OK to push trees over with a box blade?

[boggen]

eeewww! that just plain looks painful!

kinda glad, i can say ""i have NOT been there and done that""

*knocks on wood*

well, i don't know about that....
thinking about it, now. on the allis CA, this winter. i got it stuck in deep snow. and had to use the 555c backhoe. to give it a good yank. on the back blade. ((couldn't get chain hooked any place else)) and i wonder if that is what snapped the PTO shaft that also drives the hyd pump. (good old yank and sudden shock on pump, and sending the back pressure to the shaft.)

awe, just reading to much into it. i will blame it on the 60plus years of age.
============
hope all works out well. without to much hassle.

 

[nybirdman]

Tough luck...I use my FEL with tooth-bar for that work.Just bought a "stump bucket" from Gator Attachments...haven't used it yet but it will get a work-out soon.

 

[teg]

...Why do box blades have a blade on the back?

When you extend the toplink all the way out... so that the only thing touching the ground is the rear blade, it leaves a very nice smooth finish when you drive forward (pulling the BB). Like a rear blade that's turned around 180* (this is how I use it most of the time.)

 

[beppington]

When you extend the toplink all the way out... so that the only thing touching the ground is the rear blade, it leaves a very nice smooth finish when you drive forward (pulling the BB). Like a rear blade that's turned around 180* (this is how I use it most of the time.)

Yes, & I've done that, too. It's just that the BB's blade naturally says to me, "Push more or pull me, either way" ... Well, it used to anyway. Now it says, "Pull me, or push me into cool whip or warm butter".

 

[Deere Dude]

I was backing into a dirt pile with a scoop which is a lot smaller than a Box Blade and when I loaded the FEL and in 4WD so I could get more traction to really fill the scoop, the right arm bent like a pretzel. I though it must have been a weak arm and the warranty covered it, but by the skin of my teeth. I would be sure if it would happen again I would be out of luck. If i remember right, it would have been a $600 screw up.

 

[beenthere]

...........
well, i don't know about that....
thinking about it, now. on the allis CA, this winter. i got it stuck in deep snow. and had to use the 555c backhoe. to give it a good yank. on the back blade. ((couldn't get chain hooked any place else)) and i wonder if that is what snapped the PTO shaft that also drives the hyd pump. (good old yank and sudden shock on pump, and sending the back pressure to the shaft.)

...............

Hint:
Just a thought for others.....NEVER give something a YANK. A smooth pull only, as a yank is surely to break something and it does no good to apply that sudden shock to an immovable object (let alone to the connection (chain, rope, etc.) and to the pulling equipment).

 

[DAY]

Hint:
Just a thought for others.....NEVER give something a YANK. A smooth pull only, as a yank is surely to break something and it does no good to apply that sudden shock to an immovable object (let alone to the connection (chain, rope, etc.) and to the pulling equipment).

And that goes for more than tractors- as my rotator cuff injury proves!:laughing:

 

[beppington]

Probably not a good idea. Price the arms that you will probably end up bending and see if you still think it is worth the chance of bending them. Backing into stuff has been discussed on this board many times, and while many get away with it for years, some don't. Adding the llifting stress to the backing up only increases the chances of bending the arms.I bought a set of lift arms for my 7710 and they weren't cheap.
David from jax

David ... I've tried searching for some of the other threads you mention, but no luck at all ... What should I search for?

 

[Arsavoie]

I use a chainsaw to take down trees not my tractor some of you ain't to smart

 

[kebo]

OUCH!! OUCH!! OUCH!!

I hate that when things like that happen.

What is the next step? Remove the housing and try to get a good weld job?
Find a replacement housing? It's on the wheel/axle side and not the main tunnel by the looks in the pic.

Do wish you well.

Weld it back on, paint it up real nice, throw some oil/grease/dirt on it, and then SELL IT!! JK'ing there!

Man, that sux to break the casting. Looks to me like it's part of the main center rear housing. Whatever, it still looks like an expensive repair job. If I recall correctly, the JD 4300 that dfkrug bought from a rental yard had a broken cast housing similar to yours. The OP might look back through that big thread and see if it had any tips/suggestions he could use. I wish him best of luck too. I hope he lets us know how it goes.

