Wood skids

TM 38-260

(1) The longer dimension of the base of the equipment shall be positioned parallel to the skid runners, with bolt

holes centered over the runners, maintaining the required clearances

(2) The required clearances for the skidding of IPE are those set forth in paragraph 8-8d.

8-9. Wood skids

a. General. Platform flooring, number, and dimension of runners, nailing, bolting, and arrangement are dictated

by the weight, dimensions, hold-down devices, and type of equipment to be skidded. Due to the variance in contour and

location of hold down points on IPE, a greater number of runners with lesser dimensions may provide the most

economical skid assembly.

b. Securing equipment to wood skids with bolts. Machines shall be secured to the skid by not less than four

bolts. When sufficient bolting points are not available, J-clamps, tie rod assemblies, tie rod yoke assemblies, or other

devices should be used to provide a minimum of four holding points.

(1) Bolts and other holding devices must pass completely through wood skid runners and flooring.

(2) Lag screws, nails, steel or nylon strapping, and spikes are not used to secure machines to skids.

(3) Carriage or step bolts must be of sufficient length to pass through the runner, flooring, machine mounting

holes, or holding devices and permit the affixing of nuts.

(4) In the absence of other adequate hold down devices, leveling screw bolt holes may be used. The threads in

the machine base shall be protected by a lead sleeve after removal of the leveling screw. When hollow leveling screws

are a part of the machine and they provide a more adequate hold down than the bolt hole of the machine base, the bolts

should be backed off flush with the underside of the base and the lock nut on the upper side set. A lead protective sleeve

is required inside the hollowed leveling screw.

(5) Bolt heads shall be countersunk in wood runners so that no portion projects below the base of the skid runner.

Cut washers shall be placed under nuts and bolt heads. Nuts shall be tightened to the extent possible with a hand

wrench, then backed off one-fourth to one-half turn to relieve tension in the machine adjacent to the bolt hole. Power

wrenches shall not be used.

(6) Table 8-1 provides the minimum diameter of bolts in relation to the weight of the equipment when four

mounting points are available. When the size of the bolt holes incorporated in the machine design is greater than the bolt

diameters indicated in table 8--1, sleeves or larger bolts shall be used to assure a snug fitting mounting without upsetting

bolt threads or damaging machine mounting holes.

(7) If the mounting holes of the machine base do not permit bolts of the size specified in table 8- 1, the number of

hold down bolts or other devices shall be increased to compensate.

8-20