What Is a Bombardier SW48 Sidewalk Plow (Blade Width & Track PSI)
The Bombardier SW48 is a sidewalk snow-clearing machine with a nominal clearing width of 48 inches (1,219 mm). That figure describes the machine’s stated clearing width, not necessarily the width of a separate installed blade. Its rubber tracks are not air-filled, so track PSI does not apply. Do not inflate them or guess at track tension; check the correct manual for your machine’s serial range.
If you found “track PSI” in a discussion or are trying to confirm the SW48’s blade width, the key is to separate two different things: machine width and track adjustment. A 48-inch clearing figure is useful for identifying the machine’s nominal working width, but it does not prove that every attachment fitted to every machine is exactly 48 inches wide.
Using the right manual also supports practical, lower-waste choices. Correct setup and care can help you avoid unnecessary parts replacement, but only if the instructions match your machine. Here is how to confirm the width, understand the tracks, and check the SW48 safely without guessing at specifications.
SW48 Identification, Attachment Setup & Safety Checks
The SW48 designation identifies the sidewalk snow-clearing machine discussed here. Its nominal clearing width is 48 inches, or 1,219 mm. Before measuring or servicing an attachment, identify the machine’s serial number and check the attachment’s own identification plate, since a nominal machine width does not confirm the size of every fitted component.
Start by recording the model and serial numbers. Use them to find the correct machine manual and, where relevant, the manual for the installed attachment. Model year or serial range can affect service instructions, so do not rely on a manual simply because its cover says “SW48.”
What does “48-inch clearing width” mean?
A nominal clearing width is the stated width across which the machine is designed to clear snow. For the SW48, the nominal figure is 48 inches (1,219 mm). It is not, by itself, proof that a separate blade or other attachment measures 48 inches from edge to edge.
To verify what is actually installed:
- Read the machine’s model and serial identification.
- Check the attachment’s identification plate, if present.
- Compare the attachment and machine with the manuals that match their identification details.
- If the attachment plate is missing or unclear, ask a qualified dealer or service provider to identify it rather than inferring its size from the machine name.
I avoid calling an attachment “48 inches wide” unless its own identification or reliable machine documentation supports that description. That distinction matters when checking fit, replacing a part, or comparing the SW48 with another machine.
What to inspect before use
Look over the tracks, sprockets, idlers, guards, scraper or skids, controls, and fasteners for visible damage or looseness. These are inspection points, not a substitute for the manual’s service procedure. Do not adjust track tension by feel or apply a generic measurement from another tracked machine.
| Check | What to confirm | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Machine identity | Model and serial number are readable | That all SW48 machines share identical service settings |
| Clearing width | Nominal width is 48 in (1,219 mm) | That every fitted blade or attachment is exactly 48 in |
| Track type | The SW48 uses non-pneumatic rubber tracks | That a tire-pressure gauge or air pump is relevant |
| Track tension | The correct manual provides the inspection and adjustment method | That a universal PSI or deflection value exists |
| Engine and fluids | Labels and serial-matched instructions identify requirements | That fuel, oil, or engine settings can be inferred from “SW48” |
Before operating, wear eye, hearing, and hand protection, along with slip-resistant footwear. Keep people, pets, and loose debris away from the discharge path. Keep hands and feet clear of the intake, auger, and track drive. If an inspection reveals damage or a loose part, follow the manual’s instructions before running the machine.
Sidewalk Snow-Clearing Operation
Safe operation depends on using the correct starting and operating instructions for the specific SW48, not on an assumed control layout or a generic technique. Follow the machine and engine manuals for starting, warm-up, controls, and travel speed. Stop the engine and prevent the attachment from moving before inspecting or clearing a blockage.
Before starting, make sure the work area and discharge path are clear of people, pets, and debris. Check that guards are present and that controls and visible hardware appear intact. If you cannot confirm that the attachment is correctly fitted or the track is seated, do not use the machine until you have checked the proper instructions or obtained qualified help.
During operation
Start and warm the engine as its manual directs. Use the specified controls and travel speed. I would not supply a universal speed or operating setting: the correct value can depend on the machine and engine instructions, and it is not established by the SW48 model name alone.
If snow blocks the intake or auger, do not reach in while the engine is running or while the attachment could still move. Stop the machine and isolate the engine according to its manual before clearing or inspecting the attachment. Keep clear of hot engine parts, and use only the method and tools allowed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
| Situation | Safe response |
|---|---|
| People or pets enter the discharge area | Stop clearing until the area is clear |
| Snow blocks the intake or auger | Stop and isolate the engine; never clear it by hand while running |
| A track looks displaced or damaged | Stop, shut down, and inspect; do not continue operating |
| A control, guard, or fastener appears damaged or loose | Follow the manual’s inspection and repair directions before use |
| A setting is unclear | Check the manual matching the serial range or contact a qualified service provider |
The 48-inch nominal clearing width is not a reason to force the machine through a space or change its setup. Confirm clearance for the actual installed attachment and machine, and follow the operating instructions for the surface and conditions at hand.
What if a track comes off?
A track that is not correctly tensioned, damaged, or obstructed by packed snow or ice may walk off or fail. That can affect control. Stop, shut down, and inspect the track and related components. Do not continue operating with a damaged track or one that is not properly seated.
