Snow plow wheels vs skids

[OffGrid2009]

Argosy -- I've been plowing snow, but moving a lot of gravel, too. I was trying to choose among narrow skid-shoes, "upside-down mushroom" skids, and wheels for my old Leinback SO-7 blade. I'm no hand at welding (...I know, I gotta learn), and so far I hadn't found any ready-made skids or wheels for my blade. It never crossed my mind to spin the blade and shorten the top-link. I think as long as I get out there before the snow gets too deep, it should work. I'm not positive the snow will slide down the blade past the supports if it gets too deep. But I'm sure going to give it a try. THANKS!!

 

[Adventureman]

On the news that we are just about to get 12-16 inches of fresh heavy snow (Nor'Easter) and with no snow on the driveway and the crushed gravel has thawed a few inches over the past few weeks, I decided to take the little factory mounted flat skids on my frontend snowblower on my BX23 and mount some chopped off alpine skis. I cut off about 30 inches from the tips and drilled holes in the skid plates. Then clamped the skid plate to the now shortened ski and drilled through the holes I had just drilled into the skid plate. Bolted the shortened ski to the skid plate with two 1 inch x 3/8 carriage bolts. Rebolted the new setup back onto the snowblower and it looks pretty slick. The ski tips curl up just in front of the blower with the same curve of the auger. If I paint it Kubota Orange, ya might think it was factory! :laughing:

Just finished it in about an hour! I knew the old straight edged alpine skis would come in handy for something! I'll post a progress report tomorrow during or after the snowstorm. AND maybe get a picture or two!

I might have to add spacers in between the leading edge of the snowblower and the skis to give more lift. Right now the skis only give about a quarter inch rise and I don't know of any driveway that's perfectly level.

 

[devildog1]

Don't believe it as I see no picture!
Devildog

 

[JerryK]

Now, with those new alpine ski skids, do you have to yodel whilst you are snow blowing ????

 

[zmansmac]

I modified a Land Pride 6 ft back blade to hook up to my loader arms. I bought the heavy duty mushroom shaped skids originally. But after 1 season of use when the gravel drive thawed the skids just dug into the gravel. The next season I went to 10 inch swivel pneumatic tires on each side. That was 7 seasons ago and it's still one of the best mods I've made. I understand some guys cut a slot in a piece of PVC or metal pipe and put on the edge of their bucket for plowing on gravel. But I suppose that could also work on the edge of a back or front blade as well.

JohnZ
B7500

 

[Adventureman]

I'll have to figure out how to get pics up of the alpine ski mod when daylight comes around. And yes, I do yodel.... thankfully the BX23 is so loud at full throttle the neighbors cannot hear me.

I have to say it worked like a charm! I only spit out less than a handful of gravel while doing the whole driveway(150ft x 20ft on a slope). It was weird not getting ALL the snow because I'm used to pushing the blower all the way down and lifting the front wheels so it would be near bare surface after each pass. What was left was about a half inch of snow which quickly melted in a couple hours.

Sure enough, today's sun melted a lot.... I could have left 3 inches of snow and it would have been gone by 3pm.

The snow was a thick settled wet pasty type so I seemed to push some of it while moving forward but most got sucked up and out as it should. Can't wait to try it on colder deeper snow!

I like the pneumatic tire idea and may try it because I just found a set of 10inch tires behind the trash cans and I could mount them on the sides of the auger chute. Guess I just can't throw some 'useful' stuff away. :laughing:

 

[irvingj]

Yeah, Adventureman, let's see those pics!

I also tried to come up with a way to deal with the wet, heavy stuff on top of a soft gravel drive.... my solution was "free" (had some 5" casters laying around), but wasn't entirely successful.

It did help some, and might be quite useful next winter, but I like your skis idea!

I took my skids and flipped them upside down to mount the casters; however, the casters are a bit too narrow to prvent sinking in, if the ground is really soft. They'd probably be fine if the drive was firmer.

 

[Adventureman]

FINALLY! I have to find an easier way to get pics from my camera onto my laptop.

Anyways.... here's the pics I promised.

 

[henrysMFGC2310TBL]

I should have kept the old Sidoo skis for the blower I am trying to use, I will be on the lookout for some more.

 

[devildog1]

WoW I stand corrected you do have pictures, my hats off to you, glad it works for you.
DevilDog