What have you done with/to your GC Series 2300, 2400, 1700 Tractor TODAY

MF RED in MT · Dec 4, 2020

I just received my UHMW - 3/4" x 4" x 48", ordered 2 lengths at (Amazon) $31.60 each with about $11.00 shipping.

I have been thinking about using this product for quite a while, for my skid shoes on my MF 2340 Dozer Blade & MF 2360 Snowblower (driveway is gravel & roadmix material).

I believe I will use the existing pipe sleeve on the Dozer Blade with a new rod and steel plate (on the bottom) and bolt the UHMW to the plate, maybe able to get a 6" x 12" shoe.

I will drill and pin the new shoe through the pipe sleeve to eliminate any swiveling movement with drilled holes 1/2" apart vertically to allow for height adjustments.

On the snowblower I'm not a fan of putting the shoes on the outside edge of the snowblower because of the hazard of smacking the shoes while snowblowing, but I think this might be the best choice.

My other option is to replace the existing shoe with a larger and longer piece of angle iron and bolt the UHMW to the bottom.

I'm finding it difficult to get started in the unheated garage as it was about 18F in there today, froze my fingers assembling a 4 wheel "Gorilla Cart" today.

I am open to ideas regarding my fabrication of these skid shoes, and I know there are going to be good ideas from all of you.

Here's a couple of pictures of the UHMW leaning against the Dozer Blade and the existing MF skid shoe.

KC

(this is my next little project: for update see post #672)

MF RED in MT · Dec 5, 2020

Update on my Dozer Blade UHMW skid shoes:

Well it warmed up to 20F today so working in the garage I believed I have figured out how I'm going to fabricate my new skid shoes using materials I have in my small metal rack.

By removing the 2 outer nuts for the scraper blade, the existing shoe brackets can be removed completely from the back of the Dozer Blade.

I'm going to cut a piece of square tubing 1..25" x 1.25" x 1/8" wall about 4.5" long, clean up the inside so the new square tubing 1" x 1" x 1//8" skid shoe will slip up/down when inserted.

I will weld this new 4.5" long tubing to the existing skid shoe bracket next to the existing round tube on the bracket.

Then I will cut a new piece of square tubing 1" x 1" x 1/8" wall about 9" long and weld one end to a new piece of 1/4" x 4" flat bar that's 10" long.

This new piece of flat bar will have the UHMW cut piece, 4" x 10" which will be counter sunk and fastened to the bottom of the flat bar.

This existing skid shoe spacers/washers will slip over this new square tubing and will function with the same vertical adjustments as the existing skid shoe.

By using square tubing instead of round tubing the new skid shoe will be fixed in place with no rotation of the shoe.

And by being able to use the existing spacers/washers makes all of the vertical adjustments just as easy as before.

The existing 6" diameter skid shoe has a 28 square inch surface area, and the new skid shoe has a 40 square inch surface area, which I think will make a difference.

So far this is "Plan B" and during my fabrication I just might be going to "Plan C", might increase the surface area to 6" x 12" (72 square inch surface area), or somewhere in between.

Here's a little sketch that may help others visualize my new skid shoe better:

KC

(for this project update see post #675)

MF 2340 Dozer Blade Parts Book Pg 10 .jpg

GeneV · Dec 6, 2020

KC, looks like a legit plan, looking forward to seeing the fabrication.

Cat385B · Dec 6, 2020

Picked my tractor up yesterday. Got the tail lights flipped around to the inside of the rops this morning after a trip to the hardware store.

MF RED in MT · Dec 8, 2020

Gene, here's a look at my progress with the UHMW skid shoes for the MF 2340 Dozer Blade (previous post #671 & #672).

I cut all of my pieces yesterday and plan on welding/assembly the parts today.

Pictures of the parts:

KC

(for this project update see post #681)

cglaser104 · Dec 8, 2020

Looks like fun!

GeneV · Dec 9, 2020

MF RED in MT said:
Gene, here's a look at my progress with the UHMW skid shoes for the MF 2340 Dozer Blade (previous post #671 & #672).

I cut all of my pieces yesterday and plan on welding/assembly the parts today.

Pictures of the parts:

KC

View attachment 679097 View attachment 679098 View attachment 679099

I got ya KC, looks like you're more done than not done with this!

MoMower · Dec 10, 2020

MF RED in MT said:
Gene, here's a look at my progress with the UHMW skid shoes for the MF 2340 Dozer Blade (previous post #671 & #672).

I cut all of my pieces yesterday and plan on welding/assembly the parts today.

Pictures of the parts:

KC

View attachment 679097 View attachment 679098 View attachment 679099

I’m just gonna drive from PA to MT and collect blowers and plows from members along the way for you to modify! Drop them all of in the spring and pick them up on the fall.

(Nice work)

MF RED in MT · Dec 10, 2020

Thanks, but you'd be wise to wait and see if it's going to make a difference and an improvement for my gravel driveway every year just before the winter freeze.

Been thinking about this modification for quite a while and I never know when the light bulb "idea" helps me out, good and bad I'm afraid...

For a update, the parts sit like in the pictures and maybe tomorrow I'll get to this project again.

KC

Oh, B.T.W., can you really afford the $$$$ ransom I will require for you to take possession of your snowblower, ha...