Making a plow for my Big Red

[Nick_R_23]

When I picked up my latest Big Red, it came with a cycle country plow setup. I was planning on using this to plow our driveway since the plow truck was down and the snowblower doesnt want to work. Once I got it all in the garage and thawed out, I could see that the cycle country plow was rigged up to say the least. It was missing all its brackets, one of the mounting points had been cobble-welded back on, and where it bolts to the plow itself was really messed up. Wasnt something that I wanted to use. I figured that since the plow itself was in alright shape, I would use that and make my own mounts and supports. Looking at it some more, I found more damage I didnt want to deal with so Im using a craftsman riding mower plow and making my own mounts to fit it.

After collecting a few pieces of angle iron and square tubing and a lot of thinking, this is where Im at:

***Yeah, I know some of those welds look bad. I just put gas on this welder and was trying out different settings, I redid the bad ones when I finally figured out what heat and speed it liked to be at. So dont laugh :lol:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0309.jpg

Plow I am going to use. Its better built, slightly larger then the Cycle Country plow, and I can angle it left, right, or straight. The bar will be cut a few inches behind where the handle is.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0307.jpg

Bracket that bolts to the footpegs

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0308.jpg

Front supports, had to get a longer bolt and some washers to space it out a bit, since the skid plate is slightly in the way.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0310.jpg

Completed bracket.

I will be working on this for the next few days, hopefully I will have the plow finished by the end of this coming week.

LMK what you think!!!

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[oldtime3wheeler]

How are you planning on going around the front wheel? Make sure you have enough room to turn the wheel all the way.

[Nick_R_23]

It looks a lot smaller in the pic then it really is, but that piece of angle iron is 3 ft long. It wont have any problem clearing the wheel.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Nick_R_23]

Got it bolted up to the machine and the pivot mounts welded on.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0311.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0313.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0312.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0314.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0315.jpg

And this is how it looks from the top of the machine.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Tri-Z Pilot]

I see what your goin for. How you plannin on raising/lowering? Handle operated or a winch mounted on the front rack?

[Nick_R_23]

Wow, I got farther today then I thought I would!! Its mostly done, just need to reinforce a few areas and its finished!!

Its going to have a winch to raise/lower it. I need to find a rocker switch, soleniod, and wiring for it first, then just mount it up.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0316.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0317.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0318.jpg

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Tri-Z Pilot]

Sweet! Looks like its almost done. How you gonna manipulate it side to side? Does it lock, or you got something else planned. I would like to do this on an sx in the future, I miss my 86. Stupidest thing I did was sell it, and the dude never paid me the rest. I got boned on that one

[Nick_R_23]

If you look in the second to last pic, right behind the plow there is a handle, it pulls back and the blade can turn left, right, or straight and it locks it in place. Sucks you got screwed on your SX, I would like to pick one up myself someday.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Tri-Z Pilot]

K I see the handle now.

Yea picked the sx up for $100 in high school. Great overall condition. Kid said the timing chain was shot and wouldnt run. Put a new plug in and ran awesome, he almost chit a brick when I told him thats all I did, lol! Best deal I ever found. Jeesh! Now I am depressed, lol

[mullet_boy]

Ive been considering building a plow for my 200x just for the hell of it. Im not sure how well it would work. Looks like yours should work pretty good though...

[Tri-Z Pilot]

Ive been considering building a plow for my 200x just for the hell of it. Im not sure how well it would work. Looks like yours should work pretty good though...

With a manual clutch and chain drive I dont know how well that would work, those shaft drives put some good torque to the ground. I suppose if you use tire chains and weight the ass end down on the x it could work though, but not having reverse would suck.

[mullet_boy]

ive plowed with a yamaha bear tracker before (much heavier, shaft and has reverse) and it did pretty decent. I figure if i add some weight to the x it could do a decent job so long as i kept some speed, lol. I'm curious, has anybody had experience with the winches mounted on the front racks with a plow? I would think that might hinder your steering some....

[Tri-Z Pilot]

Heavier is better if you want to stay planted. A lot of 4x4's use a front mounted winch to raise and lower snow plows, why not put one on a trike?

[oldtime3wheeler]

That plow looks nice. Came along pretty quick too.

