Kubota L35 (35hp) and Woods RB72 Blade

[Keuka]

The Woods RB72 back blade is listed as a standard duty unit for 12-40 hp tractors. My Kubota L35 is 35hp and fits into the higher end of this range and I have a few questions:

Is this blade too light duty for dirt work with my 4 wheel drive tractor? It's listed as 272lbs and I'm not sure if it will just skip over the dirt or if my tractor will just destroy it.

The Kubota L35 is a rugged tractor but the tires are a semi-lug tread. I'm wondering if the tire tread will limit the traction and make a more heavy duty blade little to no advantage.

I'm posting this question because I found a good deal on a used RB72. With that in mind, it is only a deal if it works with my tactor.

Thanks for any replys.

 

[bigbull338]

id say call a dealer that handles that make of blade.but if your gonna movev alot of dirt with it id get a heavier blade.

 

[Diamondback]

I too have an L35 as well as the Woods RB72 blade. So far I've used it primarily to pull gravel from the edges of our driveway (1400 ft) back to the center of the road to maintain a crown. Also use it to clean out ditches and move snow off the road in the winter. Although I've done a little dirt work with it, no major projects. Don't think you'll destroy it with the L35 but you will need to be somewhat carefull if you snag an unmoveable object. I did catch the corner of the cutting edge on a rock outcrop near our drive by mistake and it bent slightly. Nothing major, but when set at the straight position it's about 1 inch off.

It's not as heavy duty as some blades out there, so I generally use my box blade to move dirt and level surfaces. It's a homemade unit that came with my first tractor years ago and is very heavy duty.

What type dirt work do you expect to do?

 

[Keuka]

I'm looking for something to maintain the drives and parking areas. For the most part, I'd be regrading the top 2 to 3 inches of gravel drives and pushing snow. I know a 35hp tractor isn't a dozer.

However, there are some grading projects I would want to do. I've never had the backhoe off the tractor so I'm ignorant on the tractors pulling power. The tires are foam filled so there is extra weight on the rears. It doesn't seem to take much force on the front loader before the tires spin so I'm concearned about traction. The tires have about 160 hrs of light to medium use, so there in good shape.

My first thought was to go with the medium duty model at 84 inches. That blade weighs in at about 530# and would handle anything the L35 could dish out. However, I don't know if it would be over-kill with respect to the tractors capabilities. I found this used 72 inch, RB72 at 275lbs. I can pick up for about $200 but not sure if it's too light duty.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I'm looking for something to maintain the drives and parking areas. For the most part, I'd be regrading the top 2 to 3 inches of gravel drives and pushing snow. I know a 35hp tractor isn't a dozer.

However, there are some grading projects I would want to do. I've never had the backhoe off the tractor so I'm ignorant on the tractors pulling power. The tires are foam filled so there is extra weight on the rears. It doesn't seem to take much force on the front loader before the tires spin so I'm concearned about traction. The tires have about 160 hrs of light to medium use, so there in good shape.

My first thought was to go with the medium duty model at 84 inches. That blade weighs in at about 530# and would handle anything the L35 could dish out. However, I don't know if it would be over-kill with respect to the tractors capabilities. I found this used 72 inch, RB72 at 275lbs. I can pick up for about $200 but not sure if it's too light duty.

For the price, it's worth a try. Normally I would be recommending that 84" 530lb blade. You would be much happier with the heavier blade, it will actually do some work, but for $200 it might be worth a try to see how you like the bargain blade. How much $$$ for the medium duty blade?