Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

[Muleskinner Jim]

Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

I have been considering adapting a Titan 79" Skid Steer Hydraulic Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher for use on the FEL on my JD 4105 40 h.p. I intend to fab an adapter for the FEL to adapt from JD Quick-Tach to the skid steer bracket.

Can I use a light to medium weight dozer/snow pusher to effectively do light finish grading in sandy topsoil? I also intend to spread and finish grade 2-3" of regrind asphalt millings for a new driveway.

I have looked at the Hvy Dty 6-way skid steer Dozer blades offered by several different manufacturers but they seem way too heavy to use on my FEL and definitely out of my price $ range.

The 79" Titan skid steer blade is listed as a dozer blade/snow pusher with a 1/8" thk moldboard and a reversible 4"W x 7/16" cutting edge. It has 1 hydraulic cylinder which will position the blade 28 degrees left or right. I intend to extend my rear remote hydraulics up to the front with hoses to position the blade with the rocker switch on the FEL T handle control. The blade is equipped with a blade trip system w/two compression springs that can be adjusted up to maximize the resistance to trip when an obstruction is encountered. It does not come with any type of skid shoes The complete blade assembly weighs in at 570 lbs.

You guys up north have had way more experience operating snow blades and plows than this old Muleskinner! I figured y'all would be the ones to ask if I would be wasting my time and money trying to use a snow blade to do finish grade work. So what do y'all say

 

[Rustyiron]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

How much/often do you get snow Jim?
Are you plowing on dirt of pavement?
One issue will be the plow digging in (on gravel) if the ground is not frozen with the weight of the plow & the loader arms. This is why an altered old truck plow that only bears it's own weight on the ground is a popular and inexpensive choice, but then I might imagine that there's not a lot of them available used in TX either. There's a ton of plow "stuff" in the snow removal section. This is a good one but it's about a bizillion pages long.https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/184041-pictures-your-snow-weapons.html

 

[chim]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

I'd rather use a box blade for dirt work. I used an old CJ5 to play in some dirt many years ago. Not fun.

 

[metalbender]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

I have the same type of blade, orange paint, a tad bigger. Use it for doing the driveway in winter. Personal opinion, NOT for any sort of dirt work. Even with the springs set to max tension, it trips way too easy in the snow. More than just a bit annoying. Had to fab up some guide shoes as it didn't come with any. Can't imagine trying to spread dirt or gravel. I'd thought of some sort of travel limiting device, but then tractor loader arms are probably expensive for a little gain. Seriously look at land plane options.

 

[Muleskinner Jim]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

Thanks for your responses guys. It has helped to answer questions I had. I'm probably just going to find me a good hydraulic 6-way rear blade to do my grading with.

 

[Rustyiron]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

Thanks for your responses guys. It has helped to answer questions I had. I'm probably just going to find me a good hydraulic 6-way rear blade to do my grading with.

:thumbsup: I think that is a better choice also. It should handle your snow as well.

 

[Fallon]

Re: Can I use a Titan 79" Skidsteer Hyd Dozer Blade/Snow Pusher to do Finish Grading?

I have a 3pt box blade, land plane & a SSQA snow plow for my 40hp 5k lbs L4060. I just picked up a light used 3pt back blade because none of my existing tools would properly move dirt sideways properly.

I did use the snow plow to somewhat fill in a trench once. It did a bit of work, but even on the loose dirt it was sketchy. The loader on a tractor is way out front so there is leverage vertically & horizontally. I resorted to going sideways across the trench with the box blade after the first pass with the plow.