[sandpuppi101]

I think she look's pretty good,the only critisism I have to say is that maybe on the boxed out section of the main plow frame ,,in the steering radius,I would maybe gusset the corner's,to prevent the blade from wanting to shoot side to side.But I do like the concept,and tire chain's should get ya some good traction for sure..You are gonna go with a winch,so it should take all the work outta plowing snow..How much snow you have up there now,Nick ??

[redneck250es]

: So how good does a big red do plowing? can you get traction trying to stear? Id make one for mine if I knew it would be worth it w00t:

[Nick_R_23]

I think she look's pretty good,the only critisism I have to say is that maybe on the boxed out section of the main plow frame ,,in the steering radius,I would maybe gusset the corner's,to prevent the blade from wanting to shoot side to side.But I do like the concept,and tire chain's should get ya some good traction for sure..You are gonna go with a winch,so it should take all the work outta plowing snow..How much snow you have up there now,Nick ??

I had planned to reinforce this part and cut the corners off the square from the start, I just ran out of square tubing to finish at the time. Im planning on putting tire chains in the rear and strap some sandbags to the rear rack. I figure the plow and winch weight in the front will balance the weight out a bit, but still give it good traction and steering ability. We only have about a foot+ of snow accumulated. Give it a while and itll dump sooner or later. :lol: BTW does anyone know how much tire chains for an ATV would cost?


So how good does a big red do plowing? can you get traction trying to stear? Id make one for mine if I knew it would be worth it w00t:

Ive heard they do pretty good plowing, and with bags on the back they can plow a foot or more of snow. Ive never plowed with a 3 or 4 wheeler myself before so Im not sure what to expect.

Heres what I got done today, bought another peice of square tubing and reinforced the corners of the box, then cut the extra corner off and welded a plate over the ends. Nice and solid now, and looks wayyyyy better then if it wouldve had corners. Just need to weld on the last 2 rear reinforcements, weld rods along the inside of the angle iron for the plow arms so they are sturdier, and weld on something for the winch for the hook to clip on to.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0331.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0332.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0334.jpg

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[oscarmayer]

my only concern is the rear pivot points. it "looks" a bit weaker. I woudl think you woudl want to leave the tubing square and run the bolt through the whole square instead of cutting 1 part off.

ansl the angle iron on the rea that bolts to the trike, you sure that's strong enought to hold?

i woudl have made the whole main hoop out of square tubing, and then used thick hinges to attach it to stuff. anythign that bolted tp the trike would be smaller square in size, but thicker walled for strength.

I liek it, i'm jsut wondeirng how string it will be. here's what i'm thinking. what happens when you hit a stump, rock, or crack in the road? is it going to take it and jsut stop you with an uncompfrtabe thud, or is it going to bend the crap outta it? This is my thoughts behind my idea.

[Gearheadtom]

I have though of building a plow for my 200m, but it does not have reverse. I think it would push a fair bit better than my 10hp ride on mower did.

[1987es250]

I also made a plow setup for mine. the only thing I didn't like about the winch setup was when the winch lifted the plow up it made it hard to steer. two reasons 1. the winch cable is under tension. so you are going to be fighting that when you turn with the plow blade up. 2. the weight of the plow on the front suspension. I loved my es250 bigred. it plowed great. I had no problems pushing snow at all! but I ended up selling her and going out and spending the extra money on the fourth wheel.
**If you could get a hold of one of the stock plow mounts with the manual arm. that would be the way to go with a 3wheeler!

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/apowalie1/DSC00054.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/apowalie1/DSC00055.jpg

see on a fourwheeler the winch is mounted to the frame. unlike the three wheeler the winch is mounted on the front forks/suspension.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/apowalie1/DSC00661.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/apowalie1/DSC00659.jpg

I do miss my 250 honda BR. But this new 500 foreman does kick some @$$.

[oscarmayer]

trader!!!! :P ;)

[1987es250]

I know! but it won't before long!
I'm looking at another es250!
I'll still keep the foreman! But I'll have a hbr for fun!

here's a pic of my home made under carriage(it's alittle fuzz!):

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/apowalie1/DSC00041.jpg

[POS 250sx]

Ive been considering making one for my SX for a long time but i have a couple problems. My dirtbike forks stick out a few inches longer, and trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotr ailpro i got the trike from welded the pegs on so I dont know where to bolt the rear mount to. That's a hell of a homemade plow, very nice.

