completed and mounted, on it's way to work! As I was drilling the holes for the markers, the Town I lease to called us out. I'll get better pictures in better lighting ASAP.

[Pelican]

Oops! I forgot one. I was concerned about the forces the longer extension would be subject to, so I welded a 12" length of 3" x 3/8" flat stock across the joint for reinforcement.

[BKrois]

Looks great Steve! Is the town going to give you an increase now due to your blade being 2' wider? Also, where is the passenger side headlight?

Good luck, the plow looks factory built. All of your fabrication jobs such as the plow extension, leaf box, and leaf loader frame always seem to be built and look professional.

[ih82plow]

I commend you on your fabrication skills and your bravery to complete such a task I just seen a plow today with a cutting edge hanging off the blade by about 6" and was wondering why it was that way.

[cat320]

Looks good Pelican You may have found a new side business to get into :) . Did you post all the info on the plastic moldboard for any one else that might need to do this .Just a thought .

[Rob]

Awesome job Steve !
:notworthy

[wyldman]

That is very nice work.Couldn't have done it better myself. ;)

I'd also like the info on the source for the poly moldboard.

[snowplowjay]

WOW!!!!!


Awesome work Steve.


That came out terrific.



Jay

[John DiMartino]

Pelican, excellent job! Like Wyldman said I couldnt have done that better myself!. It looks great!. It really looks huge now! you need one of those plastic wide load signs on the truck now!:D

[CAMERON SERVICES]

Awesome fab work.:notworthy

[labsnducks]

Pelican, Nice job I am sure it will make you :cash

Hey thats a nice looking side wing!!!! :D

Mike

[Pelican]

Thanks everyone! I've been addressing our latest storm and haven't been able to post. It didn't amount to enough to plow, so I dropped the plow at the highway garage I work out of. I took a shot of it this morning before hooking up to it to go home after a long night of salting.

The company that supplied the Polyethylene moldboard is Mentor Dynamics (http://www.mentordynamics.com) . They were the only ones of about 5 companies I called who understood what I wanted to do. They custom made a piece to my specs and had it shipped to me within 10 days of my placing the order. Wish I had discovered them long ago!

[urethane dino]

Very nice work. Sometimes in order to get piece of equipment that works most effiecently, we need to customize. Just another edition of monster plow garage. Again very nice work Steve, I am sure this will help maximize the investment in your truck upfit.
Dino

[JohnnyU]

VERY impressive! I am amazed by the appearance of the plow after it was completed, it looks like it came from the factory that way!

Be sure to patent that process, then sell it back to Viking!!

Once you get a snow that is enough to plow, I'd love to hear about how it worked, seems like a great idea, and the poly should help save some weight!

:notworthy

[Pelican]

My 550 plowed here yesterday, we got about 3" of snow followed by sleet and rain. My driver is very happy with the results, there's no snow kicked back into the road now by the back tires.

I've also eliminated a chatter problem I had with my first U-edge. Unless there was a full snow cover on the pavement, the plow would chatter pretty violently. This made it difficult to clean up drifting or do spot plowing. My plow was originally equipped with a steel edge bolted to the black piece of poly you see in this photo which acted as a trip edge.

With my first edge, I simply bolted it to the black poly as the steel was as you can see. I think this allowed too much flexibility to the edge leading to chatter and hopping. With my new edge, I eliminated the black poly and bolted the U-edge directly to the lower plow frame rail. It now slides like a steel edge with no chatter at all.

[GeoffD]

Nice job, looks like you have a nice shop too.

Geoff

[Pelican]

Thanks, Geoff!

The shop is actually my friends, but he let's me work there when there's an open bay. I noticed in the last inside picture, you can see the wing of his IH (I think it's 8300) parked in the next bay. It's in the upper left corner of the pic.

[Pelican]

Finally had a chance to hook up again and take a couple more shotes, compliments of last night's storm which never showed!

Here it's angled full right which is how I plow 90% of the time. I took this shot in line with the right side tire so you can see how it now casts the snow further to the shoulder. This side is one foot longer.

[Pelican]

This shot's in line with drivers side wheels. I added 6" here and picked up just a little past the tires.

[MDsnowPRO]

Looks great Steve, I bet that thing rally knocks out roads during an event, edge looks good too. Last nights storm was a bummer, but theres still March!
-Nick

[GeoffD]

Now if that Brown SUV was a Ford you would have a perfect Ford Family.

Geoff

[fordsrule]

How is the truck holdin up with the underbody sander in the middle?

[CGSI]

Great Job Pelican. Can you PM me please.:notworthy