Introduction to Snow Plow Maintenance

Snow plow truck drivers and salt spreaders make it possible to traverse through treacherous Winter weather conditions; working tirelessly around the clock to maintain the roads and highways that take us to and from work or wherever we need to be, as well as keeping the streets clear and clean for vital emergency personnel such as police, fire, EMTs, and first responders who are on-call 24/7. These Municipal-run firms and privately-owned contractors battle the blustery blizzard bombardment every year and while their services may only last a single season, the work performed during this time can be quite stressful for the equipment involved. The first day of Winter isn’t until December 21st, but owners of snow plows and salt spreaders should take this time now, while the weather is still tolerable, to start preparing their rigs for the oncoming ice season.

PRESEASON VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

Snow plows and salt spreaders typically employ the use of full-size 4X4 pickup trucks, medium duty commercial trucks, and in some cases, tractors. For private property and land clearing, sometimes ATVs and UTVs are fitted with plows. As with any vehicle that sees street time during the cold months, winterizing is top priority. The major areas of concern are the powertrain and drivetrain (engine, transmission, transfer case, differentials), brakes, tires, electrical, and fluids. Inspect for damage, premature wear, or signs of potential trouble. Monitor fluid levels and condition. Address and rectify any leaks, broken hoses, damaged wires, and loose belts. Test the battery, starter, alternator (and additional power controllers, if applicable) for proper charge and make sure that all headlights, driving lights, fog lamps, running lights, brake and turn indicators, and hazard beacons are fully-functioning. Repair, replace, and refill anything you suspect to have reached the end or is nearing the end of its service life. Do not ignore even the slightest evidence of wear because, as often the case is with most anything in life, small problems can quickly escalate into major catastrophes if attention is not given. Remember: your business, as well as your life and the lives of others, all depend on your truck’s operating condition. Better to be safe than sorry, even if it means spending a little more than you initially expected to in repair and maintenance costs.

PLOW MECHANISM MAINTENANCE

The snow plow mechanism is a complex electro-hydraulic or pneumatic system of motors, pumps, and lifts. Like the vehicle on which it is attached, the plow mechanism is subjected to the harsh elements of cold, ice, and road salt. Road salt is a highly corrosive material that can dry out and rot rubber hoses, fittings, and coverings as well as deteriorate untreated or unprotected metals. This is why it’s important to wash away road salt debris from the vehicle and the plow before it has a chance to accumulate. Outside of the threat of road salt, the plow mechanism regularly experiences abuse through normal use. It’s battered by physics and gravity as it takes the force of the traveling vehicle against the solid snow, slush, and ice that blankets the roadway surface. In this section, we will discuss the individual key area components that suffer the most maltreatment.

TRIP SPRINGS

Trip springs are the large springs seen on the rear of the snow plow blade. They act in a similar manner to a car’s suspension; soaking up the shock from solid snow on the ground as to not upset the balance and stability of the snow plow blade. It is designed to have some flex and give, for a perfectly rigid surface is more susceptible to vibration and impact damage. Over time, the weight of the plow blade and the buildup of wear through years of service will take their toll on the trip springs; causing them to gradually lose tension until they become useless. Broken, worn, or missing trip springs can cause a myriad of damage to the road surface, the plow, and the truck so it is absolutely important that these components are in prime shape.

We stock replacement trip springs for Boss, Diamond, Fisher, Meyer, Western, and other popular snow plow models.

LIFT CYLINDER

In hydraulic or pneumatic-actuated snow plows, the lift cylinder is what converts the respective fluid or gas pressure into mechanical motion that raises or lowers the plow blade. The ability to control the height and angle of the blade aids in its snow clearing effectiveness, as well as helps maintain vehicle stability on the job. An ill-functioning lift cylinder won’t be able to allow the operator to have full motion over the blade and increases the risk of damage to the plow and the street surface. To ensure that your snowplow’s pneumatic or hydraulic lift system is operating at full functionality, inspect the lift cylinders for any pressure leaks or seizing. If it is determined that the cylinder is no longer functional, replace with a brand new aftermarket lift cylinder from Discount Starter & Alternator.

Lift cylinders are available for Boss, Fisher, Maxon, Meyer, Snoway, Western, and other leading snow plow brands.

