Size a bolt-on edge for a telehandler by measuring three things on the machine itself: the mouldboard’s bolt pattern (hole spacing, hole diameter, and edge setback), the mouldboard width and thickness at the mounting face, and the loaded weight the boom can safely carry at the working reach. Match the replacement edge to those dimensions first, then choose section thickness and carbide content from the duty cycle, not from the machine’s nominal bucket or blade size.
Most sizing errors come from ordering by machine model or by the width printed on the old edge. Telehandler attachments are frequently built by third parties and re-drilled in service, so the mounting pattern on the steel is the only reliable reference. The notes below assume you have the machine and the worn edge available for measurement; where dimensions and hole spacing are concerned, treat the product page specification table as the authority.
Start from the mouldboard, not the blade width
The mouldboard is the fixed reference. The edge must sit flat against it, align with existing holes, and clear the wear plates and end plates through the full curl or tilt range. Measure before you open a catalogue.
- Record the hole pattern: centre-to-centre spacing along the row, count of holes, and the offset of any non-uniform holes. Note the hole diameter and the countersink or plain bore.
- Measure the edge setback — the distance from the mounting face to the cutting lip — on the worn edge, and confirm it against the mouldboard’s front profile.
- Measure mouldboard width and the thickness of the mounting face. A thin face with a thick edge concentrates bolt preload and can distort the plate.
- Check the end profile: square, chamfered, or notched for end plates. Confirm the edge does not foul the end plates at full angle.
- Confirm bolt grade, thread, and length. The bolt must clamp the edge without bottoming in a blind hole or protruding into a wear zone.
- Weigh the existing edge and compare with the machine’s rated capacity at the reach you actually work at. Edge weight is carried at the attachment, so it counts against the load chart.
Fitment by model is listed in the product page comparison table. Use it as a cross-check after measuring, not as a substitute for measurement.
Match the mounting pattern and hole spacing
Hole spacing is the dimension that most often rules out an otherwise correct edge. A pattern that is close but not exact will either not fit or will fit under stress, which shows up later as cracked plates and loose bolts.
| Check | What to measure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hole spacing | Centre-to-centre along the row, plus any irregular offsets | Determines whether the edge bolts on without re-drilling |
| Hole diameter | Bore size and whether countersunk | Affects clamp force and bolt head seating |
| Edge setback | Mounting face to cutting lip | Controls how the edge meets the surface and clears wear plates |
| Mounting face thickness | Plate thickness at the bolt line | Influences distortion under preload |
| End profile | Square, chamfered, or notched | Prevents interference with end plates at full angle |
| Bolt specification | Grade, thread, length | Prevents bottoming and premature failure |
Where the pattern is non-standard, the practical route is a made-to-pattern edge rather than an adapter plate. Adapters add stack height, change the setback, and introduce a second bolted joint that needs its own torque check. If the machine has been re-drilled in service, record the new pattern and keep it with the machine file so the next order does not repeat the measurement.
Choose section thickness from duty, not habit
Thickness drives stiffness, weight, and how the edge behaves when it strikes a raised object. The right value depends on surface type, operating speed, and how often the operator crowds the edge into a pile.
For light duty — clean paved yards, light snow, low speed — a thinner section keeps weight down and is easier on the boom load chart. For mixed duty with occasional packed drifts and kerb contact, a mid-range section is the usual compromise. For heavy duty with gravel, frozen banks, or frequent impact, a thicker section resists bending but adds weight at the attachment and reduces the payload available for the bucket or fork. Carbide content follows the same logic: more carbide generally extends wear life in abrasive conditions, at a higher initial cost and with different grinding behaviour at the lip. Expected life is a range, not a figure, and depends on surface abrasiveness, down-pressure, operator technique, and how often the edge is rotated or flipped. The same applies to cost per hour: it depends on the duty cycle and on whether the edge is run to a wear limit or changed early.
Two related field notes are worth reading before you fix a specification: one on reversible edge rules if the design allows flipping, and one on uneven end wear if the current edge is wearing asymmetrically. Both affect how you size the next set.
Weight, balance, and the load chart
A telehandler is a lifting machine first. Every kilogram added at the attachment reduces what can be carried at reach, and the effect grows quickly as the boom extends. Weigh the old edge, weigh the proposed one, and check the difference against the load chart at your real working reach rather than at maximum capacity.
Balance also matters. A heavier edge shifts the centre of gravity forward, which changes how the machine feels at full raise and how the tilt circuit loads. If the difference is significant, consider a shorter edge or a different section rather than adding counterweight. For machines that work near pavement lights, kerbs, and covers, the strike risk changes with edge mass and stiffness; the checks in edges and pavement lights are a useful cross-reference.
Bolting and torque practice
The edge is only as good as its clamp load. Use the bolt grade specified for the plate, clean the threads, and torque in a sequence from the centre outward so the edge seats evenly. Re-check torque after the first few hours of work, then at intervals that depend on vibration and duty.
Broken bolts are usually a symptom rather than a cause. If bolts fail repeatedly, inspect the hole pattern, the plate flatness, and the bolt length before changing the edge specification. The photograph-and-report approach in why plow bolts break is a practical way to build a record. For public-sector or contract work, the bid documents sometimes specify edge dimensions and hole patterns; the notes on reading bid tabulations help interpret what was actually awarded.
What this means for distributors and OEM buyers
For distributors and importers, the commercial exposure sits in specification risk rather than unit price. An edge ordered by machine model or by the width stamped on the worn part may not fit a re-drilled mouldboard, and returns, rework or a stalled machine carry costs that outweigh any saving on the part itself. Lead time and MOQ also depend on whether the pattern is standard or custom; non-standard hole spacing usually moves an order into a made-to-order bracket with longer delivery and higher minimum quantities.
Total cost of use should be assessed against the duty cycle, since section thickness and carbide content drive wear life and replacement frequency. Confirm every dimension against the product page before committing to stock or contract volumes.
Quick summary
Size the edge from the mouldboard and the mounting pattern, then set thickness and carbide content from the duty cycle and the load chart. Measure hole spacing, setback, face thickness, and end profile on the machine; treat model-based fitment as a cross-check only. Expected life and cost per hour are ranges that depend on surface, speed, and operator practice.
Sources checked on 2026-11-08: SENTHAI product specification table for carbide snow plow blade; machine load chart practices for telehandlers; field notes on bolt failure and edge wear from the linked talk pages.
Three more perspectives
Limits
This page is a sizing method, not a substitute for the machine manufacturer’s load chart, the attachment builder’s drawings, or a site-specific risk assessment. It does not cover weld-on edges, non-standard re-drilled patterns without measurement, or legal requirements for road use. Dimensions and hole spacing vary by product; confirm them against the product page specification table before ordering.
