Greg Cullison 76 #1 Posted January 18 What a challenge to plow snow over cobblestones. I used a walk behind last time with the shoes set at the highest level. I'm dying to use the Wheelhorse though. Obviously I can't let the blade down to hit every other cobblestone in the driveway so I took off the scraper blade and replaced with a thick pice of rubber from an old conveyor belt to close the gap. Might be able to test it tomorrow with the snow enroute... 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJ Hamner 1,017 #2 Posted January 18 Looking at the RADAR I would say you'll get your chance 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,336 #3 Posted January 18 (edited) 24 minutes ago, RJ Hamner said: Looking at the RADAR I would say you'll get your chance Radar? Edited January 18 by adsm08 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,454 #4 Posted January 18 1 hour ago, Greg Cullison said: replaced with a thick pice of rubber from an old conveyor belt Neat idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,654 #5 Posted January 18 That has merit... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,233 #6 Posted January 18 Great idea! But if I can make one suggestion, I’d get longer bolts and bolt the original cutting edge over the rubber. Sandwiching the rubber edge in place. I think the way you have it the rubber may tear after repeatedly being put under a load? 6 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,152 #7 Posted January 18 34 minutes ago, c-series don said: Great idea! But if I can make one suggestion, I’d get longer bolts and bolt the original cutting edge over the rubber. Sandwiching the rubber edge in place. I think the way you have it the rubber may tear after repeatedly being put under a load? And, maybe make it shorter so it doesn't fold under plus it would give a better lifted height. There's probably enough material there to make 2 and then each one could be flipped over when it wears down closer to the metal. 2 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 26,414 #8 Posted January 18 I would also tilt the blade top forward one adjustment hole, so the rubber drags more than digs... less likely to grab and bite... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,453 #9 Posted January 18 Some early Wheel Horse blades had skids to keep the edge from digging. If you could adapt those it might help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,795 #10 Posted January 18 PVC pipe sliced and slide over the cutting edge. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,661 #11 Posted January 19 17 minutes ago, squonk said: PVC pipe sliced and slide over the cutting edge. What size pipe did you use Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,233 #12 Posted January 19 31 minutes ago, squonk said: PVC pipe sliced and slide over the cutting edge. What keeps it in place ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,454 #13 Posted January 19 23 minutes ago, c-series don said: What keeps it in place ? Cut it tight and it'll stay. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,795 #14 Posted January 19 (edited) Think it's 3" . I cut a slice in it and kept widening the slice until it fit snug. Notched the back side to fit over all of the little bumps on the back Edited January 19 by squonk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,531 #15 Posted January 19 You could also put caster wheels on your blade to keep the blade above the cobblestones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Cullison 76 #16 Posted January 19 14 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: I would also tilt the blade top forward one adjustment hole, so the rubber drags more than digs... less likely to grab and bite... Good idea. I already had to cut another inch off of the original after testing it for that very reason... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Cullison 76 #17 Posted January 19 42 minutes ago, squonk said: Think it's 3" . I cut a slice in it and kept widening the slice until it fit snug. Notched the back side to fit over all of the little bumps on the back I flipped a coin (in my head) to decide whether to try that or the rubber "spacer." I think it would also work for me. The only thing I wasn't sure of was whether that would pack it down a little as well? Like a thin sheet that's hard to remove... similar to when you drive on snow and then plow. Seems like you can't really get the tire tracks cleaned up when you plow...? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,795 #18 Posted January 19 Your plowing over stone. Your not going to clean everything up unless you dig up the stones as well. My whole purpose of the pipe id to keep the stones in the driveway and out of the yard. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,795 #19 Posted January 19 I have skids too but they tend to dig in as opposed to riding over the stones 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Cullison 76 #20 Posted January 19 Skids might help but I would be concerned about leaving streaks or gouges on the stones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,661 #21 Posted January 19 Yes, that's a problem with skids, especially if its not frozen yet. Even then they tend to dig in some. I have a hydro tractor for my plow tractor so it's difficult to hold the blade at a height that's constant so as not to dig in without the skids. That's why I like the manual lifts you can set the height of the blade easier, where its the same every time. But the ease of a hydro has its advantages also. Six of one, half dozen of another. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Cullison 76 #22 Posted January 19 Well, I took the Wheelhorse 312-8 out to play and learned that I was pretty much just doing that. Here's the good, the bad and the ugly of my idea. The good, going straight it worked fairly well and I was happy with it. The bad, when you angle the blade, the near side rubber is on the cobblestones but the far side is up about an inch and a half. That's not good. The ugly, as much as I hate to admit it, the walk behind snow blower is just so much more efficient. As long as it's the right type of snow. I did at one point lower the the blade completely with the rubber resting on the cobblestones. Surprisingly it worked perfectly compared to the raised position. See pics.. but again only if the blade is straight ahead. My driveway is nothing but curves.. I had a blast though. Thanks for all of the advice and comments as I genuinely appreciate them and this forum. Maybe I'll try the plastic pipe idea. Heard ABS pipe is the way to go... 312-8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,454 #23 Posted January 19 19 minutes ago, Greg Cullison said: but again only if the blade is straight ahead That's to be expected. Turning the plow WILL turn the tractor (not the way you want) unless it's heavily weighted. We have a gravel and aggregate yard. We use two very different plow rigs. Trina has a mid 60s tractor with loaded rear tires and steel weights. 42" wide plow. I use a mid 70s C Series that's MUCH heavier. I also have a 60" plow. I can usually make turns while plowing. She normally plows mostly in a straight line. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,152 #24 Posted January 20 The rubber won't hurt those cobblestones so blade DOWN. It needs that weight to scrape the snow off. Less snow under the rear tires equals better traction and less passes to clear the snow. Add weight to the front so the tires just don't slide easily to the side when the blade is angled. Wheel weights or filled tires or added weight to the frame or better yet, all of them. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Cullison 76 #25 Posted January 20 Not too much trouble turning although weights would have been nice and made it better. The problem was that when I was going straight, with the blade angled, one side was up and the other was down.... Any ideas? Balance issue? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
