Storing a Mounted Plow Over Summer: Cylinders, Springs, Bare Steel and the Cutting Edge

Scenario: the season is over and the plow will sit for months. Direct answer: clean it, inspect it, fix what you find, protect the bare steel, and park it so no weight sits on cylinders or springs. Work through the checklist below once in spring, and the plow should be ready when you need it. This is general maintenance advice.

Maintenance checklist

Clean

• [ ] Wash off salt and road film, especially around pins, hinges and cylinder rods.
• [ ] Let it dry fully before coating anything.

Inspect

• [ ] Cutting edge: wear, chips, bent ends. Decide now whether to replace it, so the job is not left to November.
• [ ] Moldboard: dents, cracks, worn paint.
• [ ] Frame, pins and clips: wear, cracks, missing parts.
• [ ] Hoses and cylinder rods: pitting, leaks, scoring.

Protect

• [ ] Touch up bare steel on the moldboard with paint or a rust-inhibiting coating.
• [ ] Lightly coat the cylinder rods or retract them as the maker advises.
• [ ] Grease pivot points and pins.
• [ ] Spray or wipe a light protective film on bare steel and the edge bolts, keeping any coating off the wearing surface.

Support and store

• [ ] Park on level ground or a hard floor, with the plow supported on stands or blocks.
• [ ] Keep the plow indoors or under cover if possible.
• [ ] Store spare edges and bolts dry, labelled and off the ground.

The November test

Before the first forecast, do a short function test: lift, lower, angle each way, check for leaks and look at the edge. Anything that fails goes onto the shop list before the storm.

If the shed is limited

If you cannot store every plow indoors, cover them and raise them off the ground so water does not pool. Prioritise the plows with the oldest paint and the most exposed cylinder rods. Store small parts and spare edges indoors, where moisture and temperature swings do less harm.

Boundary: This is general advice with no measured data; follow your plow maker’s storage instructions, especially for cylinders and hydraulics.