Rear Blade Need a new rear blade

[RichZ]

Yikes!!! I was also wondering what caused the blade to bend.

I use a light duty Worksaver backblade, that I bought at QFF when they were going out of business, to plow snow. QFF called it a heavy duty blade, but believe me it's not, and it cost about $200 at their going out of business sale. I've used it a lot on some heavy snow (we've had two 20" + snowfalls already this year). I've never had a problem with it. I hit frozen rocks all the time, big ones, too, and it just bounces off. But I haven't counted how many times I've hit them!! I hope one of these times it doesn't become a pretzel, too!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[Rick Jay]

Corm and Hoeman00,

That's interesting information. I recently ordered a rear blade for my B2910, mostly for snow removal. I figured moving snow was easier than working in the dirt, so I was ready to order a "light duty" model.

However, I liked the features on the heavier duty model (my dealer sells Woods, so I was comparing the RB line to the HBL line.) I wasn't sure if I would ever need offset, but figured that if I didn't have it, I would someday wish I had bought a blade that easily offsets. I also like the extra moldboard height of the HBL series, and the extra weight can only help.

So, I ordered the HBL-72-2. After hearing your experiences, I'm glad I did. Now, if it arrives while we're still in snow season, I might be able to give a try.

Thanks for the useful info.

~Rick

 

[MarkV]

Corm,

You got yourself a mighty fine blade coming. Two of the options offered for that blade would make a great grader for your drive. The tail wheel and the end plates in conjunction with your new top cylinder would be a wonderful grading system. The end plates turn the blade into a large boxblade or one plate for pulling the edges of a drive back into the main drive. The tail wheel would isolate the blade from irregularities in grade the tractor hits creating an even finish. Mchalkley had a similar set up and someone better with the search function may be able to find his positive comments. Of course the down side is that those options are expensive.

MarkV

 

[WVBill]

Corm:

Not that it matters now, but I'd bet that all that damage didn't happen just on the 101st rock encounter. There was probably a small crack that happened early in the life of the blade that kept growing as you worked with it. You didn't see it because you weren't looking for it - and it may have taken a dye-peneetrant, x-ray or magnaflux test to show it anyway. If you take a close (may even need a magnifying glass) look at the cracked areas you may see some portions of the crack are dull, weathered or even rusted. This would be a sure indication of progressive failure.

Like I said - it doesn't matter now, just a point of interest based on what I recall from the crash investigation class at aviation safety officer's school years ago.

 

[gerard]

You should be happy with it. I have the RB84, which is the model below what you bought I think. I've done some pretty heavy work with it (26hp 4wd) with no problem. Think it's around 350lbs and if I get hung up on a rock I just lose traction. The cutting edge is 1/2 inch and is reversible.

 

[Corm]

Your comments about using it as a road grader mirror exactly what I was thinking. My old blade simply wasn't heavy enough to do very much. I had to wait until a day after a rain fall, when the gravel / clay was damp, but not 'wet', so my old blade could do the job, and this was if I could find the time when the timing was right!. I'm hoping this new one will be heavy enough so that I can do the job when it is convenient for me, and with the addition of the tail wheel and end plates, will give me a real nice end result.

It's funny how things progress - I used to grade my driveway with an old bed spring dragged behind my 12 horse garden tractor. Then I got an old piece of I beam to drag in front of the bed spring, and that was a big improvement. When I bought my Cub, and the now broken rear blade, I was elated at how much I had improved my ability to take care of my driveway. Now I'm looking forward to this new blade and the even better job it will do for me. Next, I'll be looking for a good deal on a used Austin-Western road grader! When does it stop! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

I'll post a picture of my new blade when I get it home this weekend.

Corm

 

[Corm]

WVBill - I'm sure you are right. Like I said earlier, the small stone I hit didn't look appreciably different than the many others I've tangled with over the years. I will go take a close look at it when I get home tonight just to see if I can find what you suggested.

Corm

 

[patrickg]

Corm, Thanks for the report. I bought my "light Duty" King Kutter as a reasoned risk and have been lucky so far. I hope to never have to move heavy wet snow loads with it. So far this winter (if you can call it that) we haven't had but one of the two snow events make a visible white on the ground and it was gone in two days. Northern OK got 8 inches and it stayed a while. One of my "reasons" was it was so cheap it was worth a gamble.

I have been fully pleased except for the adjustment locking pin bouncing out a couple times. I do have to position the 3PH "just so" to be able to rotate it around and clear the rear tires when I want to push into a row of delivered gravel not dumped in a pile but spread out without having to drive over or on the pile.

I might not be so happy if I tilted it and lowered it down to REALLY take a bite of dirt. I reserve that for the box blade.

HMMMM maybe I should drill a hole in the locking pin to take a spring clip keeper thingy.

Thanks again for the user report.

Patrick

 

[patrickg]

Hoeman00, Thanks for the modification details. If I need more strength (and haven't messed my unit up beyond ecconomical repair) I'll try what you did. Sounds like a fairly inexpensive upgrade with lots of bang for the buck.

Thanks again,

Patrick

 

[Boondox]

Corm -- I have a LandPride 3572. Really heavy duty. How about you and Holly come over this weekend? You can play with the blade (heck, I'll even save some snow for you to plow!), and the wives can commiserate. Besides, it'll give me an excuse to show off the MIG welder!

Pete