Snowplow Re-Skin....Meyer C8.5

[LD1]

Well, got me a new snow plow. Figured I was on borrowed time using my meyer st7.5 (with wings) in front of my Dodge 3500 and 2000# in the bed.

So I picked up a Meyer C8.5 that needed a new skin for $100. ANd the angle cylinders looked great (and am currenty using them on my ST7.5).

Here is what she looked like:

 

[LD1]

I figured I'd replace the pivot pin tubes also. 1" seamless heavy wall pipe measures 0.970 ID and 1.325" od. Works perfect after a 1" reamer is ran through it.

Instead of letting the ungreased pin be free to pivot in both tubes (plow and sector) as meyer designed, I am going to use a 1/4" bolt through the bushing and pin on the plow side and have the sector side greasable. The sector side is easier to remove and replace if ever needed again, but I havent tackled that yet

 

[LD1]

There were a few other welds I fixed on the main ribs also.

I brushed some primer on the underside of the ribs before the skin went on

 

[LD1]

And here is the skin mostly welded on. Need to make a run after some more gas



I am welding the skin on solid. A classic design flaw (IMO) that went uncorrected on meyer plows until just a few years ago is the formed angle iron ribs. From meyer, they are welded about 3" top, middle, and bottom. This allows moisture to get trapped between the plow and skin at the bottom and rot things out. I reskinned my ST7.5 and did the same thing, welding solid. Not to mention it makes the plow more stout.

The skin was purchased and rolled locally. They had a 8'8" x 4' sheet of 11ga just laying there. Sheared it to 29.5" and had them roll it. And I kept the 18.5" x 8'8" drop that I will use to make rolled wings with. My current plow has flat wings, like the pro wings, but they dont windrow well at all. So I am going formed like boss or westefn OEM wings.

 

[LD1]

Thats all I got for now. Still a little bit of welding left, then the wings/mounts, sector pivot tubes, and a good coat of paint.

Not sure I will have it all done before I have to go back to work saturday night, but we will see.

 

[AaronS]

Looks great LD1. I look forward to pics of the finished product.

 

[LD1]

I look forward to pics of the finished product.

Me too :laughing:

 

[dstig1]

Very nice. I can see the benefits to a wider plow and am looking myself. I wish I could torch cut as nicely as you did to remove the skin. But basically no time to deal with stuff like this right now with the house build going on...

 

[Buckgnarly]

Looks good! My meyers is doing exactly what you mentioned, rusting out from behind the skin and ribs, good idea welding it fully.

 

[LD1]

Yep, wider is what I was after. My 7.5 wouldnt cover my tracks of my dually with the wings off. And with them on, it wouldnt windrow well at all. Thats why I am making a curved wing like western or boss wings to windrow better with the wings ON.

I also forgot to mention the cost of the skin. Basically a 4' sheet 8'8" long is what I bought. Had them shear to 29.5" and roll. Total cost for the steel (and remember I kept the drop) and rolling it was ~$180