Grading Disappointed with rear blade

[narcnh]

Bob,

I'm new at this, and am plowing with a B7800, but I've found that what works best for me is a combination of both FEL and RB. I run down the middle of the drive with the FEL, which pushes a lot of the snow ahead, but dumps a lot to either side, too. After a couple of passes, I go in reverse with the RB reversed as well (facing the direction of travel) and angled to the side. It pushes most of the snow off. Eventually, I use the RB to push the piles on the sides further back to make room for more snow.

In fact, I have to do that this weekend, because my heating oil company called to tell me that the delivery truck couldn't make it up my drive. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Around the house and garage I pull back from the doors with the RB, line up the snow and blast it to the lawn with the FEL.

I guess it depends as much on your layout as anything else, and the only thing I'm trying to suggest is to not try to use one implement exclusively; they both work for different situations and at different times. Also, I have loaded rear turf tires and chains on the rears (and just ordered front chains today from tirechains.com). The added weight and traction really make a difference in how much you can push.

Hope this helps.

 

[TresCrows]

"Your suggestion of plowing in reverse sounds like a good one. I can reverse my blade without removing it so it will be easy to give this a try."

In the pic I attached to my previous post you will notice I did not reverse my blade. J

 

[lamarbur]

to put this in perspective for you, I run a John Deere 710 TLB w/hammer circuit and extendahoe. Machine tops the scales just over 33,000 lbs. Has a 2 yard FEL. This last storm "pushed" this heavy machine around like nothing. When we get snow, turned rain, turned heavy snow/slush, no matter what you run, it's going to fight you back. We all run roller chains on the front which rarely one would give a problem. This past storm it didn't matter. If this can whip around a 33,000 lb machine with ease, it's going to fight you and your much smaller machine with rear blade. I wouldn't get to upset over it, because of the storm elements which none of us can control..

 

[buzst]

In heavy wet snow try just plowing forward without angling the blade and move snow until your tires spin. then raise the blade move forward until the blade is over the pile, drop the blade and go forward again. do this repeatedly until you reach the end of the drive. Then turn around and go back up the drive using the loader to remove the piles. Now that you have a clear path use the blade (still without angling) to cut whatever size swaths your machine will handle. do this until most of the snow is removed. Now angle the blade and starting form the center of the drive go back and cleanup the snow that spilled from the blade on the previous passes. It sounds like a lot of work, but you will be suprised how quickly you are finished.

 

[terpdog]

I also just got a rear blade and the first snow I started with the
FEL just off the ground and with the blade facing forward and
noticed that I was sliding a bit. Then I rememberd seeing some
people around here going backwards. So I said what the heck
try it. I reversed the blade and it worked very well. I had it
in low gear, moved it to high gear and great. I've got about
a 1/2 mile asphault drive and now I put it in high gear drop
the blade and go as fast as I can. Of course I have a bit of a
crick in my neck but with my 60 inch blade it takes about 4 passes.

Granted I'm in MD and we didn't get as much as you up North /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rcaretti]

I've used the 84" rear blade twice in the last few weeks on a 700 foot gravel driveway, and have been pretty happy with the results. The second time I didn't angle the blade as much as the first time and noticed the snow was piling up behind the tractor. I was thinking about stopping and getting the pile on the way back with the FEL, but my rear tires are filled, and I did OK without having to do that.

Most of my battle is with my uneven new road surface. I have to admit I was concerned about it more the first time. With this recent storm, I wasn't in the mood to mess around raising and lowing the blade so many times (it was raining), and I figure the road will have to be smoothed out sooner or later anyway.

On a side note, when I was buying the tractor I ordered a 72" blade, but the dealer called me back and thought I would be better off with the 84" so that it would cover the width of the rear tires. He was right. Kudo's to him for thinking about it, he could have just let it go and not said anything.

 

[rbarker]

Well thanks all for your great suggestions!

I got a lot of great tips and techniques on how to use the blade more effectively next time.

And if these aren't sufficient I'll probably by a 3PH blower for next season.

Thanks again! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[webhund]

The dealer just delivered a Woods 60" rear blade for the BX2200. Fortunately /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif we also just received our first big snow of the year. What luck!

Used the FEL to make a pass down the middle of the driveway (about 300' long) and then came back with a couple of passes on each side with the rear blade. Worked great. Even with a couple of days of packing the snow down driving over it, the rear blade cleaned it right down to the pavement. (I'm going to try finding some UHMW plastic to mod a more concrete-friendly cutting edge, though). The dealer gave me a tip that was mentioned above: play with the top link on the 3PH to create a more aggressive attack angle on the blade while moving at a higher ground speed. That snow just rolled off the side.

FWIW, the Woods RB60 spins 360 degrees while mounted on a BX, so you can change from pulling to pushing easily; also angles at 0, 15, and 30 degrees both left and right while pulling; 0 and 15 angles while pushing; vertical tilt 0 and 15 degrees and weighs 235 lbs. Seems like a very well designed unit with good heft. All adjustments are made with pins and clips that can easily be adjusted while wearing thick insulated gloves.

Now all I have to do is find a good tiller for this spring and the tractor-time hours will shoot way up!

 

[caj4isu]

AR in Iowa,

I think we got lucky this time with the dry, powdery snow. I live just south of Iowa City, and used my 60" RB on my BX22 a couple times this week, and the snow just rolled off great! I'm curious to see what will happen if we get a heavy, deep snow!?!

Chuck

 

[del]

Doesn't a blade designed for dirt tend to mark up an asphalt
driveway pretty easily? Some of the loader mounted blades
have a provision for soft edge installation. I would think
that would be a problem with a loader bucket as well, that asphalt and steel or cement and steel are detrimental to each other.

I was thinking if nobody makes such a thing of replacing the
bolt on cutting edge on my loader with a piece of some sort
of rubber or plastic.

With a rear blade you can of course use anti-gouge "legs" or
a rear wheel or something.

I don't have much need to do this but am looking at some
property that would require removal. (But not anywhere near
enough to justify a blower)


del