Back blade for snow removal

[TheMan419]

Ok there are no dumb questions right?

Currently using FEL for snow removal. It works. However I now have a 5ft back blade. I have never used a back blade for anything.

How is it used for plowing? Do I plow in reverse? I have a gravel drive. I値l habe to add some 都hoes to keep it from moving all the gravel into the grass.

 

[Rustyiron]

Ok there are no dumb questions right?

Absolutely :thumbsup:

Rear blade's work nicely, there are a ton of threads on keeping one up just enough to be out of the gravel on TBN. The best way is to pave over the gravel first Guy's use pipe's split long ways to provide a dull edge, shoe's and other means & techniques. I think pulling the blade with the top link shortened way up provides the least aggressive blade angle might do it or at least help.

 

[Citydude]

I turn my blade backwards and drive forward. Turning the blade forward just gouges until the road is well frozen over.

 

[RjCorazza]

I turn my blade backwards and drive forward. Turning the blade forward just gouges until the road is well frozen over.

This is what I did when I had a gravel driveway. The OP may want to also look into Edge Tamers for the bucket edge... they are inexpensive, and work great on gravel.

 

[TheMan419]

This is what I did when I had a gravel driveway. The OP may want to also look into Edge Tamers for the bucket edge... they are inexpensive, and work great on gravel.

Op has edge tamers and loves them. . They stay on all year unless I am moving dirt. Actually they make getting into the manure pile easier.

Just got the back blade for free and want to see if it is easier to move snow.

 

[RjCorazza]

I am a little ocd and couldn’t stand plowing gravel. After 3 years I bit the bullet and paved 600 feet.
I use the edge tamers on a few gravel driveways that I occasionally plow, and they simply can’t be beat on a loader bucket!
I learned about them here, so maybe your recommendation got me looking at them.

 

[mcfarmall]

I love plowing snow with a back blade and FEL. Drag the snow with the back blade to my "landing" from the driveway, etc. then use the FEL to pile it up. Works great! I use the rear blade on my lawn but shorten the top link to reduce the positive rake of the cutting edge. Once the bare ground freezes you are golden until a big thaw.

 

[TerryR]

Currently using FEL for snow removal. It works. However I now have a 5ft back blade. I have never used a back blade for anything.

How is it used for plowing? Do I plow in reverse? I have a gravel drive. I値l habe to add some 都hoes to keep it from moving all the gravel into the grass.

I have a quarter mile gravel driveway, see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/299055-grading-interesting-driveway.html

I use my back blade regularly for snow plowing. The FEL is way too slow, so I don't use it unless the drifts are too high to plow (over about a foot).

The first step is to make sure you grade out the ruts from the tire tracks before it snows so the drive is smooth. If the ground hasn't frozen you have to carry it a bit on the 3-point to keep it from digging in. I don't find any need for anything thing special to keep the blade out of the gravel. If the road is frozen just let the blade float and it will be fine.

I find that I have to swing the blade to the second hole, nearly 45 degrees, and drive at a fair clip to get the snow to flow off, especially if it's more than a couple of inches.

 

[cat fever]

I also use a back blade if the snow is deep enough. (otherwise just the 4 wheeler) I can raise the blade just off the ground and it just stays there. I don't get gravel while plowing.:thumbsup:

 

[RSKY]

A blade is much better than a bucket.

Due to fuel problems I only cleared about a dozen or so driveways this week. Two or three years ago we had a big (for us) snow with drifts higher than the rear tires on my little Kioti. I cleared, or at least made passable, 34 or 35 driveways and more than a mile and a half of two lane road over three days using a 5' rear blade. Then had to go back and open up everybody's driveway after the county made one pass with a snowplow blocking the drives. I set my blade at a 45 angle and start on the left side of the drive. Get to the end, back up and do it again. Repeat moving to the right until the drive is clear. Only occasionally, on a very wide drive, do I have to get off and change the angle. When the drive is clear I turn the blade backwards and push the snow out of the road from where I have drug it out of the driveway.

I had a ball doing this. Met people whom had lived a quarter mile from me for twenty years that I had never met.

Back to the story. Our snow is usually kinda wet and packs easy. Once you start down the road it will curl up and roll off to the side. On a gravel drive I watch and as soon as I see that I am pulling up gravel I raise the blade a little until I'm leaving about an inch of snow. This week pulling the lever up to the 7 mark worked perfectly. If I shorten or lengthen the top link that will change.

I tell the ones that I see out that I may scratch their driveway but when they need milk, bananas, and toilet paper they don't care.

I use the bucket only when there is a drift I can't get thru or when to push myself out when I get in a ditch. Yes a tractor will slide sideways into a ditch off a slight slope. Chains will be my next purchase but they are hard to justify when used two days a year on somebody else property doing work for free.

RSKY