Back Blade worth buying??

[jodebg]

I am new to tractors and need to make a dirt road.

Just saw an older 5 ft back blade for sale.

Wondering if it would be worth buying? What does a back blade do
that I would not be able to do with the 60" front bucket?

It looks as if it is a few years old-paint coming off and hardware
is rusting. Was stored outdoors.

Asking price is $150.

Worth having and is the price fair?

Thanks!

 

[Thomas]

For ditching you want heavy duty.
When blade set at 45 degrees will blade cover your rear tires?
Does blade have adjustable level wheels or can be install?
Will scraper blade be use for snow removal?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

You can do a lot of things with your front bucket. You can do a lot of things with 3pt implements. Each thing has it's intended purpose and works waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay faster and better than the other for those intended purposes. I believe that you would be better off using the rear blade for your dirt road. Now chances are that the blade for sale is not really heavy enough to do a good job (375-500lbs) but the combination of a light duty blade and your loader would be better than just the bucket in my opinion. If you are lucky and the blade is heavy enough, I doubt that you would even use the loader at all for any of your grading purposes.

Yes, about any usable implement is worth $150.

Just my :2cents:, good luck with your decision.

 

[cartod]

If your tractor can handle a bigger one, I would pass on the 5'. If 5' is what size you think you need then offer him $125, I bet he takes it.

 

[Wolfy]

Make sure you can spin the blade backwards. If you can't, don't buy it.

 

[Mike476]

Unsure what work you need to do to make your dirt road (remove sod, brush etc?). If so then the back blade is not the right tool. I've used mine for everything from grading to snow removal to steadying loads when lifting logs onto the sawmill. A very useful implement without question but it does have it's limitations, removing top cover isn't something it will do terribly well. For that you may want to look at a box blade.

For $150, if it's in relatively decent shape and will fit your tractor I would recommend buying it, certainly an implement you want to have.

 

[jodebg]

No, the blade and the rear tires are the same width.

I need to fill in some low spots and raise the ground level a bit with some stable material to drive on.

Also, a stretch of land has some nasty, large and dense pricker bushes that I need to clear before entering the area.

What's the best way to clear them without a hack hoe the reach in pull them by the roots?

For ditching you want heavy duty.
When blade set at 45 degrees will blade cover your rear tires?
Does blade have adjustable level wheels or can be install?
Will scraper blade be use for snow removal?

 

[855atty]

Everything is a decision to bE made upon your circumstances. I have a 5 foot blade on my JD855. It is wider than the wheels and tilts to make 'gutters' for my gravel driveway. For that, it's pretty good, For leveling, not so good--a box blade is better. Wish i had one, but I don't need one.
On my property, we have a lot of rock just below the surface but when one surfaces, the back blade will usually pop it right out. I have tried and failed to push over some trees with the blade. It will pull out some small stumps though, going forward. It pushes gravel pretty well but leveling is a PITA.
I agree that being able to swivel 360 degrees is essential.

Decisions, Decisions!!
Good luck!!

 

[jodebg]

Make sure you can spin the blade backwards. If you can't, don't buy it.

Please tell me why this is important. Thanks

 

[GPintheMitten]

Please tell me why this is important. Thanks

Sometimes you want to blade with it backwards. An example is plowing snow on a gravel drive before the frost sets in so that you don't pick up gravel and dump it in the lawn.

 

[GPintheMitten]

A blade is almost an essential tool but it won't do everything. For removing brush I recommend the ratchet rake attachment for your fel.

 

[855atty]

For me, it means i can pull or push material. To me gravel is easier to push because you don't have to drive over the 4 cubic yards just dumped on your driveway. But when i tilt the blade [by raising or lowering the 3pt lift arm] to gouge out a 'gutter', it's easier for me to pull the blade--I can follow the road better--driveway is S shaped and a couple of hundred feel long. I don't have any fancy hydraulic hold downs or whatever so the only thing keeping the blade down is its own weight.
If you want or can drive over the material you pull, if you don't want to or can't drive over the material you push. You have those options if the blade moves 360 degrees. Mine also locks at 45 degrees to push/pull off to either side.

Decisions,decisions.

 

[Wolfy]

I find it much easier to push snow in reverse, rather than compacting it while pulling forward. Also, a reversed grader blade is handy when backfilling holes, or leveling a path over stuff you do not wish to drive over first.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Here's some additional advice, buy the blade, use it. If you don't like the results, sell it. I doubt that you would loose money and for sure you wouldn't loose much and you will for sure learn something.

 

[cartod]

Sometimes you want to blade with it backwards. An example is plowing snow on a gravel drive before the frost sets in so that you don't pick up gravel and dump it in the lawn.

I agree. I turn my blade clear around if I'm doing my gravel driveway.

 

[Oldstuff]

I agree about turning the blade 360 being important. I could with mine until I added a quick hitch and the blade now hits the lower part of the quick hitch structure.

 

[jodebg]

Found a slightly used Ratchet Rake today. I have a 60" bucket and the rake is a 72 model.

Called the folks at Ratchet Rake and they advised against buying this size. Said it was to big and heavy for a 30hp tractor.

Anyone use the 72" model on a 60 bucket?

 

[jodebg]

A blade is almost an essential tool but it won't do everything. For removing brush I recommend the ratchet rake attachment for your fel.

Found a slightly used Ratchet Rake today. I have a 60" bucket and the rake is a 72 model.

Called the folks at Ratchet Rake and they advised against buying this size. Said it was to big and heavy for a 30hp tractor.

Anyone use the 72" model on a 60 bucket?

 

[murphy1244]

Found a slightly used Ratchet Rake today. I have a 60" bucket and the rake is a 72 model.

Called the folks at Ratchet Rake and they advised against buying this size. Said it was to big and heavy for a 30hp tractor.

Anyone use the 72" model on a 60 bucket?

Cut it to size.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Do you weld? If so cut it down and reposition the brackets.

For that matter it will only stick out 6 inches on each side. If the brackets are within your bucket you could use it asis.

Found a slightly used Ratchet Rake today. I have a 60" bucket and the rake is a 72 model.

Called the folks at Ratchet Rake and they advised against buying this size. Said it was to big and heavy for a 30hp tractor.

Anyone use the 72" model on a 60 bucket?