snowplow shoes on a rear blade setup??

12pack · Oct 1, 2012

I did a search..............

I would like to keep my rear blade from digging into my blacktop driveway.

I have been using the rear blade for a few years and every fall I say I gotta do something.

What do you guys recommend? snowplow type shoes welded or bolted or something better?

Pics would be great also.

Thanks

sixdogs · Oct 1, 2012

I used the round snowplow shoes from Tractor Supply and they work great. I had to weld a piece of round tube stock to the frame to mount the shoes but it was an easy job.

msb1766 · Oct 1, 2012

I took off my both my side links and replaces them with some chain, now the blade floats left to right.

MikeInEburg · Oct 1, 2012

msb1766 said:
I took off my both my side links and replaces them with some chain, now the blade floats left to right.

Did almost the same thing - but only replaced one side with chain. Blade floats left/right just fine. This made a HUGE difference in operations.

tthopskin@yahoo.ca · Oct 1, 2012

if you want a nice clean drive leave them off ,,,the ground is frozen you good to go

RoyJackson · Oct 2, 2012

Not an uncommon problem...
One easy thing to do is reverse the blade so you're pushing or pulling (if you drive in a forward gear) with the convex side of the blade. Much less chance of digging into the blacktop.
Some TBNers install a non-metallic scraper on the bottom edge of the blade...this would be a 4 to 6 inch strip mounted the full width of the blade.
The shoes would work too, but you won't be scraping the drive clear to the asphalt.

sixdogs · Oct 2, 2012

MikeInEburg said:
Did almost the same thing - but only replaced one side with chain. Blade floats left/right just fine. This made a HUGE difference in operations.

Can you explain more on how or why this works? I don't understand why it should make a difference but apparently I am the last to know.

MtnViewRanch · Oct 2, 2012

sixdogs said:
Can you explain more on how or why this works? I don't understand why it should make a difference but apparently I am the last to know.

Your 3pt arms always float upwards. they are fastened together, so if one goes up, the other also goes up. By having one of the arms able to move independently, then both are able to move separately. Some tractors have an optional floating slot built into the side link clevises. You change the position of the clevis pin and the arm is then allowed to float a few inches independently of the opposite arm.

bobm6996 · Oct 2, 2012

I welded the round shoes to my blade, but still had issues with marking up my paved driveway at times. So, I went to TSC and purchased a 3/4" thick rubber horse mat that is 4'x6'. I cut a strip of the mat about 8" wide the 6' length, removed the steel cutter from the blade and replaced it with the rubber strip allowing it to be about 3" below the steel on the blade. The rubber strip is thick and will move the snow down to the pavement without leaving any marks. I don't even have to drop the shoes down to keep the blade up. Works great except if there is 2 to 3 inches of ice, which we had two years, nothing works for that except sunshine.