MyME
Minnesota winters demand reliable equipment and precise preparation. Your snowblower is the most valuable tool in your garage when the drifts start piling up. Many operators overlook a critical adjustment that dictates how well the machine performs and how long it lasts. The skid shoes are the small metal or composite plates attached to the side of the auger housing. They determine the height of the scraper bar and keep the metal intake housing from grinding against the ground. Properly setting these plates prevents damage to your driveway and keeps you from launching gravel through your neighbor’s window.
Setting Up for Gravel Driveways
Gravel driveways present a unique challenge for snow removal. If your scraper bar sits too low it will dig into the loose stones and send them flying through the chute. This poses a safety hazard to people and property nearby. It also wreaks havoc on the internal components of your blower like the impeller and the auger.
The goal on gravel is to float the auger housing above the loose rock. You want to leave a thin layer of snow behind. This layer eventually gets packed down by vehicle traffic to create a hard frozen base that is much easier to blow over later in the season. You need to lower the skid shoes to raise the scraper bar. Most operators aim for a clearance of one-half inch to one full inch depending on how uneven the surface is.
Snowblower Settings for Pavement and Concrete
Homeowners with asphalt or concrete driveways usually want a cleaner scrape. You can run the machine much closer to the ground without worrying about picking up debris. This clears the snow right down to the surface and reduces the chance of ice formation.
Even on hard surfaces, you should not let the scraper bar drag directly on the concrete. This causes rapid wear on the steel bar and can leave rust marks or scratches on decorative pavers. A small gap is still necessary. Aim for about one-eighth of an inch of clearance. This is roughly the thickness of a piece of heavy cardboard.
If you have a decorative stamped concrete driveway or paver patio, consider switching to non-abrasive skid shoes. These are made from high-density polyethylene or similar composite materials. They slide over the surface without scratching or leaving rust stains like traditional steel shoes might.
Step-by-Step Skid Shoe Adjustment Guide
Adjusting the skid shoes is a straightforward maintenance task that takes only a few minutes with basic hand tools. Always perform this on a flat and level surface like a garage floor. Check your tire pressure first because uneven tire inflation will throw off the level of the auger housing.
Follow this process to get the perfect height:
- Loosen the mounting bolts: Use a wrench or socket to loosen the two bolts holding the skid shoe to the housing. Do not remove them completely. Just loosen them enough so the shoe slides up and down freely.
- Prop up the scraper bar: Place a spacer under the scraper bar at the bottom of the auger housing. Use a wooden shim or a piece of 1/2-inch plywood for gravel settings. Use a paint stir stick or thick cardboard for pavement.
- Position the shoes: Allow the skid shoes to drop down until they sit flat on the ground.
- Tighten the bolts: Secure the bolts tightly while the shoe remains flat on the floor.
- Verify the gap: Remove the spacer and tilt the machine back to check that both shoes are set to the same height.
- Check for level: Rock the machine gently side to side to make sure it does not wobble.
Get Ready for the Season
Correctly adjusted skid shoes make a massive difference in how your machine handles heavy snow. A well-set machine glides over the surface rather than fighting against it. If your current skid shoes are worn down to thin metal or you need help getting your equipment dialed in for the season the team at Minnesota Equipment is here to help. We stock a wide variety of replacement parts including heavy-duty and non-abrasive skid shoes for John Deere, Toro, Ariens, and Gravely models. Stop by one of our locations to get the parts and advice you need to tackle the next blizzard with confidence.
