Grading Boom Mounted Blade

Anonymous Poster · Oct 17, 2002

I have a 4300 with a 420 loader and have been looking for a snow removal solution. The JD website says there is a boom mounted blade available but shows no further information or picture. My dealer says it's a BW14677 72" blade that mounts using the 4 pins the bucket uses (about 3 min. to change) for $1220 The small picture in his book is a drawing and the blade appears to stick ahead of the mount about 2 - 3 feet.

I am wondering if anyone here has seen or owns this blade, and can give me any more info?

Green_in_MI · Oct 17, 2002

I have asked the same question here before without reply. It appears that the front mounted blade is not a popular sales item. I have seen them at one of the dealers here in mid-Michigan and they look very sturdy and well made. I am going to buy one because I don't want to drag snow with the backblade anymore. The blade comes without hydraulics but Deere sells a kit for around $500 and hooks up to operate from your loader control stick. There are posts on the frame where you can install cylinders. I don't see why you could not install your own, cheaper.

I have read where a front mounted blade can force the front of the tractor sideways. I have also read where people love the setup. These were in reference to the Curtis blade which
is similar. The weight of the 4200 would help in keeping it stable.

I think the price of this single use implement has slowed sales. Most folks are content with using a backblade for a cheaper solution for snow. I would not use the blade for anything else than snow. You could move some brush piles but you would probably do that with the bucket on anyway.

good luck

ronjhall · Oct 17, 2002

SR71
I have a Curtis snow blade on my Kubota. It is a good blade. But it cost close to $1800 by the time I installed it. If you can get a JD that fits your FEL frame for $1220. I would consider that a good deal, The Curtis would require welding to get it attached to you FEL.
Here is a link to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.curtisintl.com/index.html>Curtis click here</A>.

Hoeman00 · Oct 17, 2002

what about a used 6' -6.5' meyers type blade w/ power angle
and build a small frame to apapt to loader pins.
I'm looking for a 7.5 or 8' to do the same to for my 250 Deere SSL.
Have found some in $200-400 range w/o pump or p/u brackets but am
always tooooo late,sold already.

beenthere · Oct 17, 2002

I have a 4300 and have put on a Western plow. It can be seen at this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=86629

Works very well, and attaches quickly (almost as quick as the loader which I interchange with if the snow needs piling).

JackIL · Oct 17, 2002

I own a 420 loader and have the blade you are considering. See the attached photo showing the bucket, pallet fork, and blade.

The blade is well built and would be suitable for clearing snow. I do not have the hydraulic angle kit. If you look in the PARTS manual for the 420 loader it shows all of the details of the blade and the hydraulics.

I have only used the blade a small amount since we didn't have much snow last year. When the blade is angled, it wants to push the front of the tractor sideways so you have steer the opposite way to keep a straight heading. In addition you have to use the foot brakes on the left to assist in steering. Steering is not a problem unless you have a big blade load.

I have not used the blade to move gravel or soil.

Jack

Rus91 · Oct 17, 2002

I have a 4010 and live in central Illinois and had planned on using the FEL to move snow. Is this a bad idea? I don't have a huge drive maybe a 125' long. I have no experience moving snow so any experiences anybody has had would be great to hear about.

Hoeman00 · Oct 17, 2002

That is what I am talking about making w/ a meyers type blade and
if the Deere loaders have a quick-tach like the SSL have, Bobcat sells
a blank quick-tach plate for under $100.
2 tabs on bottom for the plow pins and a hook on top for chain
and be ready to plow snow.
I think it can be done for less than $350.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 17, 2002

That's a really nice looking installation. Did you consider mounting the blade to the FEL in place of the bucket? Would the extra distance the blade would be in front of the tractor make it harder to use that way?

beenthere · Oct 17, 2002

I gave some thought to the bucket blade, but didn't want that blade further out in front of the tractor than absolutely necessary. It makes controlling the direction of travel that much harder. Even with the blade close to the front wheels, there are a few times when on a slope (in and close to the ditch line) that it is hard to control the direction of travel. Steering with the rear wheel brakes helps some, but all would be much harder with the blade on the loader arms. I also had a similar plow on my old 2-cyl JD 420, and liked it so much that changing to something else wasn't much of a decision. I have never found it a problem pushing snow up on a pile. I also don't find it impossible to keep the snow pushed back from the side of the drive. Albeit I don't have a house, bushes, or other structure that restricts me from pushing the snow back when it is time to do so.

rationalizer · Oct 17, 2002

I think the Curtis blade is a heavier duty unit than the Deere blade (more gauge and reinforcements). My Deere dealer highly recommended the Curtis - "better value" (more profit? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif). You may not need more blade than the Deere - it just might make sense to compare before you buy.

