Mounting Plate Doesn't Fit...

[titelines]

Hi All,

I picked up a new mounting plate for my plow this weekend as the old one was a little worn from use. It had cracked at one of the bolts, causing it to be a bit loose. I figured it was only a matter of time before the whole thing let loose.

I took the old one off and fastened the front two bolts of the new one to the frame. I went underneath the machine to connect the last bolt and the bolt coming through the frame didn't line up with the hole on the mounting plate. The bolt was landing a good inch or so in front of the hole, and slightly to the left. I took it off and tried something else.

This time, I fastened the bolt under the machine first, to see where that would get me. When I did this, the front two bolts were a good inch or so past the bolts I had passed through the holes. I inverted myself and pushed the machine up with my feet, but I still couldn't get the bolts through the holes.

The new plate is the exact same product that I had on there previously. There was no evidence on the old one that would indicate it had been bent in any way. I also looked at the frame of the ATV and it doesn't appear that anything's out of whack.

What could be the problem here? Is it possible that I have bent the frame or something else on the ATV? What am I missing?

Thanks for any thoughts.

[Macgyver55]

If you match up the two mounts do the holes line up?

[titelines]

Yep, they are exactly the same.

[ChuckN]

Did you torque down the bolts 1 at a time as you proceeded?

When mounting the plow mount, never tighten the bolts at the beginning...only thread the nut on a little ways to leave some play, proceed along gradually and tighten all of them when the plate is in the proper position, and all of the bolts/nuts started out to insure a proper fit.

I've taken my plow plate on/off several times and I would run into the same problem if I didn't leave the bolts loose and gradually secure them in difference sequence...

Just a thought.

[titelines]

Yep, that's what I do. Tighten a little at a time, like a car tire.

If nothing else, I guess I can drill a new bolt hole into the mounting plate based on where it's landing, but I'm concerned that I've done something to the frame that would cause these to not line up.

[eyestogills]

It would be almost impossible to bend the frame in that area without it being visible. does the plate mount up flush?

Is there possibly a curve in the plate. I have put mine on a bunch of times and noticed there are so many holes and such that you just dont see the right hole.

Most of the directions also do say drilling is possibly needed. Not sure how that could be with the same plate that did work prior.

[titelines]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, it does go flush with the underside of the ATV and there's no question as to which holes to use.

It's just that, when I fasten the bolt on the underside, the front bolts don't reach the holes on the mounting plate, they're too far in front of them. When I fasten the front bolts, the underside bolt doesn't line up with the hole on the mounting plate.

It's like it's a size 10 mount and I need a size 8...if that makes sense. I think I'm going to drill another hole on the underside and use that.

[KadenBear]

What brand of mount is this?

[titelines]

This is a mounting plate for the Polaris Glacier II plow system.