Rear Blade Getting the back blade ready for winter...

nikdfish · Nov 13, 2016

I know this has been done a hundred times, but it is my first go at it

Since I figure I am done moving dirt and gravel for a while, it seemed a good time to get the the CountyLine 6' back blade ready for moving snow off the drive and about 1/3 mile of the neighborhood's private road out to the county road. (also wanted to do it while the weather was still nice) Our drive is concrete and the private road is asphalt in less than stellar condition and I am hoping a rubber edge will help avoid leaving marks or causing damage.

I picked up a $39 4'x6' 3/4" stall mat from Tractor supply to supply material for a rubber edge on the blade. I also picked up 6 sets of 2.5" (as I recall..) grade 2 5/8" bolt, nut & washer. The removable, double sided wear edge is 6", so I cut off an 8" strip to give me a 1" edge beyond the metal on both sides. A utility knife worked fine, but took 4 or 5 passes. The hole placement was easy, as the 6 holes have centers at 12" intervals along the midline of the blade, with the array centered at the middle of the blade.

BTW, a 5/8" forstner bit does a great job on rubber.

The longer bolts were a good call, the plow bolts would not have provided enough threads to get the nuts started considering both the material thickness and need to conform to a curve.

The plan is to use it with the 3038e, only time will tell how well it works.

Nick

farmeratheart · Nov 13, 2016

Nick,

I hope that you have as good luck as I've had with the exact same set-up. You won't believe how clean your surfaces will be and how gentle this set-up is to the grass edges along the driveway!

Frank

s219 · Nov 13, 2016

I tried a (steel) pipe edge for a couple years, then tried the stall mat for a season, then switched back to the pipe edge. I don't remember what it was about the stall mat that I didn't like, or why I thought the pipe edge was better. I still have that piece of stall mat if I change my mind again. :confused3:

oosik · Nov 14, 2016

Some years, I swear, my mile long gravel driveway never freezes. So I'm out there with my rear blade - trying not to move ALL the gravel to the edges.

Your rubber edged rear blade should work great on concrete or asphalt. I thought of that and I really don't think it would make a hill of beans difference in my situation. Steel or rubber - if my drive isn't frozen.................