Caster wheel kit for snow blade

[ernemats]

Is the caster wheel kit for the snow blade worth the money?? Does anyone who has it think it works better than the blade without the wheels?

 

[ClintBlake]

I have used the blade with and without the wheels. I personally think it works better with the wheels although the wheels that come with the PT implements leave something to be desired. (Just graduated from finishing school otherwise I would have said they suck) I replaced the wheels on my blade with some ZTR mower deck wheels I found at Northern. They are a little smaller in diameter but seem to work just fine. I haven't been able to roll them of the rim yet.

 

[Gravy]

I've done well enough plowing snow without the wheels. If I were looking to upgrade, I'd adapt skids from a commercial snow plow. I'd want something that supports the blade just behind the scraping edge. Wheels don't do that real well.

 

[MossRoad]

Is the caster wheel kit for the snow blade worth the money?? Does anyone who has it think it works better than the blade without the wheels?

If you have any gravel or dirt drives to clear snow from, the wheels make a huge difference. I have tried it without my wheels in my crushed limestone on days when the ground isn't frozen and ended up with a bunch of limestone in my lawn. With the wheels, you can keep the plow in float and the blade an inch or two above the gravel and not have to worry about it.

 

[American Bulldog]

I have used the blade with and without the wheels. I personally think it works better with the wheels although the wheels that come with the PT implements leave something to be desired. (Just graduated from finishing school otherwise I would have said they suck) I replaced the wheels on my blade with some ZTR mower deck wheels I found at Northern. They are a little smaller in diameter but seem to work just fine. I haven't been able to roll them of the rim yet.

I know on the 1460 attachments that they are now filling the tires with foam. Perhaps they have actually listened to the complaints?

 

[ernemats]

My driveway is all gravel and I always end up with a lot of chips in my grass. I have 2 skids off an old snow plow and I might end up using them if I can figure out a way to mount them to the blade.

 

[ClintBlake]

I think skids would be the best. I have a set of the foam filled tires and they are too soft and spongy to be of much use on the snow plow. The ZTR castor tires/wheels I found at Northern have very stiff side walls and work pretty well when sufficiently inflated. I plow a long driveway and 1 mile of road. Like Moss, if I don't use the wheels I put gravel in the grass and then my neighbors get upset (another nice substitute word).

 

[BobRip]

I think skids would be the best. I have a set of the foam filled tires and they are too soft and spongy to be of much use on the snow plow. The ZTR castor tires/wheels I found at Northern have very stiff side walls and work pretty well when sufficiently inflated. I plow a long driveway and 1 mile of road. Like Moss, if I don't use the wheels I put gravel in the grass and then my neighbors get upset (another nice substitute word).

What model number of wheels did you use? A picture would be nice. I am so glad you finally went to finishing school. I did that to, but it did not take.

 

[ClintBlake]

Item 13544. Two reviews on them, 1 good, 1 not good. I decided to take a chance out of frustration with the PT tires. So far I am satisfied. The link is:
Deck Caster for Lawn Tractor — 9in. x 3.50-4 | Lawn Mower Wheels | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[MossRoad]

I think we need to settle on solid tires, not foam filled tires. Mine are solids, not foam filled. I like them so much I move them back and forth between my brush hog, mower deck and snow plow.

As I have mentioned before, I got them a long time ago from a company that specializes in casters and hand trucks. They are solid tires for heavy duty hand trucks. The axle hole was 1/8" too wide a diameter, so they supplied a bushing to accommodate the PT 1/2" axle bolt.

You guys should look for a company like this in your area where you can take your current wheel in for comparison in person.

 

[Arnie_T]

Here in the Tug Hill region of NY--there are a lot of gravel driveways-- one local trick is to attach a piece of round iron pipe below or instead of the cutting blade. This is used until you get a good level base of ice packed snow going--and then you can remove the pipe. The upside is you limit divits in the lawn and you don't drag gravel or driveway gravel mix around. The down side is you may have to spread some sand during the notorious January thaw if it gets too icy--and you might have a bit of a challenge in the spring thaw until total melt. Here the snow can start in October and be gone near or into April

I just welded 3 ears to the pipe and attached to the plow through the two outer and one center cutting edge attachment bolt holes. Simple to attach or remove as necessary.

 

[ernemats]

I tried the pipe last year and it worked good. The pipe I used was 2 " plastic gas line pipe , I just slit it the full length and slid it over the plow. Like I said it worked good but it would not last very long as the gravel wore the pipe thin and then it would not stay on the blade. Your idea sounds better.