When angled, plow not even on ground. Advice??

[Marty124]

I have a 2010 Sportsman 500. 26" tires with 1" tread depth. I also installed Polaris HD front springs. These 2 modifications raised the front end 3-4 inches.
I have a Moose 60" quick release plow with an RM3 rapid plow mount system.
When I angle the plow to the left or right, the inside/close end of the plow is @ 2" off of the ground....... Skids are set to the same height. Problem occures with skids removed as well. I am on level ground (my garage).
------This never occured with the stock springs. The front end was approximately 3" lower with the stock springs.
Has anyone had this happen to their machine and what, if any, was your solution???
Thank you...

[antoniodef]

Mine is angles when in the air, but there is enough play in the mount that it levels out when the winch releases all the weight on the ground.

Not sure how that helps, but I though it might give an idea.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

[shui5612]

my glacier 2 plow used to do this... but stopped after some plowing.. and never returned as a problem...
just quick check 5 things..
1- is the winch rop slack enough to let the plow down?
2.lift up the plow and make sure it tilts left and right (not turn, but tilts so that like you say so both ends touch the ground)
3. look to see if theres something on there that limits it from turning...
4.on my glacier plow, i have 3 hooks that allow me to tilt the blade so that one end is in the air while the other is on the ground (3 holes where the winch hook goes into )
5. maybe you are over turning the plow/it wasnt meant to be used that way...?

obvious questions but check just to be sure...
i have 5 fixes for this that might help...
-plow at no angle (dozer) or a small angle, maybe things need to set in for it to work...
-the lift might be the problem.. i have adjusters on my front shocks and not hd springs... but the springs might be the problem... maybe sit on the front rack (assuming you weight near/atleast 200 pounds)
-lift the plow in the straight position, and stand on one end , then the other...
it might bend something so it gives more play...
-make sure everything is as it should be... not over tightening any bolts and such...
-if the plow is not new, and that it being new isnt the problem... then check for sand/stones in the plow..

another thing.. probably the most important so i left it out to be here, more noticeable.
is to check IF you assembled the plow correctly... it might be part A & B that look EXACTLY the same but have a difference for the left/right side...

hope i helped..

[Marty124]

Thank you to both...

shui5612: I'm curious why yours did the same, then stopped with you doing nothing to correct it.... Maybe your springs sagged slightly,,, lowering the height of the machine.?.?


After looking at everything I could think of, I think I'm going to fabricate a 3" extension on the down tubes of the plow. Effectively, this will offset the raised height of the machine caused by the 26" tires and the Polaris HD springs. It will take a week or so for me to complete this. I will report back.

But please, if anyone has an easier solution, I'm open to suggestions!!

[Jfmagnone]

You mat want to make sure that the plow mounts it seated correctly. If it's out of parallel or not perpendicular to the machine the 3" lift could amplify that offset affect. Also may want to make sure the machine sits perfectly level. That's all I got, good luck.

[Marty124]

Thanks... Before posting my concern, I took several measurements and took out my level on the machine/plow. Everything is square and level. I believe the problem starts with the fact that the Moose quick release plow does not allow the plow to "float". The quick release plow seems to be designed to work at a certian height (within an inch or 2). I superceeded the height.

When angling a plow to push debris to the left,, the plow should be level on the ground. When raising the plow in the same position,, the right side of the plow (the side farthest from the front tire) should raise higher than the left side of the plow....... When I lower my plow in this position,,,, the left side of the plow (closest to the tire) is 2" off of the ground... This is leading me to believe I am lowering the plow beyond the designed "leveling point" of the plow. This is why I am going to put extensions on the plow's down tubes. Does this make sense???

[Jfmagnone]

Yes. Though what a poor design if thats the case. That does make sense though

[shui5612]

hmm... i think your right on the plow design...

the glacier 2 doesnt seem to have that problem as i plowed "downhill" (the quad was level and i was making a slope downwards, and it went pretty far down.

and no .. dont think it sagged...it happened in minutes... i started plowing and 30 mins later (was testing the plow)i set it back down to clean the plow from the sand.. and it was level.


i guess you should try welding up your idea...
although.. i would make it abit longer than 3" as the front of the atv has less downward force (thus spings less compressed) and when you give some gas (aka start plowing) the front lifts up from the weight transfer....

id go for 5"-6" extension... and maye re enforce the area.. going to add weight but its good iin a way... more downward force and scrubs better...

hope i helped... btw
have you tried to lift the plow up , while its angled, and stand on the nearest to the tire side of the plow?
like really STAND on the plow... then repet for the other side... it might help...or bend somthing that bothers it to go the way it should.. plus if it does bend something.. you will know what it is and maybe moddify that area aswell..

[Marty124]

I'm not sure I want to "bend something" in order to cure my issue... But, I do like the idea of reinforcing the downtubes....
I'm working on a new computer. As of now, it is not compatible with my camera so this is a picture of the plow & RM3 Rapid Plow Mount System from Moose. As you can see, there is a flat metal area where the plow is fixed to.. Because of the metal semicircle (this is where you set the plow's angle), the plow does not have the ability to "float." That flat metal area is designed to be parallel,,, or as close to parallel to the ground as possible. This is my issue....

[shui5612]

i guess you have no choice really here...
i would do what you have proposed on adding afew " 's to the plow mount..
and re enforcing it aswell while your at it...