skid shoes

[Stonewall]

I got mine from Work Saver and I think they were under $40(worksaver.com). They bolt on and I did have to have a buddy burn a small hole in the grader steel to accomodate the bottom bolt. They are adjustable and I will give them a try this year - IF we get any white stuff!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I came across skid shoes at tractor supply for about $16 each. I fabricated a bracket from some leftover trailer hitch square tubing, drilled two holes for the skid shoe to go through and plan to drill a hole through the square support tube on the back of the blade and mount them with 3/4" bolts. See attached picture.

 

[Inspector507]

Looks like that would work......../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Jerry

 

[Kodiak]

The closer to the outside of the blade that you mount your skidshoes the less likely the end of your blade will dig in.

 

[Freds]

Thanks for the link to the post and the search tip Hazmat. I can't believe after looking at the pic that they cost that much from the factory. I called the local TSC and they have them for $16 and $25 and all I have to do is make my own bracket.
Guess I'll go shopping and get to work before the snow comes again. Thanks, all.

Fred

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The TSC shoes are actually replacement shoes for Meyer and Western Snow plows. I chose the round ones because I thought they would float better on gravel drives and they happened to be the cheaper of the two. You'll need a 1" drill bit to drill the holes and then ream them out slightly. The more expensive skids had a larger post on them, maybe 1 1/8 - 1 1/4" with a rectangular shoe on the bottom. If you need drill bits check out www.harborfreight.com

Don

 

[Freds]

Yeah, Don, those rectangular shoes didn't look like they would work very well on a gravel drive. I don't think I'll need the large drill bit, although TSC has good prices on those, also. I've been thinking of using a pc. of gaspipe to slide the shoe rod into and then welding a bracket from that to the blade. I'll come up with something... hopefully before I need it.

 

[Rubintropfen]

I bought the Western-type skid shoes at NAPA. I simply bolted a piece of 1" black pipe at each end of my blade. The skid shoe shaft rides inside the pipe. I drilled a hole in the pipe for a pin to keep the shoes from dropping out, but I might make it a slot so it will be more adjustable.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Many of the skid shoes look like upside down mushrooms. If you don't have the luxury of waiting for frozen gravel to plow snow, these shoes dig in real well. Especially if you change the angle of attack on the plow.

This year I'm waiting to try something new. I took a 3-1/2 inch pipe and cut off two inches. Then cut that in half to get two semi-circular runners. Then a 15/16 inch rod welded to the bottom of the runner. The rod slids up into a pipe.

The height of the blade is set by the number of washers on the bottom of the rod. A hole drilled at the top of the rod with a pin hold the shoes from dropping out when the blade is raised.

The rod in the pipe allow the runners to change direction. The radius of the pipe allows changing the angle of the blade without the shoes digging into the gravel driveway.

Of course this is the plan. We have not had any snow yet to try them out.

 

[cchoate]

I think I understand, do you have any pictures? Sounds like a great idea.