Tractor Supply doesn't have plow bolts

[Fxfymn413]

Bolt Depot will have them and they are very prompt with their delivery.

 

[ArlyA]

You need to go to Fastenal for dome head plow bolts or a place that puts new cutting steel on snowplows. The people at TSC wouldn't know a dome head plow bolt from a shoestring. BTW, dome head plow bolts are A325.

I'll add that fastenal rocks at what they can get in a day or two and stock. But I still know more about bolts than there employees do....

 

[JethroB]

We are lucky in my town to still have an old hardware store. Not the new ones. They have every odd nut and bolt, old tool, etc. I needed a flat washer, 2 + inches, with 1 1/4 hole. they had them. Every horse shoe, nail, tools. Every fence tool, etc. They have been in the same old building for 3 generations. Still open every day, plus Saturday morning. And they hire new boys from the country to help. If you need help with plants, seeds, fertilizer, potting soil, these kids can help. They may not have a cheap plastic bucket, but they have the metal ones. Not the cheapest place, but one of the best to shop. I need to get pictures of the inside. It is really an old fashion hardware store.

We have one of those too. Huge like a domed WWII Quonset plane hanger. It was owned and ran by the same family for generations until recently. Shame on me for not shopping there more often.

 

[Tony H]

A325 (strength) Carriage bolts

 

[FCinNH]

With some of the help that they get today, it is no surprise. The other day, I was told that they no long sold the hoses for propane tanks. They sell propane, they sell tanks, no hoses in stock. Half the time little to no cat food. A lot of brands of horse feed, they are out. Most of the city kids that they have to hire have no idea what fence is. One young boy did not know the difference between sweet feed and pellets. They have to hire who they can to just open the store.

We ran into the same problem here with our local TSC in regards to horse feed, so we now drive further to the nearest Agway. I have noticed that tho various stores rare very uneven is knowledge and stock. One of the bigger ones father away seems to be better stocked than the local one.

 

[CADplans]

I buy bolts at TSC when I know they will have it, that is my "Quick In And Out" bolt supplier.

When I need REAL bolts, including plow bolts, I go to my local Caterpillar dealer,,

The bolts are cheaper, and better, AND, THEY HAVE PLOW BOLTS!!
I am positive, because I got the plow bolts to build my land plane at the CAT dealer.

So, the same way that I might get a loaf of bread at the local 7-11, rather than the grocery store, I vary my place to buy bolts.

 

[Gord Baker]

They don't come up in a search on their web site and the folks working there say they have NEVER heard of a plow bolt.

Wish I had a Agri Supply nearby. Nearest is an hour away.

Search for Carriage Bolts. Rounded heads will wear down flat after a few acres.

 

[RickB]

Search for Carriage Bolts. Rounded heads will wear down flat after a few acres.

Carriage bolts are a poor substitute for plow bolts. The underside of the head is flat rather than tapered. So when, as you say, the dome head wears off there's little or nothing holding the bolt tight. The remnants of the head will recede into the tapered counterbore and whatever you are trying to hold tight against a support or frame will be loose.
Plow bolts are either grade 5 or 8. Carriage bolts are usually grade 2, if you are lucky they can be found in grade 5.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I must be lucky. My Tractor Supply has plow bolts. Googled "plow bolts tractor supply" and they came up and are in stock locally. Their website does not refer to them as plow bolts though which may be the reason you can't find them. Part # B55-0260CL.

 

[ArlyA]

Carriage bolts are a poor substitute for plow bolts. The underside of the head is flat rather than tapered. So when, as you say, the dome head wears off there's little or nothing holding the bolt tight. The remnants of the head will recede into the tapered counterbore and whatever you are trying to hold tight against a support or frame will be loose.
Plow bolts are either grade 5 or 8. Carriage bolts are usually grade 2, if you are lucky they can be found in grade 5.

We have a a fasenal and a hardwear store who both carry grade 5 carriage bolts. Sometimes that just what I need.

 

[5030]

My last comment is... If TSC did have DHPB's they would most likely be of Chinese manufacture and of questionable quality anyway. With plow bolts, always better to by a non-Chinese bolt.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

They don't come up in a search on their web site and the folks working there say they have NEVER heard of a plow bolt.

Wish I had a Agri Supply nearby. Nearest is an hour away.

My local ACE hardware sells them . I was surprised

 

[5030]

Agri Supply is strictly mail order for me, so is Shoup and I purchase from both, often. Bought some fairly large implements from Agir-Supply as well. Have a TE on file with them. Shoup as well.

 

[sixdogs]

I rarely go in a TSC but I have found plow bolts when the staff said they didn't have them. There were bins of bolts in the area where they sold PTO shafts and such. You would think they would be with bolts or similar but they weren't. I haven't been in for a year so things may have changed but they were always hard to find. I don't bother asking questions.

They had a nice selection, were USA made and coated in oil. Surprisingly, you can also special order tillage shovels and such, including odd sizes, from them and I've done it. It seemed much higher in price so I've learned to like standard sized things sold by Shoup, Sloan Express, Agri Supply or Rural King. If you're going to buy enough cultivator shovels or whatever, you can sometimes buy direct from the manufacturer. There's a couple in he midwest that seem to make almost all of the domestic supply.

 

[5030]

Yep. Shoup is the least expensive for USA made disc bine knives I use. I run the serrated style as a rule and they are double sided so First cut is with the edge that did 3rd the previous year and then I flip them and check the oil in the cutter bar and clean the trash from under the heads. Reminds me, this year the skid shoes have to come off and get hard rodded.

 

[hornett22]

What on earth would lead you to believe that a place called Tractor Supply would carry tractor stuff?

 

[ArlyA]

What on earth would lead you to believe that a place called Tractor Supply would carry tractor stuff?

Ya well, I recall TSC from about 50 years ago when it really was farm supplies. Today its more yard, garden and pet supplies and I hardly ever go to ours. Its like the harbor freight for pets.

 

[sixdogs]

Yep. Shoup is the least expensive for USA made disc bine knives I use. I run the serrated style as a rule and they are double sided so First cut is with the edge that did 3rd the previous year and then I flip them and check the oil in the cutter bar and clean the trash from under the heads. Reminds me, this year the skid shoes have to come off and get hard rodded.

Shoup is more for the working farm types and will do what it takes to get you up and going again. I once snapped a disk harrow axle and it was a problem because it wasn't round or square but hexagonal and I needed another right now. Now what?

I lived very remote and the dealer wanted something like $700 ? for an OEM part and a week or two to get it to me by UPS. Pay upfront, please. I called Shoup to see if they had the stock shaft blank I needed, which they did and they made an axle for me ASAP, got it out overnight to me and by 10:00 am the next day I had my part and a bill for around $100.

 

[hornett22]

Ya well, I recall TSC from about 50 years ago when it really was farm supplies. Today its more yard, garden and pet supplies and I hardly ever go to ours. Its like the harbor freight for pets.

Yeah, it's A LOT different than it was when I was a kid. I go in there but leave disappointed often. It convenient but it's not.

 

[K5lwq]

Our TSC has gone down some as well. But they are faced with the same issues as other business. Good help is hard to find. Ever increasing expenses and lack of revenue drives them to look for a bigger market. So they do lawn and garden stuff which works as my wife loves to go there get some of that crap all the time.

She used to pick on me about going to TSC all the time and called it my favorite store. Now she is the one that goes all the time and I hardly ever go. Lol