plow blade skids

[peter lena 8,957]

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=plow+blade+%2C+skids&fr=yhs-att-att_001&fr2=p%3Aatt%2Cv%3Afp%2Cm%3Asb&type=att_pc_homerun_portal_bucket_anim_nogl&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&ei=UTF-8  if you are fortunate  enough to have a level / even  plowing area , these skids are worth considering , with a spring tensioner  , you could easily  dial in the  slide to minimise blade wear edge .  pete 

[adsm08 2,336]

I've been wondering about finding some skids of my plow. Plow came with the tractor. Tractor came with no skids.

[ebinmaine 69,454]

11 hours ago, adsm08 said:

I've been wondering about finding some skids of my plow. Plow came with the tractor. Tractor came with no skids.

 

I've been experimenting with plow shoes some. 

 

My experience shows me that the small circular skids are absolutely useless on aggregate surface.  They dig right in hard. 

Asphalt/ concrete you'd like them for saving the plow but I prefer the driveway scraping of a fully dropped edge.  

 

For a gravel/stone etc surface you'll need long feet to keep the plow edge up.  

 

 

To discourage the plow from digging in - tilt it forward. 

 

[peter lena 8,957]

@ebinmaine  we all have a different yet same issue , thats where  some tweaking comes into play , my paved areas  are not large , but my plow off  areas  are large , often plow driveway  to unpaved lawn / field edge , have also  lightly spring assist lift arm , has really helped  .  our snow has been  light , so its not a real issue , always trying / experimenting  with  a gain on  problem . pete   

[Handy Don 12,974]

I’m using these semi-bowl style skid shoes. So far they are helping nicely, especially over the concrete sidewalk joints.

I’m planning to modify the holders so that the shaft is vertical when the plow is tipped forward as it is now.

Also, the plow’s holder sleeves are ¾” ID and these have ⅝” shafts. I made bushings out of some conduit slit lengthwise to make up the difference. 

(The second photo’s angle distorts the tilt.)

This is a BD-4263, one of the few plows had the skid shoe holders built in.

If you are adding shoes, be sure to check for interference with the front wheels are turned and the blade is angled (been there, done that).

        

[squonk 41,795]

I have the same style shoes. Worthless on gravel unless you like lots of little trenches. I run a 3" PVC pipe on the plow

[ebinmaine 69,454]

6 minutes ago, squonk said:

I have the same style shoes. Worthless on gravel unless you like lots of little trenches. I run a 3" PVC pipe on the plow

 

I've considered that and still might try it. 

The only reason I haven't yet is I really like having the ability to dig into the tire tracks and get a good solid flat scrape.  

 

[peter lena 8,957]

@Handy Don like your set up , thinking a short compression spring  on that bottom vertical slide area , that would let that  slide find its own happy spot . might experiment with a connection bracket , like a square edged u bolt , you could initially try it  backing off the set , screw / bolt , just to see how it floats to irregularities . look up pick up truck , set ups , for ideas , you are almost there , experimented with  1 st gear , low range , to watch it move , tweak  it in from function . have to tell you , you will be approaching  my way of  doing a functional detail  check , usually get told , you can't do that , thats what I regularly do , pete

[peter lena 8,957]

@Handy Don  just snoopin around ,https://www.google.com/search?q=pick+up+truck+plow+slide+pins&sca_esv=26a7554b929691b3&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&sxsrf=AHTn8zrYTxPEvMIescinJKya1C1foZdGEw%3A1737983594283&ei=aoaXZ4GDEdixptQPldXhoQc&oq=pick+up+truck+plow+slide+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGXBpY2sgdXAgdHJ1Y2sgcGxvdyBzbGlkZSAqAggAMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKSKebAlDmHFjw9gFwAXgBkAEAmAFyoAH0BaoBAzYuMrgBAcgBAPgBAZgCCaACiQfCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIEECMYJ8ICCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFwgIIEAAYFhgKGB7CAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICBxAAGIAEGA3CAgYQABgNGB7CAggQABgIGA0YHsICCBAAGIAEGKIEmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMi43oAeMPA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp  ideas , pete

[Handy Don 12,974]

5 hours ago, peter lena said:

thinking a short compression spring  on that bottom vertical slide area , that would let that  slide find its own happy spot .

Pete, I get what you are suggesting, but I don’t get the value of having the plow suspended on springs at the skid shoes or of the risk of the shoes dropping down when the blade is lifted.

I’ve locked the skid shoes in place with the set screws while the blade was at rest sitting on a pair of 3/32” shims on a flat floor.

[peter lena 8,957]

@Handy Don  GOTCHA !  interest !    go to PLOW QUAD  SLIDERS ,  similar size , with many , spring supported slide  mounts , lots of ideas , yours is very limited with  to close to ground engagement welded area . that slide / float  has to have room to vertically  support , blade with compression spring held on slide bracket . this picture site , is the ideas you want , pete , https://www.google.com/search?q=quad+plow+sliders&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=quad+plow+sliders+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MggIARAAGBYYHjINCAIQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAMQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAQQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAUQABiGAxiABBiKBTIKCAYQABiABBiiBDIKCAcQABiABBiiBDIKCAgQABiABBiiBNIBCTE4Njk1ajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Handy Don 12,974]

20 minutes ago, peter lena said:

spring supported slide  mounts

Pete, I don’t see any of those skids having springs mounted to support the weight of the plow on the skids, nor do I see any value in having the plow bounce on springs and thus not have consistent contact with the surface being plowed.

 

Is your goal to somehow treat the plow like an automobile suspended on springs? To what end? Ride comfort for the blade? I cannot see the blade being better at its job when it can bounce.

 

Several of the offered skids do have lower stops or other means of adjusting the skid’s vertical position but that is essentially the same as using a sleeve and setscrew as the WH plow does. Allowing the skid vertical motion well below blade edge, and thus dangle below the raised blade, makes no sense to me at all.

 

I think you might be proposing a solution in search of a problem.