55: Stainless Steel Tow Plow Lines

Submitted by: St. Louis District

Innovation Description and Benefit:

For the tow plow, we have introduced stainless steel lines in place of the old hydraulic hoses and steel fittings under the spreader bed for the steering and lift cylinders. The reason for this innovation is to avoid costly and preventable repairs. Another reason for the innovation was to eliminate down time of the tow plow when it is being used during a snow event. In the past, when there was a blown hydraulic line, the tow plow was down until the end of the storm because there is no possible way to get under the spreader bed with all the snow packed in the frame. The regular hydraulic hoses would quickly wear out or become damaged and it was very difficult to change the hoses or to make quick repairs.  By using the stainless-steel hydraulic lines, there is minimal wear and if something does need to be repaired, we can repair smaller sections instead of changing out the whole hydraulic hose. 

For More Information Contact

St. Louis District

Jerry Lyston at Gerald.lyston11@modot.mo.gov or 636-223-1044.