Front blade for dirt work?

[Verticaltrx]

I posted in the Kubota section, but I realized I would get more responses here. I'm looking to get a 60" front blade for my B3200 and was looking for some input from those who use a front blade for dirt work.

I build barns, sheds, riding arenas, etc and have been using a 6' rear blade for the final leveling and grading of the sites. Looking over your shoulder 8hrs a day gets pretty old, not to mention getting off the tractor every time I have to make an adjustment to the blade.

My uses for a front blade would include:

-use in conjunction with a box blade for initial excavating/grading
-leveling fill dirt
-leveling gravel for base
-spreading dirt, gravel, and sand when building arenas
-finish grading around site
-back filling trenches
-plowing snow in the winter

I'm looking for input from those who have a front blade as to how it would work for the afforementioned tasks. I know they are hard to beat for pushing snow, but I also think it would work well for the other tasks listed. The blade I'm looking at is a 60" heavy-duty with trip spring lockout, hydraulic lift and angle.

Thoughts, oppinions, and pictures would be great, Thanks.

 

[gwjd]

i think that the best part is you can have you BB and fb on at the same time

 

[ChuckinNH]

I thought it would be the 72" blade that went with the B3200, but I'm sure the 60" one wiill work fine. I'm interested in this thread too, partly just because there is a bit of frustrated dozer operator lurking in me somewhere. I have used one a little bit on a JD 3000 series in gravel, and found it to be a bit tricky to do level grading with. I think some practice would help a lot, and there certainly was no problem pushing loose gravel around. I just had a harder time making it level. On the other hand I seldom see even very experienced dozer operators going very fast until things are pretty well smoothed out.
It is my understanding that on the Kubota tractors the full loader frame can be left on while the front blade is mounted, and in use. I also understand that the front quick hitch can be left in place while the loader is mounted, and being used, but that clearances, both with the ground, and with the loader are small. Here is a picture, or two of a B7800 set up that might help you out........ thanks to the member that posted them some time ago. Oops, you said B3200...... let me take anogther look. As you can see, the sub frame is different, but the quick hitch is pretty much the same, and shouldn't cause any more issues.

 

[nybirdman]

I had a L3130 with a sub-frame mounted six foot blade(could not leave the FEL on) worked well in snow,not so well for dirt.Currently have a L4240 with FEL mounted 8 ft.curtis plow....works great for snow...again not very good for dirt work.I use a rear mounted seven ft.Bush-hog blade and box blade for dirt work.These are the proper tools for dirt work with a tractor.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I thought it would be the 72" blade that went with the B3200, but I'm sure the 60" one wiill work fine. I'm interested in this thread too, partly just because there is a bit of frustrated dozer operator lurking in me somewhere. I have used one a little bit on a JD 3000 series in gravel, and found it to be a bit tricky to do level grading with. I think some practice would help a lot, and there certainly was no problem pushing loose gravel around. I just had a harder time making it level. On the other hand I seldom see even very experienced dozer operators going very fast until things are pretty well smoothed out.
It is my understanding that on the Kubota tractors the full loader frame can be left on while the front blade is mounted, and in use. I also understand that the front quick hitch can be left in place while the loader is mounted, and being used, but that clearances, both with the ground, and with the loader are small. Here is a picture, or two of a B7800 set up that might help you out........ thanks to the member that posted them some time ago. Oops, you said B3200...... let me take anogther look. As you can see, the sub frame is different, but the quick hitch is pretty much the same, and shouldn't cause any more issues.

Thanks for the insight and pics. They do also have a 72" blade, but for heavy use the narrower one would be better. When I am laying a finish grade regardless of the equipment I'm using I absolutely creep along. With rough excavating and grading I move along as quickly as the equipment will reasonably handle. Once I get the grade close I find it best to do the final grade in one pass (I use a laser level with a receiver I mount on the blade.)

Good to know on the subframe vs loader frame, that was something I was wondering about.