The manual for the machine’s serial range should specify how to inspect and adjust track tension. If you do not have that procedure, do not substitute a pressure value or a tension method from a different machine. Have the track checked by a qualified technician if its condition or installation is uncertain.
Track, Attachment & Engine Maintenance
The SW48 tracks are non-pneumatic rubber tracks, so they do not have an inflation pressure. “Track PSI” is not an applicable pressure specification for them. Track tension is a separate service matter; use the inspection and adjustment method in the manual for the machine’s serial range rather than inventing a PSI value.
A tire-pressure gauge measures air pressure. It cannot provide a meaningful inflation reading for a non-pneumatic track. Do not add air. If a chart or conversation gives a PSI number without naming the SW48’s applicable service procedure, do not treat that number as an SW48 track setting.
Track tension and inspection
Track tension describes how firmly the track is fitted around its drive and support components. It is not the same as tire pressure. The correct check and adjustment method can vary by serial range, so there is no universal SW48 PSI figure to apply.
Use this practical sequence:
- Identify the machine’s model and serial number.
- Find the service instructions for that serial range.
- Inspect the tracks and visible sprockets and idlers for damage, debris, or a track that is not seated as described in the manual.
- Follow the manual’s specified tension check and adjustment procedure.
- If the track is damaged, displaced, or cannot be adjusted as instructed, stop and seek qualified service.
Do not use a generic track-deflection measurement unless the correct SW48 manual calls for it and gives the method. A number measured in a different way, or borrowed from another machine, may not mean the same thing.
Attachment, engine, and fastener specifications
Inspect the attachment, guards, scraper or skids, controls, and fasteners according to the machine and attachment manuals. The machine’s nominal 48-inch clearing width does not establish the attachment’s identity or authorize changes to its setup. Check the attachment identification plate and use the matching instructions.
Fuel, oil, fastener torque, and engine-speed values are also specific to the engine and machine instructions. I would not infer them from “SW48.” Read the relevant labels and manuals before adding fluids, tightening fasteners, or changing an adjustment. If the information is missing or does not match the machine, pause and confirm it with a qualified service provider.
There is no verified installation case study or universal attachment setup to report here. For a particular machine, the useful real-world check is to compare its serial number and installed attachment plate with the correct documentation. That avoids presenting an unverified fit or dimension as a standard SW48 configuration.
Shutdown, Storage & Seasonal Preparation
After clearing, disengage the attachment and stop the engine as directed in the manual. Allow hot parts to cool before inspecting or cleaning around them. Remove packed snow safely, check the tracks and hardware, and store the machine dry while following the engine manual’s fuel-storage instructions.
After each use
Use the manufacturer’s shutdown sequence rather than relying on a general order of controls. Once the machine is stopped and hot parts have cooled, check for packed snow around the track drive and attachment. Do not put hands near moving parts, and do not start the machine to inspect an area that can be checked safely while it is off.
Look for new damage, a loose fastener, a displaced track, or debris around the drive. If you find a problem, use the serial-matched manual to decide what inspection or service is allowed. Do not operate the SW48 until a damaged or improperly seated track has been addressed.
Storage and seasonal checks
Store the machine dry and follow the engine manual’s fuel-storage procedure. Before seasonal use, confirm that the machine and attachment identification are readable, guards and controls are present, and tracks and visible hardware have no obvious damage. Use the correct manual for any adjustment or fluid service.
Keep the manuals with the machine if possible, or record where you can find the correct versions. A note of the model, serial number, and attachment identification can save time when checking a specification later. Most important, do not replace a missing service value with a guess.
Bottom line: The SW48 has a nominal clearing width of 48 inches (1,219 mm), but that does not confirm a separate attachment’s width. Its non-pneumatic rubber tracks have no inflation PSI. For track tension and all engine or service settings, use the instructions that match the machine’s serial range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bombardier SW48’s clearing width?
The SW48’s nominal clearing width is 48 inches, or 1,219 mm. This describes the machine’s nominal clearing width and does not independently confirm the measured width of a separate installed attachment.
Is the SW48 plow blade exactly 48 inches wide?
Not necessarily. The 48-inch figure is the nominal machine clearing width, not confirmation that every installed blade or attachment measures 48 inches. Check the attachment’s identification plate and matching documentation.
What PSI should I put in SW48 tracks?
None. The SW48’s rubber tracks are non-pneumatic, so track inflation pressure does not apply. Do not use a tire-pressure gauge or add air.
How do I set SW48 track tension?
Use the inspection and adjustment method in the service manual for the machine’s serial range. There is no universal PSI value, and a generic track-deflection figure should not be substituted.
Can I use a tire-pressure gauge on the tracks?
No. A tire-pressure gauge is for measuring air pressure. The SW48’s non-pneumatic tracks do not have an inflation pressure to measure.
What should I do if a track comes off?
Stop the machine, shut down the engine, and inspect the track and related components. Do not operate with a damaged or improperly seated track. Follow the correct manual or arrange qualified service.
Can I clear an auger blockage by hand?
Never clear a blockage by hand while the engine is running or while the attachment could still move. Stop and isolate the engine as the manual directs before inspecting or clearing the blockage.
Where do I find the correct service specifications?
Start with the machine’s model and serial numbers, then consult the manual for that serial range. Use the engine and attachment identification and manuals for their own specifications, including fluids, torque, and adjustment values.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Evan Bradley. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
