How to Adjust a Western Plow

Check how hard the snow pack is--the harder the snow pack, the greater the angle you need. Assess the depth of snow, which will determine the height of the blade. Shear off the top layers of snow by plowing with the blade raised 3 to 4 inches for the initial pass. Lower the blade on subsequent passes.

Adjust the blade with the control lever based on your assessments of the snow pack and snow depth. Move the lever forward to raise the blade and backward to lower it. Move it to the left to angle the blade left and to the right to angle it right. Return the lever to the central, or neutral, position when the blade has adjusted, unless you're using the blade in the lowered (float) position, in which case keep it there. This position allows the blade to move up and down with the contour of the surface being plowed.

Plow the snow and adjust the plow periodically as the conditions change. Chip away at the snow pack--use the entire width of the blade only for snow depths of 6 inches or less. Use portions of the blade width for greater snow depths--3/4 of the blade for 9-inch snow and half the blade for 12 inches of snow.