[oscarmayer]

yup it looks nice. :)

[redneck250es]

Very nice set up:drool:

[01ps]

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=88543&highlight=finished+plow

I built this one last summer and just started using it on my BR250ES this week. Pushes really well, and gets better tractions than I expected. If I lose traction I just move my arse back over the wheels a bit and away I go. I've hit a few "immovable objects" and nothing broke, and the spring blade works just right. I am going to post a video in the next few days.

Looks like you've got yours figured out good. I think you may need more springs to keep the blade from folding too easily and riding on top of the snow.

[oscarmayer]

sweet! GJ then!!!!

[Nick_R_23]

You guys both have nice setups!! This one will be put off for a bit since the contactor I had for the winch doesnt want to work. Its 70$ new and I dont have the $$ for a new one right now. I did bungee the plow up off the ground a bit and rode it around and I gotta say, it does drive like a plow truck!! I realized later my front tire was almost flat so the ride might actually be different, but it seemed to make it thru the snow just fine even with the flat tire.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[oscarmayer]

flatso :P ;)

[Tri-Z Pilot]

Yeah, I didnt think about the tension the winch is gonna put on the front end with the blade up, maybe a manual lift would be better?

[oldtime3wheeler]

I have a cycle country on my Big Red. It has the manualo lift and seems to work well.

[Tri-Z Pilot]

I have a cycle country on my Big Red. It has the manualo lift and seems to work well.

Those kits still around? And where abouts in PA are you? I'm in Centre County.

[Nick_R_23]

Yeah, I didnt think about the tension the winch is gonna put on the front end with the blade up, maybe a manual lift would be better?

Its actually not bad at all. Like I said I had the plow tied to the front end and had a flat tire and I was able to steer around just fine. You could tell there was extra weight overall, I would say it handled like an actual plow truck.

The cycle country kits arent available anymore I believe, the one that came with this Big Red was made by them but somebody cobbled it a bit.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[oldtime3wheeler]

I contacted cycle country and they said they stopped making them in 88 or 89. I found mine on ebay in the beginning of the summer for a pretty good price. Im about 15 minutes south of Allentown in southeastern Pa.

[1987es250]

Its actually not bad at all. Like I said I had the plow tied to the front end and had a flat tire and I was able to steer around just fine. You could tell there was extra weight overall, I would say it handled like an actual plow truck.

The cycle country kits arent available anymore I believe, the one that came with this Big Red was made by them but somebody cobbled it a bit.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

A bungee has a lot more play in it then a steel winch cable!
once the plow blade is down it works good!

[redneck250es]

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=88543&highlight=finished+plow

I built this one last summer and just started using it on my BR250ES this week. Pushes really well, and gets better tractions than I expected. If I lose traction I just move my arse back over the wheels a bit and away I go. I've hit a few "immovable objects" and nothing broke, and the spring blade works just right. I am going to post a video in the next few days.

Looks like you've got yours figured out good. I think you may need more springs to keep the blade from folding too easily and riding on top of the snow.

Still waiting on that video lol YAMAHONDAMAN

[userj8670]

I contacted cycle country and they said they stopped making them in 88 or 89. I found mine on ebay in the beginning of the summer for a pretty good price. Im about 15 minutes south of Allentown in southeastern Pa.

What did you type in on ebay? 'Atc plow?' Nice set up!

[01ps]

Still waiting on that video lol YAMAHONDAMAN

Still waiting for snow!:(

[harvestblue]

I've noticed a bunch of people on 3WW who use a winch to raise and lower their plows. I would think that would make it difficult to turn the front wheel because of the weight of the plow...especially if the plow is raised up in the air. Perhaps check this walk-around video on YouTube. There are 4 walk around videos. This link is for Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utwARpn0YUk As far as people out there thinking of fabricating their own plow, video #3 isn't so good for measurements, but #4 makes up for it.

There are also bunch of good videos of actually plowing with this Big Red. Hope all this helps.

[Thorpe]

I did a complete write up, with measurements and pics to the build of my plow... Fighting the winch really isn't bad...
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/118625-My-home-built-Big-Red-plow...-Lots-of-pics...?highlight=My+home+built+plow