Cleaning ditches along driveway

   / Cleaning ditches along driveway
  • Thread Starter
#21  
In my experience if the (road side) shoulder of the ditch is not close to the same pitch as the scrape blade...it is only going to take a short pass before the blade/rake is loaded with earth/gravel from the shoulder and along with any accumulated debris just falls/rolls back into the ditch...

This is the problem I had when I borrowed a buddies landscape rake. I might as well have been using my FEL (I tried that too) :)
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #22  
The largest cyclone rake model with a hose extension and bribing a friend to be on the hose end with beer and pizza may be your only option.

You may end up needing a larger motor than the largest one that they offer but its worth a try if you are shopping for new iron.
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #23  
This is the problem I had when I borrowed a buddies landscape rake. I might as well have been using my FEL (I tried that too) :)

I saw this on CL today and thought about this thread...with an offsetting blade like this and hydraulic top and tilt it greatly increases the abilities of a rear blade...I wish my blade had offset capabilities...The below blade would work well on a lot of my ditching...!

blade_offset.jpg blade_offset2.jpg
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #24  
Many blades will offset, but don't have a provision for it. Just unbolt the rear mount, then remount it a pair of holes right or left of center.

Bruce
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #25  
How about a strong backpack blower? My Stihl BR600 will move decent sized stones with the volume it puts out. I would think it would clean out a ditch pretty well, but have not tried it myself as I haven't had the need.
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #26  
How about a strong backpack blower? My Stihl BR600 will move decent sized stones with the volume it puts out. I would think it would clean out a ditch pretty well, but have not tried it myself as I haven't had the need.

I was in Weeks State Park last month and they have a road to the top of the mountain with the varied shaped ditches you get on steep roads in rough terrain. That is exactly what they were doing - blowing out the ditches with BackPack blowers. It worked very well. I didn't remember it until you mentioned it.

Myself, I hate to admit, have to use a stiff bamboo rake and a dump trailer on my uneven ditches when I want to clean them. Which isn't to often except in one short steep pitch. If I had more I would get a blower. I think you can also get a blower for the tractor 3ph too.

gg
 
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   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #27  
Myself, I hate to admit, have to use a stiff bamboo rake .....

A rake!!?? :eek: Manual labor!!??:eek:

HOW DARE YOU SIR!! THIS IS A TRACTOR WEBSITE!!!
IF YOUR ANSWER DOESN'T INVOLVE BUYING AN ATTACHMENT, OR AT LEAST A 2 CYCLE POWER TOOL, PLEASE KEEP YOU COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!!!!

;) :rolleyes: :D
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #28  
A rake!!?? :eek: Manual labor!!??:eek:

HOW DARE YOU SIR!! THIS IS A TRACTOR WEBSITE!!!
IF YOUR ANSWER DOESN'T INVOLVE BUYING AN ATTACHMENT, OR AT LEAST A 2 CYCLE POWER TOOL, PLEASE KEEP YOU COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!!!!

;) :rolleyes: :D

Very true,

I have always wanted to see one of the rotary spinning ditchers used in the stony ground around here, be interesting to see how it handles a large round cobble rock.

On topic when I clean out my ditches I tilt the blade and angle it and offset the blade I can get the end of the back blade behind the rear tire and it will cut a small steep banked ditch.
 
   / Cleaning ditches along driveway #29  
Very true,

I have always wanted to see one of the rotary spinning ditchers used in the stony ground around here, be interesting to see how it handles a large round cobble rock.

On topic when I clean out my ditches I tilt the blade and angle it and offset the blade I can get the end of the back blade behind the rear tire and it will cut a small steep banked ditch.

I agree about cutting a new ditch or reforming/shaping an existing ditch. I cut ditches with my blades too.

P1150365.JPG

RoadDitch1.JPG

But if I just want to clean out the leaves, using a blade does not work for me. It makes to much work. Instead of a row of fluffy leave that are easy to clean up off the edge of the road I get a lot of dirt, vegetation, and rocks, mixed in with the leaves. Also there are two new windrows of loose soil, one along either side of the ditch, from the blade cutting. If they are not removed and the edges contoured the loose soil just falls back into the ditch. Maybe its just me this happens to but whatever - A rake and a dump trailer is easier for me if I'm just cleaning leaves.

But hey - The dump trailer is hitched to the tractor so this is a legal post :laughing:

gg
 
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   / Cleaning ditches along driveway
  • Thread Starter
#30  
Thanks guys. After hearing all opinions I really need a top & tilt rear blade. The one in the pic would work well. We've got 3 Stihl BR600s & I've used 2 simultaneously & they just couldn't get the wet leaves out. There's some gravel, dirt/mud, & sticks mixed in here & there. It's my fault, this is a new purchase & if I had stayed on top of it, 1 BR600 prob. woulda done the trick. Now I'm gonna pay w/ sweat getting this darn ditch cleaned out...
 
 

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