Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Frontier AF12 Front Blade Skids

[corey9212]

Hello, I was getting my front blade ready for the snow season (this is my first time using it) I put the skids on their lowest setting but they don't touch the ground when the blade is put into the float position (there is a good 1.5"-2" before they are on the ground and I would like them so the blade is 1" off the ground until a hard base is established), what can I do to fix it so I don't take the gravel with me when I push the snow.

Also any tips on using a front blade to push snow?
Thank you.

 

[FatTire]

If you tilt the top of the blade back a bit (like you'd curl the bucket back), can the skid shoes touch the ground, or get close?

 

[corey9212]

If you tilt the top of the blade back a bit (like you'd curl the bucket back), can the skid shoes touch the ground, or get close?

No, I tried curling it back as far as it can go (keeping the frame it's attached to off the ground) and there is still lots of clearance between the skids and the ground.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm curious about this...

When you put the loader in Float, is the loader hitting it's stops before the blade (and skid shoes) can touch the ground?. What happens if you push the control to dump rather then curl?
And rather then float, do the shoes touch when not in float? (doubt it, since I think you're hitting the loader stops).
Does the blade touch the ground if the skid shoes weren't adjusted down? Even if it doesn't touch the ground, is the cutting edge closer then the 1.5-2"?

It sounds like the blade or QA plate is misaligned to the loader frame. If so, that's a factory defect, based upon how you described it.

 

[corey9212]

I'm curious about this...

When you put the loader in Float, is the loader hitting it's stops before the blade (and skid shoes) can touch the ground?. What happens if you push the control to dump rather then curl?
And rather then float, do the shoes touch when not in float? (doubt it, since I think you're hitting the loader stops).
Does the blade touch the ground if the skid shoes weren't adjusted down? Even if it doesn't touch the ground, is the cutting edge closer then the 1.5-2"?

It sounds like the blade or QA plate is misaligned to the loader frame. If so, that's a factory defect, based upon how you described it.

No it's not hitting it's stops, it goes down until the blade is on the ground. I could easily lift the front end of the tractor with the blade level. If I pushed it to dump the blade would lift the tractor up.
No they won't.

The cutting edge is firmly planted on the ground with the skids completely lowered.

I will take some pics today to show exact examples, but the blades frame is level with the tractor making the blade sit level and firmly on the ground (with the skids fully lowered.)
I curl the blade back far enough that the frame is pretty much sitting in the ground and the blade is facing up into the air and the skids still don't touch.

 

[RoyJackson]

No it's not hitting it's stops, it goes down until the blade is on the ground. I could easily lift the front end of the tractor with the blade level. If I pushed it to dump the blade would lift the tractor up.
No they won't.

The cutting edge is firmly planted on the ground with the skids completely lowered.

I will take some pics today to show exact examples, but the blades frame is level with the tractor making the blade sit level and firmly on the ground (with the skids fully lowered.)
I curl the blade back far enough that the frame is pretty much sitting in the ground and the blade is facing up into the air and the skids still don't touch.

.
Sounds like the skid shoe mounts are mislocated...too high on the blade

 

[corey9212]

Here is some pics. As you can see in the last 4 pics the blade is at the height I would like it to be to start with but the frame would be scrapping the ground.

 

[RoyJackson]

Here is some pics. As you can see in the last 4 pics the blade is at the height I would like it to be to start with but the frame would be scrapping the ground.

It looks like you could roll your loader (dump) a bit to get the loader frame off the ground. However, that wouldn't help with your skid shoes. With the skid shoe pins (that pin going through the plow brackets) you have, there is not adequate adjustment (looks like you're maxed out already). You need longer pins. There is a possibility the plow's cutting edge might be mislocated too.
I'd contact your dealer (place you bought the plow from) and get their opinion. They may agree with my assessment or come up with one of their own....or a fix for you.

 

[corey9212]

It looks like you could roll your loader (dump) a bit to get the loader frame off the ground. However, that wouldn't help with your skid shoes. With the skid shoe pins (that pin going through the plow brackets) you have, there is not adequate adjustment (looks like you're maxed out already). You need longer pins. There is a possibility the plow's cutting edge might be mislocated too.
I'd contact your dealer (place you bought the plow from) and get their opinion. They may agree with my assessment or come up with one of their own....or a fix for you.

That's what I thought too (pins too short or cutting edge too long or mislocated.) I will see what the dealer says about it.

 

[Deerherd]

Something looks funny with the bolt on edge. Most are reversible and rarely do you see heads sticking up like that on the leading edge. The holes are visibly closer to one edge and it appears if you were to reverse it, that would allow your skid shoes to hit. Things that make you go hmmmm......

 

[corey9212]

Something looks funny with the bolt on edge. Most are reversible and rarely do you see heads sticking up like that on the leading edge. The holes are visibly closer to one edge and it appears if you were to reverse it, that would allow your skid shoes to hit. Things that make you go hmmmm......

This one is reversible too so I imagine the other side will look the same as this side. I thought the heads sticking out were odd as well. I've thought about flipping it upside down (short edge on the bottom but then I would have to replace the blade sooner as the edge is that much shorter to begin with.) also the AF11 blade the manual shows its curved and streamlined into the blade where the AF12 is just a rectangular chunk of metal with holes in it that sticks out in front.

 

[RoyJackson]

Any response from your Deere dealer?

 

[Deerherd]

This one is reversible too so I imagine the other side will look the same as this side. I thought the heads sticking out were odd as well. I've thought about flipping it upside down (short edge on the bottom but then I would have to replace the blade sooner as the edge is that much shorter to begin with.) also the AF11 blade the manual shows its curved and streamlined into the blade where the AF12 is just a rectangular chunk of metal with holes in it that sticks out in front.

When I said reversible I meant flipping it upside down like you said, short edge down. Most replaceable blades are like that, just the holes are centered in the middle of the cutting edge. I wonder if it came pre drilled to the dealer. Does the manual show the holes in the center of the cutting edge or off to one side?

 

[corey9212]

Any response from your Deere dealer?

The dealer still insists it's how it's supposed to be his quote was "It's to prevent it from digging too deep" but what about if I don't want it to dig at all? Plus this blade is not meant for digging if you even try to move hard dirt you trigger the trip springs.

When I said reversible I meant flipping it upside down like you said, short edge down. Most replaceable blades are like that, just the holes are centered in the middle of the cutting edge. I wonder if it came pre drilled to the dealer. Does the manual show the holes in the center of the cutting edge or off to one side?

That's what I'm used to seeing for reversible blades (the holes drilled in the center.) tomorrow I will try flipping the blade and see what happens if not it seems my options so far is drill new holes in the middle of the blade or weld on extensions to the skids, which sucks cause you spend all this money on a blade just to have to modify it right off the bat.

 

[Deerherd]

I found the brochure online and it shows the holes in the center and it says it's reversible. I think it's page 5. I would show this to the dealer and remind him that the skid shoes also help the blade not dig in.

Frontier Loader Attachments

 

[corey9212]

I found the brochure online and it shows the holes in the center and it says it's reversible. I think it's page 5. I would show this to the dealer and remind him that the skid shoes also help the blade not dig in.

Frontier Loader Attachments

Thank you, the pics in that brochure should give me what I need to prove to my dealer that something is wrong with the blade.

 

[JordanFTW]

I agree, those holes should be in the center of that edge. I would make Deer give you a truly reversible edge.

Also, other manufacturers do make longer shoes if you need them.