[FordFisherman]

I was plowing with my 8' MM2 in the middle of its second seaon; had around 75 driveways and a private subdivision (30 of the driveways were there). I had just finished clearing out the end of a driveway and tried to lift the plow to leave but the blade dropped to the ground. I thought the chain popped off but quickly realized that couldn't happen with the design of the lift chain/cable. Upon further inspection, I found that the steel loop thats welded in under the nose of the headgear had worn right through. Had to rig the blade to get it off the ground to get home, took the headgear off and went to the local distributor who swapped it out with the new design: it has 2 pieces of steel with a 3/4 clevis pin through it. If you have that old design, check it for wear; you'll be glad you did. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[powerjoke]

check your equipment often? LOL

that wasnt aproblem that "just now happened" it has been wearing for years and just now broke


you need to periodicly check your equipment for things like this,

to answer the Q' no, not a fisher plow breakage such as this but yes on other equipment that got overlooked or neglected

 

[FordFisherman]

Powerjoke, FYI :The part in question failed after a season and a half from a faulty design-not from lack of maintenance or failure to inspect my equipment. The purpose of this thread; of this whole site for that matter: is to inform and help others in the business. Your post does neither.

 

[SnoFarmer]

so, you knew this to be a faulty design and you still did not do
pre-season maintenance.

I don't mean to bust your [email protected] but it sounded like you knew this was a trouble spot before it broke?.

 

[sparky8370]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[sparky8370]

so, you knew this to be a faulty design and you still did not do
pre-season maintenance.

I don't mean to bust your [email protected] but it sounded like you knew this was a trouble spot before it broke?.

So where did you get that from??

I was plowing with my 8' MM2 in the middle of its second seaon; had around 75 driveways and a private subdivision (30 of the driveways were there). I had just finished clearing out the end of a driveway and tried to lift the plow to leave but the blade dropped to the ground. I thought the chain popped off but quickly realized that couldn't happen with the design of the lift chain/cable. Upon further inspection, I found that the steel loop thats welded in under the nose of the headgear had worn right through. Had to rig the blade to get it off the ground to get home, took the headgear off and went to the local distributor who swapped it out with the new design: it has 2 pieces of steel with a 3/4 clevis pin through it. If you have that old design, check it for wear; you'll be glad you did. Has this happened to anyone else?

If you're talking about this part, it sounds more like he thought the chain had come off and that's why it wasn't lifting. And then he realized that it's not a hook, that the chain runs through it so it can't pop off.

 

[FordFisherman]

You guys are missing the point. Fisher changed the design and for whatever reason didn't notify the owners of the original design that there was problem. I didn't know about the faulty design until I returned the part to the dealer (in the middle of a 16" snowstorm) and the new headgear had a totally different connection point. I'm posting about it so that I could possibly save someone else a whole lot of aggravation. If you don't have anything productive or pertinent to say then don't post....If you know someone with the old design let them know about the problem, thats all. There seems to be a few people on this site who focus on being argumentative and confrontational rather than offering help or advice. It's counterproductive.

 

[Hiwire]

Fisherman...Did you ever hear the term "Illegitmi non carborundum"?? Dont let them get to you. If you are going to be on this list you are going to have to get used to it. Just about every time someone has bad luck or a breakdown someone steps in to say that they would have done it different. I think it makes some people feel like they are better off since it didnt happen to them. I for one appreciate the heads up. I can see how that loop design would wear through. I always liked the old style hook better anyway. Just glad it was somewhat easy fix and u are up and running again.
Ray

 

[FordFisherman]

Yeah, your right Ray- No big deal. If I help only one person avoid the hassle I went through then its worth it.

 

[Hiwire]

Where are you located in the northeast? We arent getting much snow today but I see that some places are.
Ray

 

[FordFisherman]

Southwestern CT. How about you? I used to live in Liverpool when I was a kid. We rarely see snow like you guys get. Looks like we've become the sleet capitol of the Northeast.

 

[tkrepairs]

back to the constructive side of things..... do you have a picture of this piece? and what's old vs. new? i have a mm2 vintage early 2002.... and also what makes the "new" so much better, it won't wear in the same place? thanks.

 

[FordFisherman]

The distributor had to return the original part to warranty it. Does your headgear have a welded loop at the front of the lift arm that the chain/cable setup attaches to? If it does, slide the yellow part that the chain/cable runs through over and look for wear in the center. The new design has 2 steel ears with a clevis pin running through it. A much better design.

 

[Hiwire]

I actually in Lafayette, just south of Syracuse. We have had around 60 inches of snow so far this year. Just got the banks all built up high and now most of it melted. Knock on wood so far in 6 years Ive had NO problems with this plow. The Minute Mount is a great design. I admit it took me a few times to figure out the best way to get it on and off but now even leaving it on a dirt driveway in between uses connecting wires is probably the most time consuming part. I hear people complaining about it taking them too long to hook it up and from my experience, I can say I think they are putting too much thought into it. Let the system work for you and just work with it and it honestly doesnt take more than a couple minutes to get it hooked up.
I know what you mean about the sleet out there. I have friends in RI and they have gotten hammered with slush and ice at times this year. That stuff will put a strain on any plow.
Ray

 

[snow7899]

Did your dealer cover the lift arm under warranty? I have a 8'xblade and I can see alot of wear at that pivot point. Thanks for your post.

 

[FordFisherman]

Luckily they had one in stock- I had to buy the new one, they sent the old one back with the warranty paperwork, Fisher reimbursed the dealer, and the dealer sent me a check. Took about a month but they made good on it

 

[Gicon]

Ford, thank you for the advisement. I will be checking my plows this evening.

 

[Ron G]

Nose Loop

Thanks for the "heads up" . I just took a look at mine. My MM2 plow was installed in 2004, and it has the old design lift arm with the welded loop and the chain/cable bracket hanging off of the loop. Luckily, mine is not worn, as the only thing I really do is plow my driveway and my shop, but I travel to work 20 miles each way, and the way it is designed, that's when it wears--when the plow is up. I went to snap a picture, but my digital camera is dead. I have it charging now, and will snap a pic when it is charged enough.

RON​

 

[FordFisherman]

Glad to help.

 

[Ron G]

Picture

Here's the picture of the loop and bracket that wear out. Luckily, mine is still like new.