CUTTING EDGE

The part of the snow plow that makes physical contact with the snow is the cutting edge; a strip of rubber that drags along the street and catches the snow. It acts similarly to a rubber squeegee on a pane of glass, wiping away water droplets and leaving behind a clean surface. It’s also a protective shield for the metal plow blade or bucket and prevents it from grinding against the street. The rubber cutting edge is purposely designed to be a consumable item, never intended to be a permanent, lifetime product. It’s solid rubber construction is battered with friction and impact damage and the caustic de-icing chemicals that are used to treat the road surfaces during Winter. Eventually, the cutting edge will sustain enough damage to render it useless and replacement will become a necessity.

We carry replacement rubber cutting edges for snow plows by Blizzard, Boss, Diamond, Fisher, Meyer, and more.

SHOE ASSEMBLY

The plow actually has two lines of defense against it being ground into dust along the abrasive tarmac and concrete road top. One is the rubber cutting edge, which is the piece that attaches to the blade or bucket and does the lifting and removal of frozen precipitation. The other is the shoe assembly. It helps the blade glide over the surface and helps to minimize the abuse taken by the cutting edge. The snow plow shoe assembly also decreases the likelihood of the blade accidentally digging into the ground and causing damage. There are different types of swappable shoe assemblies to coincide with the type of terrain on which the plow will be used. They’re normally equipped on straight blade plows as standard equipment, though they are often relegated as secondary aftermarket pieces for the heavier V-style plows.

Discount Starter & Alternator carries snow plow shoe assemblies for straight blade and V-style plows.

MOTOR

Snow plows and salt spreaders are powered by an electric motor. Depending on the type of use, frequency of use, and the size of the plow rig itself, you will need a motor that is capable of providing adequate power. A motor that is too small can be overworked to the point where it could fry itself out and die. Too strong of a motor can actually become a energy-robbing parasite, excessively drawing away power that is needed to operate the other accessories such as hazard and indicator lights. Both an underpowered and a grossly-overpowered motor can put unnecessary additional strain on your vehicle’s electrical system. That is why it’s important to select a motor that is appropriate and best suited to perform for the tasks that it is required to do. In addition to powering the plow, salt spreaders rely on supplemental electric motors to automatically distribute rock salt crystals while the vehicle is in motion. The motor powers the auger/agitator and spinner disk part of the salt spreader; breaking down the salt chunks in the reservoir bucket so that the smaller broken down pieces can pass cleanly through the spreader.

Discount Starter & Alternator covers motor units that are compatible with the top-selling plow manufacturers including Blizzard, Fisher, Leeson, as well as for electric-powered salt spreaders from Canimex, Meyer, Boss, and other top brand names.

SOLENOIDS

Whenever a plow or any complex machine beings to exhibit signs of malfunction, there is somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction to place the cause onto major parts such as the engine/motor or driveline component. Other usual suspects in the lineup are the coil wiring, any pneumatic or hydraulic hoses, and the joystick controller. Often, the solenoid--the part that utilizes the electric energy made by the motor--goes unnoticed. A bad solenoid can produce a variety of ill effects that can mimic other ailments. If you observe or notice the beginnings of a possible issue, it would be wise to initiate an in-depth inspection of the solenoids and the electrical system itself.

We house an impressive selection of brand new replacement snow plow solenoids for leading plow manufacturers such as Meyer, Blizzard, and Western.

THE FINISHING DETAILS

Now that the major components have been addressed, it’s time to have a look at the smaller regular maintenance pieces such as PTO clutches, salt spreader gearboxes, replacement hoses, and the like. Like the nuts and bolts that hold together a large structure, failure of these small parts can have devastating consequences. A good number of mechanical breakdowns are often due to small parts failure, so it is highly advised to inspect and test these pieces and ensure their functionality before taking on the wrath of Winter. For snow plows with rear-facing salt spreaders or salt spreader trucks, we sell replacement hubs, augers, spinner disks, and metal agitators. Large heavy duty pickups and medium commercial vehicles can benefit from high visibility guide sticks to let motorists know of their presence in low visibility areas.

So whenever the forecast calls for ice or snow, sleet or slush, hail or black ice, trust Discount Starter & Alternator can keep your rig on the road.