"Guide Wheels" on Front Blade Update

[OkieG]

\"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

About a year ago I posted a thread on guide wheels for a front blade/snow blade
<font color="red">"Guide Wheels" replace Skid Shoes on Front Blade</font>

Here's a picture from last year with wheels mounted on the blade:

These small solid tires are just not sturdy enough for the weight of the blade. Dry runs on the pavement to just check the system out was tearing the tires up pretty bad. Last weekend I remounted the brackets on the blade to accomodate larger tires. Here's the result:

I hope these tires will hold up better. No snow yet, to try 'em out.

OkieG

 

[PineRidge]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

OkieG just a side note but you can get most air filled tires foam filled. It will prevent future flats and support weight easier. The ones we had filled on our RFM were about 10 bucks apiece. They track better over uneven ground now as well.

So how do the wheels work on the blade? yes, no, maybe? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Okieg.... your posting was timely for me, as I have been contemplating putting wheels on my front fel mounted snow plow for better control. After pushing around 20 inches of snow last weekend, my conclusion is that the blade works great on pavement (my county road) , but on my gravel drive I pick up too much gravel, so end up using my back blade going backwards....this is at least for the first snowfall. If the drive gets packed down and frozen then no problem. I do have shoes, but I find they just dig furrows in the gravel.

I am wondering where you got your second set of wheels/casters....and how big are they ... 10 " ???

I also am wondering how the wheels work for you...versus shoes or not having them.

sassafraspete

 

[MossRoad]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Funny thing here... the Power Trac snow blades have caster wheels and several owners have swapped them out for skid shoes!

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Junkman]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )</font>

Correction:..... the snow is always whiter on the other side of the road....... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Freds]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

I like the looks of that second set of wheels.
I use my rear blade going in both directions, so I mounted my wheels further from the blade to allow them to swivel and in case I don't lift the blade when I switch directions.
Your setup looks like it would work very well and with a front blade you probably don't need the tires to spin, unless you backdrag...

 

[sassafraspete]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

I am starting to think in another direction....as the snow just very well may be whiter on the other side of the drift.

I liked the idea someone had of fitting a pipe over his cutting edge, which seemed good to me...but outside my capabilities.

I am thinking now about mounting a 2X4 or 2X6, 6' oak board, rounded edges, to my skid shoes. This would give more surface area to slide on, and would keep the shoes from digging into the gravel.

 

[Zork]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Looks like your first set didnt have enough caster to them. In other words they wont correct themselves properly and quickly enough. The second set must have a greater distance from the blade otherwise they will jam. Or so it appears. They look like they have enough caster or "angle to do the trick though /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Zork]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Pete, how is it going? I think that you would need something the size of a go cart tire. A beam will eventually plow ant take your gravel to some degree. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Franz...if you need any snow I can ship some east to ya. We are in for a big melt down now though. Are you still enjoying your tractor? I think you may be right about the beam, I'd still pick up some gravel with the beam. These plows are very heavy, as they should be and do great on pavement with/ or without the shoes. On gravel however...another story. I think OkieG's 2nd wheels look to be a good size. Initially, thought I could just pick up a set of casters and fit into the shoe holders...but there wouldn't be enough clearance to swing around if going backwards, so would require some reengineering. But the truth of it is.... they would probably be OK since 90 percent of my front blade usage is in going forward.

Just had another thought.... going back to the pipe idea... however take a 6 foot piece and then weld 2 upright pieces that would fit into the shoe holders...so instead of having 2 individual shoes, you'd have this horizontal pipe, which you could lower down and it would hopefully ride over the gravel without digging in. Bigger pipe diameter, would work better.

 

[Zork]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

I think that those tires look like the ones in TSC. If they are, they arent rated but for 300 lbs (and I think that its in pairs) plus you need to check each individual wheel bearing for smooth operation. I checked a bunch that were real coarse and they froze in my hand as I turned them. Your pipe idea is good and you would have to keep your runner (pipe) parallel with your tractor, I think, to prevent the edge from slicing, unless it was turned up. If you went completely across the blade all you would have to do is change the pitch (uncurl your bucket platform) and it would get closer to the road. Once you establish a depth it would be smooth sailing, as in leaving from your igloo. Or you could make a larger "ski" or shoe for your blade by welding a wider plate or shoe on it so that it has a greater tendancy to surf or float, say 2- 12X12X 1/4" plate with the edges turnd up . My tractor is doing good. Ive been thinking of a 4 way bucket or grapple. I think that I could make one cheaper I think. (its making it look professional that will cost me an arm and a leg...lol) Im going to put wheel weights on soon and one day get to putting a plate underneath to protect all the plastic things underneath. I've got about 85 hours on it now and Im still happy. No buyers remorse....yet. Ill wait for that snow /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Some good points Franz, as usual. The idea of using larger feet on the shoes might be a good one. Seems like something I could try fairly easily without welding....eg have a fab shop round up the edges on 12 x 12... and bolt them to the shoes (I don't have a welder ).

One issue I have is that I don't have a diverter valve / front remote set-up....so I just set the curl angle, then unhook those hoses and plug in the plow angle hoses. Therefore, I haven't tried different angles of attack to see if that helps.

On the pipe idea, I was thinking it would ride parallel to blade, but round up or bend up ends somehow to keep them from digging in.

OkieG, sorry not meaning to hyjack your thread, but your good post has my wheels turning...or not turning .....

sassafraspete

 

[Zork]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Hi Pete. Try it it might work just fine. I'd like to know. I have a gravel drive as well and I would someday like a plow but for now I use my bucket /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Pete, don't let me discourage you, necessity is the mother of invention. If I have something good, you might want to modify it and use it or if its not good, throw it out and ignore it. Hope one day I will see " SASSAFRASPETE's easy change gravel less plow tube" on this forum /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif P.S. Since I'm a newby, is there a rule about responding to someone elses post that they themselves have posted to? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Jim sorry if I helped hijack someone elses post.

 

[ACMan]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Just a thought.

Woods makes a roller, about 8-10" long. Its designed to go on the front of a 6' finishing mower. It looks like the rollers used to feed wood into a planer, table saw, etc. When the mower hits a high spot the roller lifts the edge enough to prevent scalping. It must be heavy duty to support a 72" Woods finish mower mostly in impact situations. Also some older garden tractors like Simplicity and AC used them on the back of the mower deck to keep the back up. Two on each side of the back of the blade with two brackets on each side of the roller. Or 1 in the middle in back of the blade. Or you could set it up like the wheels so it swivels. It may not gouge the gravel.

 

[Zork]

Re: \"Guide Wheels\" on Front Blade Update

Thats a good idea ACMAN, although I think it would still have to be set on a substantial caster inorder to prevent an "angled" blade from "shaving" it on a surface running parallel to the tractor. It would probably work better on paved surface since the roller would have to be such a large diameter so as to induce a "floating" or "skiing" over the gravel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif