Zero clearance variable width concrete paving machine

A method of paving a surface with a paver comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the paver with a main frame comprising a front end and a rear end;
• b) providing a first front track mechanism and a second front track mechanism the first and second front track mechanisms for supporting the front end of the main frame, and providing a third track mechanism and a fourth track mechanism the third and fourth track mechanisms for supporting the rear end of the main frame, and providing a means for driving the first front, second front, third back and fourth back track mechanisms;
• c) providing a pan support frame which extends outward from the rear end of the main frame;
• d) providing hydraulic cylinders connected to and extending from the pan support frame;
• e) providing a paving pan assembly connected to the hydraulic cylinders, the paving pan assembly located at and extending from rear end of the main frame;
• f) establishing a width between the two front track mechanisms and establishing a width between the two rear track mechanisms, with the widths being less than a width of the paving pan assembly, allowing for zero clearance paving on both sides of the paving pan assembly;
• and
• g) mounting a first weight to the first front track mechanism and mounting a second weight mounted to the second front track mechanism, the first and second weights at the front end of the main frame and opposite the paving pan assembly extending from the rear end of the main frame, the first and second weights for balancing the paving machine.
• h) supplying a mass of material to be deposited to the paving pan assembly and depositing the mass of material.