 

[dawoodwa]

Box blades are meant for spreading loose objects like sand, dirt, gravel, etc... They are not designed to be used as a bulldozer, if they perform just as good as a dozer then there would be a lot of them painted yellow with a CAT emblem on them. I have operated tractors for at least 35 years and have put a lot of strain on lift arms but I have never bent one nor broken one. Anytime someone uses a piece of equipment for something that it was not designed for they run the risk of damaging the equipment or themselves. The same holds true for a front end loader, they are not meant for land clearing. Be kind to your equipment and your safety by using equipment for its designed purpose.
I have a cousin that repairs equipment and he could make a good living by just repairing equipment that people destroy by trying to do something that it wasn't designed for. He has a Ford 3000 series sitting in front of his shop right now that has a seized motor because someone was skidding logs through the woods with it and bumped a stump. Small dent in the oil pan but right where the oil pump is located.
Look at the ROW tractors that are used for maintaining pipelines and powerlines, they have beefed these tractors up with skidplates, different tires, limb risers, and cab screens for a reason.

 

[sandman2234]

OUCH!!
I wish "I tried to warn you" didn't sound so much like "I told you so". That will be an expensive lesson, no doubt and one you won't likely forget very soon.
David from.jax

 

[teg]

It should be lesson for all "new to tractors" owners... Just like: keep the bucket low as possible when loaded... mow up and down very steep hills not across them...

 

[LMTC]

Why do box blades have a blade on the back?

The back blade feathers or smooths the material as you pull forward. The front blade tends to cut. As you now know, three point hitches are meant for pulling only. I am not aware of any three point implement that is designed to be used with the tractor in reverse.

 

[Perplexed]

As you now know, three point hitches are meant for pulling only. I am not aware of any three point implement that is designed to be used with the tractor in reverse.

So moving snow off a driveway with an angled rear blade, while going in reverse, is a no-no?

 

[beppington]

The back blade feathers or smooths the material as you pull forward. The front blade tends to cut. As you now know, three point hitches are meant for pulling only. I am not aware of any three point implement that is designed to be used with the tractor in reverse.

Yeah, again ... UGH.

Tractor's at the shop for repair now. Will report once I have it back.

Meant to mention, I caused this all myself by way of jinx: Earlier in the afternoon of the 3PH break I called my dealer & ordered a new Land Pride GS1572 grading scraper! Later that evening I broke the 3PH. Had to call him the next day & let him know I now have no way to use the grader

Only kidding of course - Not knowing I wasn't supposed to be pushing with the 3PH, I had no plans to stop using it that way, so I was surely gonna break it at some point. This should be the last time, though :thumbsup:

The good thing is, when it is all fixed & ready to come home, it'll be coming home with a new implement, too :thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

So moving snow off a driveway with an angled rear blade, while going in reverse, is a no-no?

I used to...haven't for years because of possible damage to the 3PH lower links (and the mounting points on the transmission casting).
Bending or breaking a 3PH component (by pushing in reverse) isn't a new topic on TBN.

But if you are going to push in reverse, don't go too fast...

I went from pushing snow (in reverse, as you have been) to pulling the rear blade and doing final clean up with the bucket...to just using the bucket.

 

[jake98]

I'm gonna half-way heed this advice, so maybe I'll be the next one breaking the casting. It works too good pushing snow to not use it, but I'm gonna definately take it slower. Famous last words...
Maybe when I hear what it cost Bep I'll rethink that tho.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm gonna half-way heed this advice, so maybe I'll be the next one breaking the casting. It works too good pushing snow to not use it, but I'm gonna definately take it slower. Famous last words...
Maybe when I hear what it cost Bep I'll rethink that tho.

If you can rig the blade so it "trips" when pushing, you'd probably be OK. Most of the threads I read (concerning damage when pushing snow) were folks who hit curbs or stumps (or other immovable object) at a higher speeds.
So, keep the area (you normally remove snow) clear of obstructions and push at a reasonable speed.

 

[Perplexed]

I'm gonna half-way heed this advice, so maybe I'll be the next one breaking the casting. It works too good pushing snow to not use it, but I'm gonna definately take it slower. Famous last words...
Maybe when I hear what it cost Bep I'll rethink that tho.

If you can rig the blade so it "trips" when pushing, you'd probably be OK. Most of the threads I read (concerning damage when pushing snow) were folks who hit curbs or stumps (or other immovable object) at a higher speeds.
So, keep the area (you normally remove snow) clear of obstructions and push at a reasonable speed.

I don't know about other folks, but I'm fortunate in that I have a flat, paved driveway with no curbs or nearby obstacles. Plus, pulling a blade while moving snow means I'd have to drive over the virgin snow before blading it off the driveway. So I'll just go backwards - and go slow, as advised. Maybe my luck will desert me though, and I'll join Jake in the club of Busted PH's