Plow Bolts

Plow Bolts

Plow bolts (also called countersunk square neck bolts) are heavy-duty fasteners purpose-designed for earth-moving equipment, ground-engaging tools, and machinery where the bolt head must sit flush with the wear surface. The countersunk head reduces wear and snag-points; the square neck under the head locks the bolt from rotating when the nut is tightened. AIMS Industrial stocks plow bolts for trade and industrial customers maintaining excavators, loaders, plows, and similar equipment.

Where plow bolts earn their place

• Excavator and loader bucket teeth and edges — bolting cutting edges and adapters to the bucket frame
• Bulldozer and grader cutting edges — fastening replaceable wear edges to the blade
• Agricultural plow points and shares — the original application, hence the name
• Ground-engaging tools generally — anywhere a fastener head needs to be flush with a wear surface
• Heavy machinery wear plates — replaceable plates on chutes, hoppers, and material-handling equipment

Specifications

• Head style — countersunk (flush) with included angle typically 78° or 80°
• Square neck — under the head, locks the bolt against rotation when the nut is tightened
• Material — typically Grade 5 or Grade 8 (US) / 8.8 or 10.9 (metric ISO) high-tensile steel
• Finish — black oxide is the everyday standard; zinc-plated and galvanised available
• Sizes — common metric M10 to M30, imperial 1/2 inch to 1-1/4 inch with longer lengths for heavy machinery

Identifying the right plow bolt

Plow bolts vary by head angle, square neck dimensions, and material grade — not all plow bolts are interchangeable across equipment manufacturers. The safest approach: bring us a sample of the existing bolt (or a clear photo with measurements) and we'll match by length, diameter, head style, and grade. For specific OEM equipment, the manufacturer's part number gives the exact specification.

Why grade matters

Plow bolts on cutting edges and ground-engaging tools take significant impact load. Substituting a lower-grade bolt for the specified high-tensile grade results in shear failure under shock loading — the cutting edge comes off mid-job, often with damage to the equipment. Always match the grade specified by the equipment manufacturer; substituting downward is an expensive false economy.

Installation

The square neck under the head must locate fully into the matching square or hex hole in the equipment, otherwise the bolt rotates with the nut during tightening. Tighten the nut to the manufacturer's specified torque; over-tightening stretches the bolt and reduces clamping force, under-tightening allows the cutting edge to vibrate loose in service. For high-impact applications, periodic re-torquing in service is good practice.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Hobson and Bremick cover the plow bolt range across the common metric and imperial sizes and grades. For specific OEM-pattern bolts (Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere equivalents), contact our team for sourcing through our distribution channels.

Need help with sizing or grade matching? contact our team — we'll match the right bolt to your equipment.