Snow pusher

[JbirdNC]

I have been accused of overthinking my snow removal equipment for this location. My solution is a 6.5’ plow adapted the jd quick attach loader on my 2520 tractor. A strip of rubber horsestall mat (tsc) and hydraulics off the loader remotes for power angle completed the project. Your tractor should handle a lot more plow! Good luck. View attachment 635920

I recently bought the horse stall mat at tractor supply but just took it back for a refund after a friend of mine who’s used tractors for a very long time said that the asphalt work will quickly eat through the horse stall mat and then I’m wasting my money. So, as someone who uses it for snow removal on concrete or asphalt, what are your impressions? Does it last? What would be the consequences if you didn’t use it? I thought about actually building a 2 x 8 to my scrape blade And using that as a snow pusher of sorts.

 

[farmeratheart]

Like I said in my earlier post that you quoted, we do not have to plow all that many snowfalls each year. Probably an average of 4 per year and I usually do my own and a couple of neighbors. Figure 12 drives at about 200’ each per year. The 6” strip I used for my back blade was still on it and usable when I sold it after 7 years of use. When I fabbed up the front plow I used 6” strips from the original mat. After 2 years they are still good as new.
YMMV!

Frank

 

[dodge man]

I think I got my edge off of Amazon. Here is a pic that sort of shows it. I took off the cutting edge and mounted this.

 

[chim]

Have a look at the thread”Rear blade rubber cutting edge” here in Snow Removal. Used tire tread will last longer than you will.

 

[CoyPatton]

I recently bought the horse stall mat at tractor supply but just took it back for a refund after a friend of mine who’s used tractors for a very long time said that the asphalt work will quickly eat through the horse stall mat and then I’m wasting my money. So, as someone who uses it for snow removal on concrete or asphalt, what are your impressions? Does it last? What would be the consequences if you didn’t use it? I thought about actually building a 2 x 8 to my scrape blade And using that as a snow pusher of sorts.

Asphalt and concrete (especially exposed gravel concrete) are hard on any wearable item that rubs on these surfaces. This will include your metal edge to your blade. Yes the metal is harder so will last longer but it will wear faster than in a less abrasive material. It is what it is and will continue to be so.
That said, you are putting a less expensive wear material in place to protect a much more expensive material.

On your horse stall mat.
1) with careful measurement, you should be able to cut it so that you get 2 wear surfaces out of each cut piece—remove it and flip it over much as you can do with a cutting edge on a blade.
2) you should get several disposable cut wear pieces from one horse mat.

I am cheap, and have always had gravel driveways, typically well compacted and rarely have snows that truly require plowing—light snows typically and warm enough temps that with sun it melts usually within 24 hrs. I am located in the southern midwest to northern mid-south. So my solution has always been to buy a 20’ piece of PVC pipe. My rear blade is 6’ wide so I can get 3 edge protectors for the blade from the 20’ pipe. I buy a pipe big enough diameter to when cut lengthwise it will slide onto the blade above the plow bolts for the replaceable cutting edge, I think it helps to keep the pipe on the blade, it may be me fooling myself. Cut a short notch on one end of the full length slot cut on the pipe align it with the bottom and one side of the rear blade and force the modified pipe onto the blade.
Set the blade on a 2x, and use a 2x to protect the end of the pipe, hit the 2x/pipe with a sledge hammer and drive her home.