How to Attach a Snow Plow to an ATV

Mounting kits attach various ATV accessories, including snow plow blades.

An all-terrain vehicle transforms into several tools necessary for farming and seasonal chores. In the winter, an ATV may become a snow plow using a universal mounting kit or snow blade mounting kit, which is available at outdoors or sporting-goods stores or through online ATV accessory sellers. The ATV snow plow works just like a snow plow vehicle, and when finished, you can remove the snow plow blade to return the ATV back to normal use.

Things You'll Need

• Plow mounting kit
• Ratchet
• Socket wrench in 9/16", 1/2", 7/16"
• Allen wrench in 3/16" & 1/8"
• Box wrench in 3/8", 7/16", 3/4", 1/2", 9/16"
• Electric drill (optional)
• Optional lubricant

Instructions

1. Purchase a snowplow blade kit. A typical snowplow kit comes in 48" to 72" blade sizes with a variety of angle adjustments. You can also purchase an universal mounting kit that mounts snow plow blades, dumpers, and other plows. Usually the blade is made of steel or anti-corrosive anodized aluminum. Newer varieties also include poly blades. You can find these kits at Cabelas, Swisher, CycleCountry.com, SnowBear, and 4WheelOnline, or any other ATV supply store.

2. Lay out all the pieces to your kit. Find the plow mount plate. It should be attached to a base plate. Remove the plow mount plate from the base and use the base plate to attach to the frame of the ATV. See references for video demonstration.

3. Align the base plate straight, then tighten the bolts and washers to attach the plate to the ATV, then you may begin installing the snow plow mount plate. Line the mounting plate up with the back of the base plate, making sure the mounting plate's bolts are loose, then move the bolts into the base plate holes. Once you have aligned everything correctly, tighten the bolts until snug.

4. Find the plow blade and push tubes in the kit, then set in front of the ATV so that the plow blade is in front of the push tube. You can see how the blade will attach to the push tubes to your ATV.

5. Remove the mounting bolts at the back of the blade with a socket wrench. These bolts mount the blade to the push tube. Line up the front of the push tube to the brackets on the back of the blade. Install the mounting bolts, washers, and nuts to the blade and push tube, then tighten once aligned. Make sure not to overtighten because your blade needs to move a little bolt.

6. Find the blade springs in the kit. Hook the blade spring bottom to the push tube, then hook the second piece to the blade spring. Attach the silver blade spring from the push tube to the top of the back of the blade. On each side of the blade, there is a curved edge with a bracket. This is for the spring to attach with an eye bolt. Move the steel spring into the eye bolt hole, then fix the eye bolt onto the spring with a washer.

7. Push the blade and push tube underneath the ATV leaving about two feet of space in the front. At the back of the ATV, reach under and find the end of the push tube, lifting and hooking onto the plow mount. Make sure it hooks on both sides of the mount plate. Pull the swing latch and attach it to the pins of the push tubes on both sides until you hear a snap.

8. Adjust the blade stops, which have four positions. Your blade needs to be in a vertical tilted position for plowing. Once you adjust to the right position, tighten the bolt so your blade stays in the right vertical position.

9. Tighten the eye bolts of the springs until firm and the spring's end sticks out from the top of the nut. Pull the winch wire down from the bottom of the ATV and attach to the push tubes.

10. 

    Plow mounting kits allow for attaching all sorts of ATV accessories, including snow plow blades.

    Adjust the blade skids so that the skids touch the ground simultaneously with the plow's wear bar. These attach to the left and right side of the plow blade on the back side. Use nuts and washers to attach.

11. Locate the pin in the top of the push tube that adjusts the blade's swivel position. This rotates the blade in which direction you choose. Once you find the right position, lock the pin.

References

• YouTube: Tusk ATV Snow Plow mounting instructions