If you have an ATV plow you are very familiar with the chore of
getting off the ATV to turn the blade to the correct position over and
over again. Over the past 5 years there have become a plethora of
different types of automated turn kits to hit the market that all claim
to solve this issue. While the goal is to be able to turn your blade
from side to side without getting off your machine there are plenty of
other factors to consider when choosing a turn kit.
Actuation type:
There are electric, manual, and hydraulic kits currently on the market. All of these have their benefits and detractions. Electric motors or linear actuators can be fast operating, quiet, and fairly inexpensive. The disadvantage of electric units can be their strength. Linear actuators can break or bend if the plow impacts a solid object as they have no built-in relief or clutch. Other electric motors can tear out the gears due to the same problem with having to withstand large plowing impacts.
Manual turns are simple and inexpensive but require more work from the operator. With most of these systems you need to pull a cord that releases the position pin, then you drive into a snow bank until the blade turns, and you then release the cord. It works most of the time but not all the time, occasionally forcing you back off the machine to get the position pin to lock back into place.
Hydraulic kits are the most expensive yet the most rugged. Hydraulics are made to withstand the extreme plowing forces, can move quickly, and are usually relief valve protected. With a relief valve, the extra pressure built up from hitting an immoveable object "pops off" or reliefs. The relief will normally reset itself allowing you to continue plowing. Hydraulics can be a little noisier than electric systems but not terrible.
Number of cylinders/motors:
Generally two is better than one but one can work just fine if there is a shear point or relief valve to prevent any damage if an immoveable object is hit.
Speed:
For the casual plower such as the typical homeowner speed will not make a huge difference. For the commercial plower, time is money as long as durability is also a top concern. We have seen the following speed from the different types of turn kits. This is a generalization and may not be true for all kits:
Fastest Electric motor
Hydraulic
Manual turn
Slowest Linear Actuator
Power Drain:
Seasoned ATV riders understand that with added lights, accessories, winch, etc your battery can become drained in no time. For this reason the power drain or amperage draw can become an issue. A Manual turn is certainly best for power drain as there are no electrical components. The hydraulic kits use only a small draw to run the motor so they can run your battery down if plowing for an extended period of time or using a lot of accessories. Electric motors will pull the largest amperage draw so you will need to watch how many accessories or lights you are using while plowing.
Overview:
While all turn kits will help you stay on your ATV and get your plowing done faster, you need to consider all the information to make an informed decision. For occasional homeowner use we would recommend a manual turn or electric turn due to their lower price and/or limited strength. For commercial or heavy homeowner use the hydraulic turn is the way to go. Although initially more expensive, its ease of use, durability and reliability make it clearly rise above the rest.
For more information and for informative video's visit http://www.fuse-powersports.com.
Actuation type:
There are electric, manual, and hydraulic kits currently on the market. All of these have their benefits and detractions. Electric motors or linear actuators can be fast operating, quiet, and fairly inexpensive. The disadvantage of electric units can be their strength. Linear actuators can break or bend if the plow impacts a solid object as they have no built-in relief or clutch. Other electric motors can tear out the gears due to the same problem with having to withstand large plowing impacts.
Manual turns are simple and inexpensive but require more work from the operator. With most of these systems you need to pull a cord that releases the position pin, then you drive into a snow bank until the blade turns, and you then release the cord. It works most of the time but not all the time, occasionally forcing you back off the machine to get the position pin to lock back into place.
Hydraulic kits are the most expensive yet the most rugged. Hydraulics are made to withstand the extreme plowing forces, can move quickly, and are usually relief valve protected. With a relief valve, the extra pressure built up from hitting an immoveable object "pops off" or reliefs. The relief will normally reset itself allowing you to continue plowing. Hydraulics can be a little noisier than electric systems but not terrible.
Number of cylinders/motors:
Generally two is better than one but one can work just fine if there is a shear point or relief valve to prevent any damage if an immoveable object is hit.
Speed:
For the casual plower such as the typical homeowner speed will not make a huge difference. For the commercial plower, time is money as long as durability is also a top concern. We have seen the following speed from the different types of turn kits. This is a generalization and may not be true for all kits:
Fastest Electric motor
Hydraulic
Manual turn
Slowest Linear Actuator
Power Drain:
Seasoned ATV riders understand that with added lights, accessories, winch, etc your battery can become drained in no time. For this reason the power drain or amperage draw can become an issue. A Manual turn is certainly best for power drain as there are no electrical components. The hydraulic kits use only a small draw to run the motor so they can run your battery down if plowing for an extended period of time or using a lot of accessories. Electric motors will pull the largest amperage draw so you will need to watch how many accessories or lights you are using while plowing.
Overview:
While all turn kits will help you stay on your ATV and get your plowing done faster, you need to consider all the information to make an informed decision. For occasional homeowner use we would recommend a manual turn or electric turn due to their lower price and/or limited strength. For commercial or heavy homeowner use the hydraulic turn is the way to go. Although initially more expensive, its ease of use, durability and reliability make it clearly rise above the rest.
For more information and for informative video's visit http://www.fuse-powersports.com.
CMP is a full service manufacturing facility specializing in
plows for the last 20 years. See the full line of plows and plow turn
kits at http://fuse-powersports.com/hydro-turn-plow-kit/.