Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow Plow rubber edge vs steel

[gdh]

Thanks for all of the replies. I screwed up. After a short day of work I finally found the time to take off the torn rubber edge. Here is my conclusion. I had blind faith that the implement put the edge on correctly and never really inspected it before using it. My bad. :ashamed:
As TOMMAPLE implied, there are two steel plates/beams that sandwich the edge. The steel plate that mates to the plow side of the rubber edge has off centered holes that allow for support of the edge from behind so that the edge does not bend. If that plate is "upside down" it offers no support and just serves to attach the edge to the plow. This was one of the issues with my plow.
The skid plates if properly adjusted allow only .5 inch of space between the concrete and skid plate with the blade touching the ground. Adjusted this way, the rubber edge probably will not bend enough to tear like mine did.
Thirdly, the plow has brackets with pins that do not allow the "trip springs" to engage when the edge encounters an immovable object or in my case an uneven surface such as an expansion joint in the driveway with a higher adjacent surface. I noticed that my springs never triggered, but I just assumed that I had not encountered something with sufficient force to stretch the springs. I never noticed the brackets until today.
In conclusion, the edge tore because of my lack of close inspection of the plow and my over-eagerness to go play, er I mean work in the snow. I hope my mistake helps somebody else.
One other thing. Merry Christmas!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks for all of the replies. I screwed up. After a short day of work I finally found the time to take off the torn rubber edge. Here is my conclusion. I had blind faith that the implement put the edge on correctly and never really inspected it before using it. My bad. :ashamed:
As TOMMAPLE implied, there are two steel plates/beams that sandwich the edge. The steel plate that mates to the plow side of the rubber edge has off centered holes that allow for support of the edge from behind so that the edge does not bend. If that plate is "upside down" it offers no support and just serves to attach the edge to the plow. This was one of the issues with my plow.
The skid plates if properly adjusted allow only .5 inch of space between the concrete and skid plate with the blade touching the ground. Adjusted this way, the rubber edge probably will not bend enough to tear like mine did.
Thirdly, the plow has brackets with pins that do not allow the "trip springs" to engage when the edge encounters an immovable object or in my case an uneven surface such as an expansion joint in the driveway with a higher adjacent surface. I noticed that my springs never triggered, but I just assumed that I had not encountered something with sufficient force to stretch the springs. I never noticed the brackets until today.
In conclusion, the edge tore because of my lack of close inspection of the plow and my over-eagerness to go play, er I mean work in the snow. I hope my mistake helps somebody else.
One other thing. Merry Christmas!

This should not be your problem, it should fall on the folks that put it together. I would get them to supply you with the parts to fix it.

Chris

 

[Don87]

Shucks guys,
I always have used steel blade and rarely do I see any serious marks on my pavement.
My occasional spinning chains, however is a different story, even those disappear with time.
Even then, usually after a few weeks of spring weather when dirt & grime get washed in, all those marks just don't show.
I think you all are getting a bit to fussy.
But then I don't wax my tractor either. (and it sleeps outside) and it is not all rusted up, however I do wash it down from time to time and do touch up the paint to prevent rust.

This is in no way meant to be offensive to the OP, or anyone else.

PILOON, some people get extremely upset if there is even one mark on the concrete or asphalt. I know of people that wanted to sue because gravel was pushed into the grass.

I just tell them the way it is..............your stupid.

You live in the snow belt, you want the driveway fixed so you can get in and out..............if ya want a perfect driveway, move to southern California.

 

[dcyrilc]

This is in no way meant to be offensive to the OP, or anyone else.

PILOON, some people get extremely upset if there is even one mark on the concrete or asphalt. I know of people that wanted to sue because gravel was pushed into the grass.

I just tell them the way it is..............your stupid.

You live in the snow belt, you want the driveway fixed so you can get in and out..............if ya want a perfect driveway, move to southern California.

You're nice. I would tell them that they should have put in a heated driveway.

 

[bigdad]

This is in no way meant to be offensive to the OP, or anyone else.

PILOON, some people get extremely upset if there is even one mark on the concrete or asphalt. I know of people that wanted to sue because gravel was pushed into the grass.

I just tell them the way it is..............your stupid.

You live in the snow belt, you want the driveway fixed so you can get in and out..............if ya want a perfect driveway, move to southern California.

And let them plow mud slides!

 

[ragkar]

My rubber edge was adjusted via the skids for a half inch clearance. Frankly it did a lousy job of clearing the snow on snowstorms one and two.
A guy with a lot of heavy equipment experience advised me that only corporations that want to save money on rubber replacement will set it that way. Others that want a clean driveway will lower it and shrug off the rubber wear as the cost of doing business.
This storm I lowered the edge by a quarter inch and it worked much better.

 

[terpdog]

I was just wondering, I've had mine for about 8 years and noticed that this year the "rear blade" just isn't cleaning like it used to. Might I need to replace it or adjust it somehow that I'm missing? It's always just leaving a little bit of snow which then turns to ice unless I salt it.

 

[dcyrilc]

I was just wondering, I've had mine for about 8 years and noticed that this year the "rear blade" just isn't cleaning like it used to. Might I need to replace it or adjust it somehow that I'm missing? It's always just leaving a little bit of snow which then turns to ice unless I salt it.

You might check to see if your cutting edge is reversible. Mine was quite worn and I needed to flip it over.

This picture is from before it was flipped over. I thought I had some pix of what it was like after, but I couldn't find them.

 

[KubotainNH]

Sounds like you have the issue resolved but I have a couple thoughts. I have a hard plastic or nylon edge on my fisher plow, that seems to works well. Seeing you have a concrete drive, I would stay away from a metal blade unless you don't mind seeing rust stains from the metal blade wearing down and leaving filings. I like the rubber edge idea for your setup.

 

[timswi]

I use the conveyer belt method. i bought 2 pieces of 1/8 x2" steel from Lowes. Welded them together to create a 6 foot piece. Clamped it to the cutting edge and drilled apx 6 holes through both. Then cut a piece of conveyer belt apx 5" wide by 6 ft. Centered it so that it can be flipped over when it wears out. Drilled through that using the home made bar as a guide and attached between the cutting edge and the mome made piece using stanless bolts.

Doesn't tear up gravel 9once frozen) and won't scratch paved driveways. Does a great job on sonw. Wont scrape up packed snow or ice, but I try to get the driveways cleared before that happens.

Can post pictures if anyone is interested.

Here is the machine prior to me adding this.