Would you

300jk · Jan 29, 2017

Just made up a set of skid shoes for my 3pt snowblower. I have blacktop millings in my drive. Would you hard surface them ? They are made of 1/2" thick mild steel. Use will vary depending on the year. Have only used it for about an hour this year as we have not had much snow.

jeffcat · Jan 29, 2017

Awww I don't know. Being 1/2 inch think is pretty good. You could also make a shoe out of the same plate and tack them to the bottom. When the shoe wears out just cut the front and rear weld and tack on a new set of shoes while the originals will be forever. Sound good?

300jk · Jan 29, 2017

Yeah pretty good idea ! I kinda figure it will be a few years before I need to do anything to them being 1/2". Thanks !

WESnIL · Jan 29, 2017

I would be more inclined to find some nylon material that is used to make liners for dump trailers (the thicker the better), drill some holes so one can counter sink bolts and fasten them on. This would be more slippery and probably outlast you and your machine.

300jk · Jan 29, 2017

That's also a great idea but I would think it would wear quickly on my driveway. It is blacktop millings that are packed down but the surface is still quite rough. Our welder at work made up a set of stainless plates for his dad's blower because he was afraid regular steel would leave rust marks on his new paved driveway that's probably 1000 feet long. His dad also works for the same construction company I do as a superintendent and never cuts any corners.

ss55 · Jan 29, 2017

I was also wondering if UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight - polyethylene) runners would hold up. It works well as snowmobile skies and track rails. They would certainly protect the driveway better than hardened steel.

roaddevil49 · Jan 29, 2017

Great idea, you have mail.

CH(upstate,NY) · Jan 29, 2017

Are you getting any snow?

RayP(MI) · Jan 29, 2017

Made up some for my garden tractor blower. Hard surfaced with welder. Seems to help keep the stones out of the blower.
Actually have worn out a set, so on second set now.

504 · Jan 29, 2017

I have a friend with a Western Snow blade on his PU,he went through two three sets of factory skids a year. They were just mild steel,I would at least use AR steel.

Mike(NEOhio) · Jan 29, 2017

I wouldn't bother. Not worth it for the time it would take to wear them out.

300jk · Jan 29, 2017

No not really. Weather wing nuts were calling for a lake snow warning since Thursday night. We got maybe 4 inches. They were calling for up to 2 feet. Never happened. For that little the tractor doesn't even come out. We had some bad storms here in the past where we got a lot and they never predicted it. People stuck on the thruway for days and some reason n the area which had died. Now it seems like if it is going to be a few flakes everyone freaks out and they want you to think there is a big Blizzard coming. After the 2' warning I can still see grass. I guess they are trying to cover their butts, but seems like crying wolf most of the time here now. Our weather people here are very rarely accurate even in the summer. I could say mostly cloudy with some sun or sunny with a chance of showers. I hey usually are not right.

300jk · Jan 29, 2017

Thanks for the input Mike. I welded them on without anything else. I guess I will see how they wear. I can always take them off and add something if need be. Thanks. You guys much snow down there ?

MSM · Jan 29, 2017

Could also weld a length of truck spring to them. Just weld them on the ends,if they wear out,nip the welds and put on a new piece.

JF in MI · Jan 29, 2017

I had 1/4" plates I welded on the runners of my snow thrower. Had to replace them from wear about every 10 years. Depending on how old you are you may never have to replace them again.

Mike(NEOhio) · Jan 29, 2017

Hardly any. I haven't used my blower but once with the first snow, wet and heavy, didn't work well. Snowed all day today but the ground is warm from last weekend in the 60s. 5 or 6 inches now but heavy, the usual lake effect snow.

Mike(NEOhio) · Jan 29, 2017

They do love the drama, don't they.

farmerwithmutt · Jan 29, 2017

Somewhere if i remember right a guy used either a plow share or landside off a plow not sure if thats right but they do get a lot of wear and hold up

4520BW · Jan 29, 2017

What about attaching some old poly skid plates from a bean head on it?

Ken Macfarlane · Jan 29, 2017

Our old blower ran 200-300 hours a year and from about 1975 to 2012 wore out two 3/8 skids to about 3/16 left. If you are using on bare surfaces that's another story. The second the skids transition from the driveway to the road the friction increases like crazy.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 30, 2017

If I needed skis I would use the one off my 6 ft woods belly mower. One on each side. 2 bolts. About 2 inches wide and a foot long.

Donald Lehman · Jan 30, 2017

Boonville and Tug Hill got 2 feet I guess. We might have 6 inches here. Most of that came last night.

Blackhole49 · Jan 30, 2017

If you want something really hard, contact your local DPW or tree service and see if you can't get some worn out chipper blades. They make great shoes.

Skyhighballoon(MO) · Jan 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:53:14 01/29/17) Somewhere if i remember right a guy used either a plow share or landside off a plow not sure if thats right but they do get a lot of wear and hold up

I don't think I ever posted that but that's exactly what I did on my 7' 3pt blower...used moldboard plow shares that had been taken off when too worn for the plow. Used a torch to heat up and curl up the tip for the leading edge. Mike

300jk · Jan 30, 2017

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up just leaving them they way they were with no hardfacing or anything else. I will.see how long these last and take it from there. Thanks again.

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