Bill

Green_in_MI · Oct 18, 2002

A couple questions for Beenthere and others with experience in this. Beenthere, you mention in an earlier post that your front blade setup "is expensive but many times better". Do you mean much better than the backblade setup or much better than the loader arm frontblade setup too? Do you use any ballast on the back end for traction? I use an 800# concrete block for loader ballast and i was going to use it for traction with a loader arm front blade while snowplowing. Would that much weight help in preventing the sidepush from plowing? And what about adding more weight on the front too?

beenthere · Oct 18, 2002

The cost of a front blade (Western 7') is probably still in the $1500 category, and then one needs to add the fabrication cost of the bracket ($200-300) to attach it to the front of the tractor, as there isn't a factory made option. And I do consider this to be much better than the loader arm blade (keeps the blade closer to the tractor for handling and I think one can have a wider blade with this arrangement) and MANY times better than a back blade. I used a back blade years ago and it was not a pleasant way to move snow. However, it can be done. Just not as much fun as driving forward (fast too) and seeing the snow neatly slide off to the side. Although I have not had a blade on the loader arms, I would be worried about hitting objects and causing a lot of twisting and torque on the loader arms. Even the blade mounted close to the tractor can dig into soft ground or hit something hidden under the snow can put a lot of stress on the tractor and blade assembly. No problem with it handling such loads to date, and I don't expect any (knock on wood).

I usually only have a carry-all platform on the 3pt when I plow snow (rarely have some firewood piled on it) and have fluid in the rear tires. Other than that, no additional weight. I use chains only when the snow has melted (warm weather or rain) and there is an ice layer built up. On fresh snow or packed snow, no problem with traction in 4wd. Lifting the plow slightly will put enough weight on the front tires to maintain good steering. Steering is only a problem when trying to clean the snow out of the ditches along the side of the drive and there is extra side force on the blade.

Trev · Oct 18, 2002

...72" blade that mounts using the 4 pins the bucket uses (about 3 min. to change) for $1220...

Your JD4300 will accept a real front blade with full hydraulic angling for around $1500, I believe. Same width, but you take off the FEL and mount the blade to its own under-chassis mounting system. Having the hydraulic angling would be well worth the extra $200-300 to me. And I'm told, but don't know for sure, that you can push a lot better with this arrangement because it's a straight push right against the tractor frame.

I have one on mine, and it's great. But, I don't have a fel, so I don't have to hassle with switching them. Your solution would be easier on and off, but the lack of angling would be a royal pain in snow.. at least IMHO. I had a GT235 that I used to push snow with, and I had to keep getting off and manually adjusting the blade angle. That was a hassle.. I can only imagine how much of a hassle it would be to not be able to adjust the angle at all.

hth,
Bob

Hoeman00 · Oct 18, 2002

Look around for used blades off of p/u or jeeps.
Find one that doesn't have the lift or brackets and get them at
a GOOD price($200-400).
2 pcs. of 2X4X1/4" tube 16" long and 2 pcs. of 2X4X1/4" angle 3' or so long
2 pcs. of plate w/ hole for lower pins and a chain hook.
An evening in the shop and it will plow snow.

estamas142 · Oct 21, 2002

I have a JD 4410 with a FEL and boom mounted snow blade with hydrolic assist. It is great. I think it is made better than the curtis in my opinion. It angles perfectly and really does a fantastic job on snow. When I want to move snow I just switch to the FEL (very easy). I thought a lot about snow removal...I have a very steep long driveway in western Ma...and this set up seems to be the best that I can think of especially for gravel.

Only problem is to be careful before ground freezes so you dont damage driveway.

Good luck...I don,t think you can go wrong with this choice.

Anonymous Poster · Nov 10, 2002

Thanks for all of your replies. I had thought of mounting a pick-up blade on the tractor but here in Michigan used ones are hard to come by without buying the truck they are mounted on (not to mention that I would have had to build the mount).

I did purchase a JD boom mounted blade and am quite pleased with it's construction. Now we'll have to see how it works in the snow.

Green_in_MI · Feb 1, 2003

I hope you like your new blade. I am real pleased with mine. I have only used mine a couple times this winter due to no snow. Somehow I don't mind. I noticed the same thing about trucks.
I did not buy the hydraulic option from Deere, I fabricated my own. Cost about half as much. If I ever get a digital camera I would post the pictures. Next project for the blade is to put the rubber blade edge on using the tips I have read on this forum. Got your note, today was the first time in a year I checked the control panel.

unger · Feb 4, 2003

Russ' I also have a 4010. I tried the FEL to remove the snow we received earlier this year but was not real pleased. I used the float but you had to constantly monitor the angle of the bucket to keep from digging in. I purchased the 52" quick attach blade from JD & installed it myself. (very easy) I payed about $900 for the complete kit. I used it last week to clear about 4" of snow & liked it much better than the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif