Plow repair of church buddy.

Gun guru · Feb 27, 2011

I talked to the guy that plowed my driveway and he says that his V-plow doesnt spring like a regular blade will and if he hits something just right it will break. He says that there is $1000 in damages to his plow. The moldboard is bent and the frame is tweeked out of square so that the blade doesnt lay on the ground, only one side does. The other side is 4" off the ground.
He is borrowing another plow off a buddy.

I told him that I assumed that his plow was a spring trip when I asked him to plow snow on Thursday night. Cause I have never seen a plow blade without a spring trip unless it is a rear grader blade of a tractor. I wrote him a check for $250 and I will mail it out tomorrow to his home. He did not ask for damage reembursment, but I feel somewhat obligated to help him out.
He also plows snow for the church parking lot with his truck.
Keep in mind that if I do not help him I feel like and look like a *ickhead and he may never want to do work at my place again. He has a 50HP Deere tractor with FEL and backhoe and this machine is awesome. 4320 model I think.

Ed in Northern VA · Feb 27, 2011

Thats very generous and more than fair on your part. If he shows the same character you have, he"ll return the check.

CharlieNJ · Feb 27, 2011

Guru, maybe you better send him cash so the wife doesn't have liability anxiety. Either way you are a stand-up guy.
Best Regards,
Charlie

Dialed In Restorations · Feb 27, 2011

Well was he pretty cool about you sending him a check? It is a touchy subject I would only hope that he doesnt have a fit that it was not for 1000. But if he was cool then just concider it is done and over and hope there is no anamosity.

Lou from Wi. · Feb 27, 2011

GUNGURU.You did the right thing in my opinion. From what you said about his plow not being able to spring over once something is struck,got my curiosity up and running. Wonder what kind it is? Both of mine were able to tip forward when dug in or object hit. We sold the first one with the truck,second one we still have on the 75 P.U.Just can't quite understand his set up, unless it's home made.Really none of my business any way just curious. Still you did the right thing with the check. Regards, LOU.

Gun guru · Feb 27, 2011

He has a V-plow style. Hydraulics make it V or straight blade. Not home made.

jokers · Feb 27, 2011

Very generous of you gun guru. I would have done something similar.

I wonder if the frame and moldboard can be straightened? They must bend frequently if there is no trip.

Janicholson · Feb 27, 2011

Your generosity is appropriate and hopefully understood. Every person who plows snow is in the same boat. There is no way to see through it to find frozen down concrete blocks or other immovable objects. The person who owns the plow takes the entire risk. If you knew that the plow would not trip, and/or that there were obstacles in the drive, then you had some culpability, but the fact is it could have been an ice block that formed from melt. Generosity and good faith effort with risky equipment still damages either property, or equipment. Truly you do not actually owe him anything. If he returns the money, I would put some effort toward helping him make changes to allow the plow to be more forgiving. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Feb 27, 2011

I wish I had customers like you. Some of mine don't even want to pay all their bill, much less pay for damage to equipment.

Most of us just consider that sort of damage as the high cost of doing business and NOT the responsibility of our customers. Any contractor who goes out to do work with what could be considered sub par equipment should expect breakdowns like that. He SHOULD be very greatful to you.

Ken Macfarlane · Feb 27, 2011

He must have a Boss - V, they are a trip blade not trip edge. When V'ed they don't really trip when you hit stuff.

A tough plow though. He must have been moving to damage it so bad.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 27, 2011

i have three v plows on three trucks and all three have a trip edge just the cutting edge will spring back when you hit some thing sound to me like he is handing you a line of BS. i have a Snow Dog a Western and a Meyers and all have a trip edge ether he has them set to tight or some one weld it solid

veggiesmn · Feb 27, 2011

My friend has a boss v plow that also got tweaked in the same way. You can get the replacement frame in the plow itself for around 400 dollars. It is kind of a drag to change, but we did it in a few hours. The boss dealer will know just what to get, as this is not uncommon.

Gun guru · Feb 27, 2011

He was traveling about 15 MPH when he hit it. I saw him do it.

Lou from Wi. · Feb 27, 2011

GunGuru. thanks .That takes care of my curiosity and makes me thankful we have a western Pro Plow (straight blade) Other one was a Myers all way straight plow(the one we sold)it was dealer mounted when we got the truck. Personally I never much cared for the V plow set up although it works for a lot of guys. Still You did the right thing. Proud of you. (as we all are)You sleep good at night. Respectfully .LOU .

showcrop · Feb 27, 2011

Gun Guru, I don't care what they say about you, you're a good man. Please let us know what happens next. I expect that he will want to return the check or part of it, or plow for free for you a few times.

JK-NY · Feb 27, 2011

How is the Snow dog plow holding up for you? They appear to be alot of plow for the money if they are as well uilt as they claim.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 27, 2011

100% better then the Meyers and a little better then the western but also heaver then ether

Ray · Feb 27, 2011

He's pulling you leg,you can buy the whole blade used for less than that.A lot of guys bought them thinking they were going to get rich only to find it was more work than they thought and they needed commercial insurance to legally plow anyones driveway for money.I have seen a dozen of
those things for sale this winter.

IOWA NORTHEAST · Feb 27, 2011

You are one of the good guys, the world needs more like you. My hat is off for you.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 28, 2011

V plows are notorious for this, particularly when hit at high speed. The problem is, as you lengthen the plow, by making the vee, or reversing it to an inverted v, this lengthening makes it more susceptible to snagging on any obstacle. Best place for a v plow is on a loader frame, where you have positive angle control, by curling the blade up, or down, to control the angle of attack, so to speak. If you have the equipment to do something to help him out, fine, I would, too. But if he does not supply parts, he won't learn to slow down, when v-plowing.

Plow repair of church buddy.

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