Antique snow blade shoes/ skids

[flgudmusic]

Hullooo!
This is my first post here, in fact it's one of my first forum posts ever, anywhere, soooo, I'm not even sure where I'm supposed to be posting. I've acquired a Farmall 200(1955) as my very first tractor and am now on a mission to deal with it correctly.
I know nada about ag tractors BUT have spent a large portion of my working life operating construction equipment/ tractors, etc.. My tractor has a 6' snow blade on the front which has 1 broken & 1 deformed plow shoe/ skid. I live in the 'lake effect' snow belt of upstate ny, and have a neighbor who insists that I should keep & use the machine to plow my very long driveway. OK, sounds good but then he walked away, leaving me to wonder how in heck I'm gonna be a tractor owner/ operator, never having been one before.
The snow/ dozer blade skids are shot and he told me how he fabbed some for his 'cubby', and walked away again. AHEM!..... I neither have the ability nor the facility to 'fab' plow shoes or anything else for that matter!!! He also mentioned another time that I would need tire chains and again walked away leaving me wunnerin' where to get THAT knowledge in order to procure said chains. Needless to say, I haven't a clue where to start, inasmuch as he & his son while wearing their tractor hats n shirts kinda smirk as they watch me stumble and wallow in my own ignorance, waddling back to their smug-a**ed world.
NOW I come here hoping maybe someone can give me an idea where to start as far as making my grand ol' red machine a functioning part of my own world.
I'm going to post a pic of the distorted/ bent-up remaing plow blade shoe/ skid and ask if anyone has ever seen these before and are they something that I could buy somewhere or are they a critter that I have to have someone 'make' for me. Any answer beyond the haaalf-a**ed neighbor thing would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx, Pat aka flgudmusic

oh yeah, IF I AM in the wrong forum, would someone please direct me in the right direction? Thanx Again

 

[DJ54]

I'll assume that is a front blade made by IH for the 200, from the looks of that shoe. I'm also assuming that shoe is nmade for several different blades. I checked Case/IH online parts store for a a shoe for the Cub. It shows the mas not being available. But, when I did a search on the part number, did find a new old stock set for $64.00. I'm sure a local fab shop could make you one for less.

The bad thing about shoes, is it only keeps the ends of the blade from gouging in. If you have a stone driveway, with a crown, you'll be plowing gravel off to the side. On the other hand, you could one up your neighbor, by doing what many of us have done. I've attached a picture of what I put on mine.


I used 1-1/4" pipe, and took my plasma cutter, and cut a slot wide enough to fit over the cutting edge. Then welded tabs to it, on both sides of the slit, securing it to the moldboard. It will plow snow off, and not gouge in. Although if it's not frozen underneath, it still has enough weight, it will take a bit of gravel off. I'd be willing to say if you have shoes in the same case, it would be worse, they also will sink in.

As easy as this was to make, I'm guessing a fab shop could make you this, for about the same price as that shoe.

And yes, chains are pretty much needed. TSC used to sell them, but would have to be ordered I'd imagine. There are more than several sites online that sell them to. You'll just have to do some searching, and shop for the best price, on comparable chains. The tough part may be finding 36" chains,although some may make a special set, to order. It may be a good time to do a search on Craigslist in your area, or post a wanted ad on there. You never know, someone may have a set laying around they don't need anymore, because of selling a tractor.

Hopefully, it does have a set of rear wheel weights, or the tires are loaded. A little extra rear weight goes a long way, for added traction. Weights can be found at tractor salvage yards, or small independent equipment dealers. I've hardly have seen any that didn't have a pile of wheel weights laying back in a corner somewhere. And IH weights are pretty common, and easy to find.