8' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

[JJT]

8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

I'm considering buying a backblade to do some site grade work and some serious driveway maintenance for my parents. The ground is sandy with lots of fist sized cobbles. The 1000' driveway is basically a steep, narrow tractor lane, it needs to be widened 2 - 4', ditched and have the grade cut down, 1 - 2 feet for ~ 200'. I have access to a little International 350 crawler/loader for any heavy pushing.

I have a Kubota L3710, 4wd, w/R4's, is an 8' blade too much? I have a 6' box scraper with scarifiers for breaking the sod and doing the heavy landscape work as well as a 7' rake for the finish work.

 

[Darren]

Re: 8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

I have the same Kubota and either an 8' or 9' Bush Hog blade. I use a Ford 5600 which is 60 pto hp for the blade. I don't think the L3710 will lift my back blade. You're talking well over 1000 lbs hanging about ten foot behind the tractor. An L3710 is about 30 pto hp unless you have a gear transmission and it'll be a bit more.

I doubt the 5600 could handle it either without the 500 lbs of weights on the front. It still semi-squats when I lift the blade. Check your manual for the lift capacity of the L3710 and the distance. For ex. and this is from you know where. Assume the L3710 can pick up 2,000 lb. at 2' back. 2' x2000lb = 4,000 ftlb. If a blade weighs 1,000 lbs and the center of gravity of the blade is farther back than 4', it ain't going to work.

You need to know the weight of the back blade and while you're at it find out which category as in 1, 2 or 3. If you can find an 8' blade that falls within your capacity limits it will work. You need to know the dimensions (front to back) and the weight.

The manual, a couple of years old, lists the max weight on the lower link as 1,430lbs. Under impliment limitations it lists 72" for the maximium back blade width.

 

[couchsachraga]

Re: 8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

I've got a 33hp Yanmar with a light-duy woods 7' (RB84) blade. Works fine, but I've already busted it up on rocks once. For finishing stuff off and moving snow it's great, but I'd definitely plan on moving most of the rocky stuff with the dozer.

Have fun /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Couchsachraga

 

[djradz]

Re: 8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

38 hp should be enough, but that's only part of the story. Remember you can always gear (or hydro) down if the going get tough. But, I think I'd opt for the 7 ft blade. It's a nice size and won't be as heavy for hooking up and detatching. You have the potential too for a slightly more finished job behind your sized tractor also because with a shorter blade, the tips of the blade won't move as far from plane with every little undilation.

 

[Darren]

Re: 8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

After thinking some more, I suggest going with a well reinforced back blade and instead of going for the widest blade get a smaller one with offset in addition to the usual angle and tilt. At least get hydraulics on the tilt. That will give you infinite control from the seat on the adjustment that I've found to be one where "fine" control is a plus. That's a real advantage when ditching.

The offset will provide some of the benefits of a much wider blade without the extra heft which can take enough weight off the front end to cause control problems. Even with an FEL mounted, the L3710 seems light on the front end. Lots of times you can crank the wheels way over and the tractor still wants to go straight ahead. A big back blade will magnify the problem. Sort of like a 100lb tail on a 25lb dog.

 

[Phred]

Re: 8\' Backblade, is 38 hp enough?

I agree with darren.
If you get an 8' blade that will work with that tractor it will be light duty just due to the weight issue. I think you will end up bending it up and be unhappy.
A shorter heavy duty blade will serve you better IMHO.

For comparison sake, I run a 9' blade on a 70 hp cab tractor with 4wd. If I dig in that blade I can stop the tractor in its tracks and thats with a 16 speed gear tranny! The point is it takes not only weight but hp to effectively use a long heavy blade.

Fred