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Don't know how to upload the photos I have of the first bent frame and brush guard frame. Any advice?

 

Guess there isn't a way other than to E-mail me if you want.
mini14centurytel.net

 

Oh, I don't miss those michigan winters! I'm in Oregon now, so we don't get near the snow load ya'll get.

To upload photos, you have to subscribe to something like photobucket (free) on the web. Once registered, you can upload photos to it and then create a link to it when you reply to a message on the forum. I believe you can also apply the link to your signature.

 

uh-oh. You don't even wanna get me going on this topic. But since you asked, I'm calling a rat a rat. The glacier II is the biggest piece of **** to ever find it's way out of the polaris engineering department.

Now before anyone gets all offended, let me say that I do/have loved all my Sportsmans, and no I haven't beat this plow set-up any beyond what I would consider normal plowing duty. My mounting frame curled up like a horseshoe after only a few uses. I was willing to chalk that up as an inferior lightweight component design, and straightened it out and added sufficient reinforcement along the length where it had bent. that was before this winter season.

Last weekend after plowing for about the 10th time this year, I noticed that the plow was hanging askew on the frame, and suspected I may have lost a bolt. No such luck. The frame bent again, this time forward of the reinforcement. Only this time as a result of the buckled frame, the front of the frame of the ATV was bent as well. The lower right hand corner has been pushed upward all the way into the radiator, and there is a tear in the steel on that part of the frame. This piece does not appear to be bolt-on, or replaceable and will now have to be pulled back down into place, or cut and re-welded.

As I've stated before, I had the original glacier (1?) on my other Sportsman that was used over a much longer period of time and on a much longer, rougher driveway with no problem whatsoever. Not sure what I'll do next winter, as I do like using my ATV to plow my driveway. I'm not familiar with how other plow set-ups work, but may look into the type with the long frame that pushes from further back near the middle of the frame. Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm sure there's lots out there who use the glacier II system with no trouble. Could it have anything to do with my machine being an X2? I dunno, it's just disappointing.

 

I think the problem with this polow mounting design is, just look at it. Theres one bolt at the back that mount's it to the actual frame. The 2 big bolts that hold the weight are mounted to the brush gaurd, not the frame. I repeate, BRUSH gaurd. It is meant for BRUSH so why is it being used to mount a plow. Then to keep the plow from rotating there's 2 bolts the size of pencils that hold it just below the main bolts. Those long since snapped and they don't line up anymore. I know for a fact if this was a Arctic Cat and ploaris had anything different, my buddy would tear into it. Just because it's polaris though he defends it hard and says a bunch of drunk locals use it to plow and not one has come back with a bent mount. It's just a "a bunch of forum idiots that bend them."

 

Well, just throw a glacier 1 and glacier 2 plow on the shop floor and compare them. Any 5 year old will pick the glacier 1 and say it's stronger. That's a no brainer. It's obvious that polaris didn't expect us to move much snow with the glacier 2 system. Either that, or they aren't as bright as we thought!

What I do like about the glacier 2 system is the ease of removal of the blade and how tight the mount tucks under it, not requiring removal in the off season. All that comes with a price, I guess.

 

I'm sure glad my Glacier II is long gone. My Eagle (Tusk City Slicker) is much better.

My dealer sold my Glacier II mount (that he straightened) and the Plow for $375. So, it cost me about $35 for the new setup... and a lesson well learned. LOL

I do feel bad for the guy that bought mine though. Sure hope he has a nice small, paved driveway. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DCT

I do feel bad for the guy that bought mine though. Sure hope he has a nice small, paved driveway. [img][/img]</end quote></div>

LMAO! I think that's what they were "engineered" for! LOL!

 

My 5' Glacier 2 plow started getting loose after plowing a 100 yd driveway and more this winter with lots of snow. I think I bent it pretty badly last weekend pushing very large pieces of oak around. It's snowing heavily right now, so I am hoping it will get us through this season.

Once it's bent (and possibly badly), can it be straightened? Or should I just buy a new mount and reinforce it?

OR I was thinking about buying a Swisher QuickSwitch so I can put a bucket on it too. Has anyone tried a Swisher plow and/or bucket?

Swisher ATV QuickSwitch System

Also, can someone please post pictures of the Glacier 2 reinforcement? (Photobucket is the easiest way.)

 

I once had a swisher plow. It never had problems. It is very heavy, built like a truck plow! The mount is universal and a PITA to install as it attaches to the a arms up front all the way back and distributes the force throughout the atv. It is also a PITA to disconnect and connect. But, it won't bend like the glacier 2.