Adding Skid Shoes

[joeyd]

After my first winter with a tractor and snow blower on a gravel drive I was thinking about adding bolt on adjustable skid shoes. I have a MK Martin SB 68 that has welded on skid plates and I adjusted the 3pt to lift the front edge about 1" to try and avoid spraying my gravel all over the place. I wasn't happy with the outcome so I was thinking about the adjustable shoes.

I know they are an option but can they be added with the plates that came on the blower? Or should I just adjust the upper link to lift the front higher to try and avoid scooping up gravel? I am aware of leaving a couple of inches of packed snow to freeze up and leave a better surface but we had a lot of slushy snow last year and that just didn't freeze up the way I like. I still use my ATV and blade when we only get 3-4".

 

[kco]

I've ordered a Meteor pull-type with skid shoes but don't have it yet (being shipped next week). However, this page from Walco's brochure has a picture of the skid shoes.

 

[Runner]

I made up some gauge wheels for my blower that mount to the skid shoes. I think it rides on the gravel better than the skid shoes, but haven't actually tried it out in snow conditions yet. I'll have to report back later.

 

[5030]

I made up some gauge wheels for my blower that mount to the skid shoes. I think it rides on the gravel better than the skid shoes, but haven't actually tried it out in snow conditions yet. I'll have to report back later.

Might work for an itsy-bitsy light weight blower but my Lucknow weighs 1500 pounds. Round tires, as a rule, don't roll well on snow. They slide.

 

[grsthegreat]

Most john deere dealers also sell a weld on adjustable hardened skid shoe kit. Ive seen them at several dealerships and put a set on my old farmking blower. Was real easy to weld on.

 

[5030]

Most john deere dealers also sell a weld on adjustable hardened skid shoe kit. Ive seen them at several dealerships and put a set on my old farmking blower. Was real easy to weld on.

At a price I'm sure. Just let your keyboard and the Internet do the shopping. I somehow don't believe the JD dealer can beat my 20 dollar pair of skid shoes.

Around here, if it's green, it's money, lots of money.

 

[DaveOmak]

I had the local machine shop bend some shoes for me... Welded them to brackets that are adjustable and attach to bolts on my blade.. Maybe something like this will work for you... Dave

 

[lungdoc]

Even with fixed shoes you can adjust a rear blower's tendency to scrape/dig a lot with the top link and the lower arm control to control the angle of the blower. I tighten the top link for the first snows until there's a frozen base, it leaves an inch or so behind. When I lengthen it the blower will scrape which is good when there's a frozen base.

 

[Chilly807]

These are the ones I built for my rear blade last year, it should work well for your blower also. I've since removed the short lengths of pipe I had for adjustment spacers and substituted several washers. They give me better height adjustment.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/190070-rear-blade-skid-shoes.html

Sean

 

[5030]

A little imagination here because I don't do pictures...

On my Lucknow. my skid shoes are very similar to yours except the shaft extends through the tube and a hole is cross drilled at the top for a linch pin. I use washers to space the skid pad below the tube and the whole shaft/pad assembly moves up and down freely, limited in upward movement only by the spacer washers.

 

[mjncad]

I made up some gauge wheels for my blower that mount to the skid shoes. I think it rides on the gravel better than the skid shoes, but haven't actually tried it out in snow conditions yet. I'll have to report back later.

I'd be curious to hear how well that works too.

These are the ones I built for my rear blade last year, it should work well for your blower also. I've since removed the short lengths of pipe I had for adjustment spacers and substituted several washers. They give me better height adjustment.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/190070-rear-blade-skid-shoes.html

Sean

Did you consider using pipe caps for the shoes instead of dishing the flat plate?

 

[Chilly807]

The 4.5 inch diameter works quite well, I have a gravel driveway to contend with.

Sean

 

[5030]

Mine (skid shoes) are mushroom shaped not flat so they ride over gravel and not dig in.

 

[mjncad]

A little imagination here because I don't do pictures...

That's too bad as I'm sure the forum would enjoy seeing what you do.

 

[ray66v]

This works much better on gravel than skids.

 

[4shorts]

I've been using this snow blade for twenty years. The same skid shoes have been on the front for that long. I added the rear ones when I converted the blade to my tractor. Seeing I do pictures here are a few. The skid shoes cost me $23. each including the shoe,pin and washers.

 

[5030]

This works much better on gravel than skids.

Those won't work at all in deep wet snow on gravel because they load up and slide. You'll never find any kind of wheels on any commercial plow for a good reason.

Why try to re-invent something that works well, is basically maintenance free and is cheap (skid shoes).

I've been using this snow blade for twenty years. The same skid shoes have been on the front for that long. I added the rear ones when I converted the blade to my tractor. Seeing I do pictures here are a few. The skid shoes cost me $23. each including the shoe,pin and washers.

The exact same design I have on my Lucknow. Those are (I believe) Meyers style skid shoes. I achieve my spacing by adding flat washers between the pad and the mount. Mine are going on 5 years of road work (I blow off the road between the farm and the paved road, about 1.5 miles) regularly.

Commercial plows tend to run Meyers style as well.

I get a charge out of your stuff. '20 years and no visible wear'....

You are a dedicated rattle can person and/or a spray gun fanatic. I'd like my stuff to look that good, I just don't have that much time.

 

[4shorts]

Why try to re-invent something that works well, is basically maintenance free and is cheap (skid shoes).

I get a charge out of your stuff. '20 years and no visible wear'....

You are a dedicated rattle can person and/or a spray gun fanatic. I'd like my stuff to look that good, I just don't have that much time.

Shoe pads are hard faced. Yep I like to keep things looking good. I don't have the time either but I make the time to keep it looking good. It reflecks on my business and reputation and while doing it keeps my equipment safer to operate and in the long term saving me money. I do this stuff after a 70 hour work week. It's worked for me.

 

[Chilly807]

Paul,

Any recommendations on a hard-facing rod for the bottom of my bucket skids? I usually touch 'em up once a year with either mig or the stick.

My blade skids didn't seem to wear at all, they're mild steel, but once the driveways get frozen hard they slide along quite well.

Sean