Snow Snow Blade

[pajoube]

I have the 60-inch snow blade from PT. I tested this blade last week and have a few questions from others that have experience.
Going straight works great and does a very good job using the float position.
When I angle the blade, the outside edge will be lower and dig into the ground. Can this be corrected by adjusting one or more of the rings on the outside wheel? Seems this would cause a lot of stress on that wheel.
Or is there another method you are using that would be better when angle plowing.
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

Funny you should mention this... I just put our PT away with the snow blade on, after finishing mowing the leaves and repairing the brushhog. Next time I get it out, I'll take pictures.

My driveway is asphalt. I just set the joystick in float, adjust it to the angle that I need left or right, then adjust the tilt foreward or backward until the blade edge rests flat on the ground. The blade rides on the asphalt just fine and doesn't seem to do any damage. For our gravel section, I just tilt it up a little, but not much. Too much and I get the edge of the blade closest to the tractor will digging into the ground. For instance, with the blade angled to push snow to the right, the right corner will dig in.

I've never adjusted the spacers on the wheel posts.

 

[pajoube]

Go into float first, then adjust the angle and set blade forward or aft to get the level. I was doing all of that except adjust the blade forward or aft which I was doing prior to setting the angle.
Thanks
PJ

 

[pajoube]

Forgot to ask, are you going to install a rubber tip or leave the blade as is?. I am doing both asphalt and gravel.
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

I haven't had any problems with the blade marking up the ashpalt in two years of use. However, over half of our driveway is almost always iced over, as it runs parallel to the north side of the house. It never gets sun from about Nov 1st to March 1st. I do scrape down to the ashphalt on the other half. It works fine for now.

Perhaps I'll consider a rubber lip when we build our new house. We will probably have concrete that I don't want to marks up. But again, I really like asphalt. The blacktop looks so nice and the ice and snow melts off of it anytime the temp gets above 20. But it is not as durable as concrete. We'll just have to see what the budget allows.

 

[PTRich]

I got a piece of flat steel at home d. and bolted it to the bottom to use as a wear bar. I would like to switch to the rubber, I heard it puts less stress on the machinery because it gives a little. When you adjust your wheels you need to adjust both of them. Putting spacers on the bottom will push the leading angle edge down and putting them on the top will push the trailing edge down. You need to fiddle with it to find what works best for you. I have some pavement and a long gravel section. I like the trailing edge a little lower than the leading edge to keep a little crown. Also, if you adjust the leading edge with to much down you will quickly find out what the seat belt is for.

 

[pajoube]

Great information, thanks.
I am looking at mats right now and will try and get one to cut for placement on the blade. I probably will use a flat steel bar to hold the mat on.
PJ

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

PJ
One source of mats to slice for blade edges is stall mats from horse or horse trailer supply places. Of course, the exact same stuff is bound to be available somewhere a lot cheaper than if you mention the word "horse." For pricing, I think the inflation factor for <font color="red"> horse </font> is just above <font color="red"> boat </font> and just below <font color="red"> airplane </font>.

 

[pajoube]

I have been reading the horse stall mat thread which I found to be very interesting.
Never having owned a horse but have owned an airplane, I sure an agree with the inflated costs. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
PJ

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> One source of mats to slice for blade edges is stall mats from horse or horse trailer supply places. </font> So that's what those wonderful cheap mats are for. I've been using them for winter weight in my pickup for years. And for anti fatigue mats- they are much cheaper than the real thing. Right now I have one in the mud room as a door mat.

Sedgewood