Snowblower side bending

[rich_kildow]

I took the snowblower off last weekend and noticed that the right (non-driven) side is starting to bend inwards in the lower front corner. Probably from trying to cut into the packed snowbank by my mailbox in a parallel manner, rather than driving into it.

Any suggestions on how to brace this area to keep it from happening? I thought about a piece of 3/16" plate steel cut to the same pattern as the side plate and bolting it to the outside in several places. That's probably overkill but that is the direction my mind always goes in first.

[AC_HB-112]

take some 1/4" 1x1 angle iron and weld it to the outside along the bottom and front.

[Burntime]

Dont run into stuff! Seriously though, you could reinforce it...

[rich_kildow]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was trying to push the snowbank along the driveway back by taking "slices" off the front a few inches at a time down the length of it. Problem is at some point I have to get into the snowbank and then turn to straighten out...I'm sure this is when it happened.

Would angle iron on the outside, especially vertically on the front, interfere with getting through the snow on the first cut? We had several snowfalls this year where the first pass out of the garage was right to the top of the blower with heavy wet stuff. I might take a shot at a copy of the side profile out of 3/16" and bolting it on. I've been looking for reasons to play with the plasma cutter anyways.

[Burntime]

It would just widen your skid shoes out if I understand correctly. What about just straightening it out and bolting or welding a piece of flat stock on the leading edge?

[steve-wis]

I bent mine this winter too, 42 inch blower on T816 Allis. I plan on using 1/8 or 3/16 inch plate, making a pc. in the shape of the end of the blower, and either welding or bolting it on. If you notch around the skid shoes you won't widen them out, although I don't think it would be a problem if they were wider by that little bit. I did mine by finding the cement curb inside the snow bank while helping a neighbor clear the end of his drive.

Steve

[JohnMBerst]

I did what the photo shows, and bolted in place.

One way to sling the cat...

[rich_kildow]

I like that!