Front blade on 4300

[Bob_Trevithick]

Does anyone have the Deere 72" (really 66", so they tell me.. go figure) blade on their JD 4000 series?

This is coming on mine, and it occured to me to wonder how heavy this thing is? And how easily it detaches. It's frame-mounted, so I expect you just put some pins and back away from it.

I notice the Deere site says you must have the FEL attached in order to use the backhoe. Is it possible the front blade might weight enough to allow me to use a backhoe?

I'm also wondering if the front blade should just be left on as a counterweight for the rear mower and/or the tiller? An added advantage of leaving it on might be that if the tiller hits a rock, I can then just use the blade to mess around and get the rock out.

I really didn't see enough uses for the FEL on my property to justify losing the utility of the angling front blade for snow and dirt. I suppose I could always get one later, if I find a need for it.

Anyway, sorry for rambling.. brain isn't up to RPM this early in the morning. Thanks in advance for any thoughts about the front blade.

Bob Trevithick

 

[beenthere]

Soon ( I hope ) you will have that tractor and blade, and will be telling us how great it is. I think you will enjoy it, and find many things to do with it. You may find it a little cumbersome just using it for a front weight. I doubt it will be as much as a FEL, but it will help hold your backhoe up. You might be able to hang weights right on the blade if more weight is needed. Enjoy.

 

[jfakerj]

Bob
I may be wrong, but I think the reason that jd says to have a fel is the bh uses the fel frame work for support to tie the whole tractor together.

Jerry

 

[billboe]

Jerry, you are probably on to something here... On my Kubota L2850, the backhoe ties into the loader subframe...

Billboe

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

Hi Beenthere,

Maybe the blade comes off easily. I'll find out. I wonder if the normal front mounting spot for suitcase weights is still accessible with the blade on. Hmm.

The beast should be delivered Tuesday morning, so hopefully I'll have a status report by Tues afternoon or Weds morning.

I will just take it easy with it at first, to observe the break-in period. I would assume that "taking it easy" would include some light work with the plow, moving dirt, provided I stayed in creeper gear and didn't run it up to full RPM. I'll pick their brains when they deliver it. I can't wait!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob Trevithick

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

<font color=blue>...but I think the reason that jd says to have a fel is the bh uses the fel frame work for support to tie the whole tractor together.</font color=blue>

Ahah.. you're probably right. Oh well, I guess someday I'll "have" to buy a FEL. Life is rough. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thanks...

Bob Trevithick

 

[butzkeg]

I've seen this picture on JD's site. It's a bit small, but they show using a blade and backhoe together.

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

<font color=blue>I've seen this picture on JD's site. It's a bit small, but they show using a blade and backhoe together.</font color=blue>

Thanks.. I'll ask about it when the deliver it tomorrow.

Bob Trevithick

 

[MJB]

The backhoe does not connect to the FEL frame on the 4300. Deere wants the FEL to be on with the backhoe for counterweight and for increased stability when using the hoe. That said, I have operated my 48 hoe on my 4300 without the loader on a few carefully chosen occasions. I had some really soft flat areas where I was digging a drainage ditch. With the FEL attached I could not get close to the work area due to the front wheels sinking in the mud. The front end is a little light with the hoe on without the loader. To find just how light I performed a little experiment. With the hoe attached without the FEL I fully extended the hoe bucket straight behind the tractor with the bucket about a foot off the ground. I then slightly raised the hoe stabilizers off the ground. No wheelies yet. I then got off the tractor and placed nearly all of my 170 lbs on top of the backhoe bucket. I was just able to lift the front wheels on the tractor. With some quick math I calculated that the front wheels still have about 350 lbs on them with the hoe stretched out and the stabilizers up. With the hoe in the normal transport position the front weight would be much higher. I would estimate at least 500 lbs. With the front blade attached you should have plenty of counterweight. You may want to check out how compatible the front blade mounting brackets are with a FEL in case you decide to get a loader at a later date. Hope this helps.

72% of all statistics are made up./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MJB]

I think you mean the model 74 blade. They actually come in three widths: 54", 60", and 66". I don't have one but it looks like it would be just the ticket for plowing snow. I might just get one if clearing snow with the loader does not work out.

72% of all statistics are made up./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif