Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Gentlemen,
I haven't posted here since last winter but I would like to thank Borat and the other regulars for their guidance and excellent advice. After much research I purchased a new Simplicity 24" 9 HP (B&S) snowblower. We had quite a lot of snow here in the Chicago area last winter and the Simplicity handled it flawlessly. I have an 80' concrete driveway with a mild slope. But, I live on a relatively busy street so when the city plow passes by I am left with a small mountain of snow at the end of my driveway. I learned NOT to plow the two feet or so closest to the street because small concrete chips and pebbles are dug up by the city plow and hidden in the plowed snow at the end of the driveway, and as a result my impeller and chute interior became very scratched. So I shovel the remainder of snow by hand.

Two things...a headlight was optional for my snowblower but none were in stock at the time I bought it. Sears has a universal kit for $59 which I though was rather expensive. So I purchased a "tractor auxiliary light" at Wal-Mart for about $15 and easily connected it to the snowblower's alternator lead. It works perfectly and looks factory original.

Here's my question...my Simplicity is equipped with Skid Shoes. I removed the shoes in the spring and sanded and repainted them. But after another season of use I will have to repeat the process as the shoes take a beating on the concrete. Wouldn't it make sense to install small, thin wheels instead of skid shoes? The wheels would roll smoothly along the surface as opposed to the friction and grinding of the skid shoes. Does anyone know if Simplicity makes wheels for this blower or could something be fabricated? Your suggestions?

"Steel Discs" is a much better term to describe the "wheels" I was referring to on the old Jacobsen. If my memory serves me, I used to push downward on the handles which tilted the scoop upwards onto the drive wheels in order to turn the snowblower right or left or 180 degrees. It would not turn on the discs.

Question: My Simplicity came from the dealer with the scraper bar adjusted to sit flat on top of the driveway surface. Would it be better to adjust the skid shoes so that the scraper bar sits 1/2" or 1" above the surface? This would leave a little snow on the driveway but the scraper bar would last longer and the snowblower would be less likely to pick up small rocks and pebbles. Your thoughts?

If you have an unpaved/gravel driveway, I'd go with half inch clearance or so. If your driveway is paved, you can set it to about 1/8-3/16 inch. I use a couple of paint stirring sticks to set my skids. I put the machine on a flat level surface, put a paint stick on each side under the scraper and make sure the machine is sitting evenly on them. I press down on the machine to get the machine in positive contact with the paint sticks then start to tighten the skids. Keep an eye on the skids while tightening. They sometimes will move out of adjustment when applying torque to the lock nuts.

There's another thread already started concerning wheels vs. skids.

Thanks Borat. I will make the adjustments according to your suggestion.

Hi.  I recently aquired a Toro 824 Power shift snowblower.  Great unit of course  but on my sidewalks the skids would jam up on every imperfection.  I came across this forum, didnt see anyone try this.  I swiped a pair of rubber wheels from my kids old razor scooters.   It mounted u pin one of the existing skid plate mounting holes with some washers and a longer bolt.  As is the auger blades were about 1/2" off the ground.  Fortunetely lowering the scraper did the trick.  It rides close enough for a clean job and the rubber wheels solves the "ride" problem.  I think to get a real clean sweep, Ill replace the metal scraper with a rubber one.

 

Very nice. Let us know how they hold up.

Very nice. Let us know how they hold up.

The wheels worked good but the scrapper was still a problem.   I ordered a set of snow thrower paddles for an old Toro. I cut slots in them where the scrapper bolts would pass through and fit the paddles under the scrapper.  Then push the scrapper all the way up and adjust the rubber paddles properly.    WE have no snow but theres plenty of sand on the road so I went out there to test it out.   It did a nice job cleaning down to the street.   I ran the blower over my uneven sidewalk and the rubber glides right over the trouble spots.  I expect it to work well when the snow returns !

final update
Plenty of snow this winter and the Toro chewed through all of it.  The wheel idea didnt last.  I wound up removing them all together and letting the rubber scraper do all the work, no skids and that worked great.

I like the idea of the rubber scraper.   I'm going to have to look into that. 

I modified my skids by welding a pieces of formed flat bar on the bottom to make them wider and with a more gradual bend in the curves so they'll be less likely to jamb.  They're also 3/8" thick will probably last for ten years or more before they wear down.

Borat,

Check out something NEW (Available November 1, 2010 at snowblowersdirect.com)... It's called a Roller-Skid... and it may be just what your looking for.