Scrape Blade dies the first day on the job

[FL_Cracker]

I have been working at my property for several days now and the new tractor is working great. Almost to 50 hours this week alone. I have done several great projects but today I started to crown some new roads before I add gravel. I hooked up my Bush hog S50-07 scrape blade and adjusted it so the leading edge was angled down and forward. This cut into the soil and brought it back to the middle of the road. It was making the roads crown in the middle and doing a great job.

Whoops... The bull dozer left a stump just below the surface and I caught it with the front edge of the blade. As it jerked to a stop, that caused my foot to push harder on the HST pedal and pull more. I must say the L5030 has some power. The 4" sq. tube that supports the blade twisted like it was nothing. Even the knuckle that the rear blade pivots on twisted in three directions. I think this blade is toast....

Has anyone had this problem and what can you do about it. It seems like the blade shouldn't bend so easy and should stand up to a tractor it's matched up with. I purchased the HD blade but it still bent like it was nothing. This was after only one hour of use. Should I buy another blade and only use it to scapre gravel and stay away from shaping new roads?

1 hour, $ 700.00 down the drain.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[OhioGuy]

Hey Charles,
Can you post a picture of your bent blade, maybe someone will have a suggestion for a fix?
Curt

 

[curt1]

Charles,
Sorry to hear about your new blade /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. You could take it to a machine shop and see if they could repair it. Someone who is good with metal might be able to fix it fairly cheap. You could also take it back to the dealer that you bought it from and see what they say about it. They may give you another one, or fix it. I hope you find a good, cheap and easy solution.

Curt

 

[beenthere]

Something has to give way when an 'immovable' object is met with the power of your tractor (adding the surge forward when you pressed down on the forward HST pedal).

Stumps and roots will even stop a bulldozer. Sorry to hear that the dozer didn't get all the stumps out, and your blade is 'toast'. Hope you can get it fixed.

A $700 blade is probably a bit on the 'light-weight' side, but even if a $1500 blade, it probably would have bent rather than stop the tractor first.

 

[JerryG]

When you don't know for sure what is in the ground you must go slow. Just be glad that you didn't break the lower arm attachment points off of the rear axle. If that had happened, $700 would have been cheap.

 

[aloha]

Did this blade come with the new tractor, or did you have it for a while? If new, I'd talk to the dealer about it. Since you were using it as it was intended to be used, you may have a warranty claim. If not an express warranty, there may be an implied warranty.

 

[Keith_B]

A $700 blade shouldn't bend that easily. We have an el cheapo that has held up much better than that.

 

[Egon]

Think someone else has given the perfect advice.

Go very slow in the unknown and consider the the bent blade much cheaper than a two piece tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On my little B7100 I have left the MMM mounting on hoping it may get bent instead of the main tractor when a rock is hit.

PS: I have also broken my back blade and was very glad it was just the blade. A little welding $15.00 and all was well.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[beenthere]

Maybe you will loan yours to FL_Cracker to try it out on the hidden stump, being pulled by a good size tractor. Would be an interesting test, and I'd be curious what breaks first - the stump, the tractor, or your blade. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ssrdotto]

First I would take it to the dealer and see what they will do (odds are nothing). Then I would look at getting it fixed. Probably wouldn't cost to much. then I would go out and buy some off that stuff that eats away stumps let it sit for the recomended time then either dig it out or burn it. Finish fixing roads going slowly and use what this has taught you for future projects.

And always be grateful for lifes learning experiences w/ out them we would never become better people. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am sorry to hear about your accident but maybe your post will help other people.