Snow Snow blower wheels on front mounted 60" blower

[expedoman55]

I have a 60" new holland front mount snowblower on my boomer tractor. I blow 4 family driveways that are all in excess of 15' wide and 200' long. Over the last 8 years I have worn through 2 sets of skids..

I am considering mounting a pair of trailer jack caster wheels (with crank for adjustment ) to each side vs skids thinking the wheels would at least turn most of the timve on the blacktop vs drag. Has anyone mounted caster wheels vs skids on a blower or plow for that matter? Of course I would mount them so the wheel would pivot 360 degrees for turns and reversing.

Any suggestions would be appreciated from you experienced fabricators. Any reasons why this would not work?

 

[expedoman55]

So none of you vets have any suggestions or dos and don'ts? Bump

 

[Toyboy]

I've seen wheels mounted on the back of some hi way plows. I don't see any reason why it would not work. Determining the best mounting position and height so you could get the most adjustment out of them, is the only tricky thing I can see. I think it's a great mod.

 

[aczlan]

I don't think you will be happy with a trailer jack as the wheels are not made to run like that. Otherwise, it seems like a decent idea.

Aaron Z

 

[PILOON]

I'd suspect that you'll want something more like the wheels used on bushhogs as on a blower you want the spacing to be constant which rules out any pneumatics.
Still think skids is best way for a blower.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd suspect that you'll want something more like the wheels used on bushhogs as on a blower you want the spacing to be constant which rules out any pneumatics.
Still think skids is best way for a blower.

I agree...


But if you do try wheels, I do suggest you get a type you can lock in position. Caster wheels tend to rotate (take the path of least resistance) and they do bind up occasionally. I'd also go for as large a diameter wheel (up to 10-12 inches) as you can fit.

 

[Baby Grand]

I think you'll need to caster mount them so they can swivel. Since, if they can't pivot into the direction of travel, then whenever you turn they will have a sliding as well as a rolling component to their motion. This sliding motion will cause accelerated wear on the wheels from abrasive surfaces. Also, if the wheels can't orient themselves to go in the direction of travel and you run across a raised object, the side of the wheel can catch on the object and put a huge side load on the wheel and its axle and mounting structure. Personally, I'd go with those mushroom skids you see on snowplows, but if you really think wheels are the way to go, then look for the kind they mount on brush hogs, like Piloon suggested. They are built for the kind of motion and loads that supporting a snow blower would serve up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've often thought of doing the same thing. I really don't think the wheels need to castor though. I was just going to make them easy to adjust up and down and let them skid around the curves, In the meantime I added wider skid plates onto the factory shoes on my 59" John Deere and am quite happy with the results. I made them three times as wide and about twice as long and have a lot less trouble leaving the gravel where it belongs.

I'm wondering if in your case you might be happy with a sacrificial piece of plastic as a skid. I'm sure someone reading this will know what type to use.

 

[HEC]

I've often thought of doing the same thing. I really don't think the wheels need to castor though. I was just going to make them easy to adjust up and down and let them skid around the curves, In the meantime I added wider skid plates onto the factory shoes on my 59" John Deere and am quite happy with the results. I made them three times as wide and about twice as long and have a lot less trouble leaving the gravel where it belongs.

I'm wondering if in your case you might be happy with a sacrificial piece of plastic as a skid. I'm sure someone reading this will know what type to use.

I think the wider skid plates or the mushroom type is a grand idea . I will add the wider ones this up coming summer on mine as I have gravel to contend with also . This winter so far has been bad as things freeze, thaw out over and over . I think the freeze we are in now may continue though even though my drive is half ice now .

 

[art]

Black top driveways I wouldn't be running any skid shoes and I'd only be wearing out the cutting edge and the blacktop would be shining through when I got done. About one cutting edge a year and driveways that would have others calling you for the job you did!

 

[haroldy]

you might try a high densityplastic rivetted to the skid plates to reduce wear

 

[bigtiller]

Black top driveways I wouldn't be running any skid shoes and I'd only be wearing out the cutting edge and the blacktop would be shining through when I got done. About one cutting edge a year and driveways that would have others calling you for the job you did!

I tried that years ago with the blower on a JD 318 garden tractor. It worked just like you said until I came to a construction joint in the concrete. There was only 4 inches of snow so I was moving a little fast when I hit that joint and came to a dead stop. Twisted my thumb, belly banged the steering wheel, spilled my coffee and broke 6 bolts that hold the scraper bar on.

I have properly adjusted skids on every blower I've owned since.

 

[The Fred]

On my second season with my contraption and can't say enough good about the wheel setup. Was not cheap to make but works oh so well, no casters needed just smooth tires from a commercial Toro ZTR mower. Snow lubricates and they simply slide around.

Good luck, Fred

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Now that's a great setup, Fred... :thumbsup: front and rear !

 

[expedoman55]

On my second season with my contraption and can't say enough good about the wheel setup. Was not cheap to make but works oh so well, no casters needed just smooth tires from a commercial Toro ZTR mower. Snow lubricates and they simply slide around.

Good luck, Fred

Fred that is awesome. Great job. That is somewhat what I was trying to accomplish
Just not as fancy. I don't typically have a need to adjust the height other than lift it up completely for transport. Awesome job.. I sure wish I could keep my tractor so tidy and clean..

 

[pmsmechanic]

Oh man why do you guys put up all these good ideas? Now I'm going to have to spend some more money!!

This is what I had envisioned for when I do my snowblower. I don't think I'll need the hydraulics but....ah who am I kidding! Great job.

 

[Sean2202]

On my second season with my contraption and can't say enough good about the wheel setup. Was not cheap to make but works oh so well, no casters needed just smooth tires from a commercial Toro ZTR mower. Snow lubricates and they simply slide around.

Good luck, Fred

This video was unavailable. Is there another way to view it?

 

[Cycledude]

This video was unavailable. Is there another way to view it?

I would also love to see the video !

 

[oosik]

Two sets of skids in 8 years of use - that's not bad at all. JMHO - but most any type of wheel arrangement will just be a PITA. How will you mount them - how will they be adjusted - are the wheels truly designed to operate in the snow. I can see the wheels turned sideways and "skuffed off" on the first driveway.

I would get or have made - wider & longer set of skids. Have HI-FAX installed on the skid bottoms. I think HI-FAX is a type of high density polyethylene.

We used it on the track rail bottoms when we raced snow machines. It would easily last thru a 600 mile race.

 

[07wingnut]

Wheels works great when the ground is not frozen. They are adjustable in 1/2 inch increments, but raised when the ground is frozen, so the snowblower is then on skids.