Plow Newbie - Skid Shoe Setting??

[mosely23]

Ok. Waiting for the storm. Took all day to get the freaking grill guard off, but finally mounted the hydraulic blade to my bx24. I am plowing 1/4 mile paved driveway (very hilly w/ rough uneven pavement in parts) and an 1/8 mile hard packed gravel driveway.

I realized I have absolutely no clue how to set the skid shoes or whether to use them at all? I ended up w/ 3 washers on top and 5 on bottom? Someone please educate me before I break something (preferably not the driveway or the tractor). Thanks to all in advance. This forum is awesome.

 

[Lockport]

Ok. Waiting for the storm. Took all day to get the freaking grill guard off, but finally mounted the hydraulic blade to my bx24. I am plowing 1/4 mile paved driveway (very hilly w/ rough uneven pavement in parts) and an 1/8 mile hard packed gravel driveway.

I realized I have absolutely no clue how to set the skid shoes or whether to use them at all? I ended up w/ 3 washers on top and 5 on bottom? Someone please educate me before I break something (preferably not the driveway or the tractor). Thanks to all in advance. This forum is awesome.

When all else fails, read the instructions.

 

[mosely23]

I tried! But they were useless as they just say to move the spacers around depending on how you want to adjust

 

[rpoage]

I think the reason the instructions don't have a setting is that it depends on a lot of factors; driveway material, road crown, and how picky you are. I set mine like I set my snow blower, as low as I can go without damaging the driveway. It will be higher on gravel and lower on asphalt. I have both to deal with so I have about 3/8th" clearance, but if I was just dealing with my asphalt driveway I would go with 1/8th".

I’ve got truck plow experience but this tractor thing is new to me. You mentioned it took a while to get the plow on. Did you have as much fun as I did getting the correct hydraulic line on the correct Hydraulic fitting? Mounting was easy for me but I did try about 10 combinations of hook-ups before I got everything to work.

 

[easygo]

When I plowed in previous seasons with an ATV I changed the skid shoe positions as my gravel driveway's condition changed. When gravel is not frozen I gave it about 3/4" clearance and later in the season as things froze rock hard I set about 1/8". It is not an exact science, but that worked for me pretty good. This is my first season with th tractor an I plan on trying th same method until I find that some other way works better. Start with more then you think is enough clearance. It is easier to plow the snow again, then putting th gravel back on th driveway.

 

[AMR]

On my paved driveway I set my skid shoes so you can't slide a piece of paper between it and the pavement. It won't damage the asphalt unless there is a lip or some other irregularity to catch.