Here's an alternative scraper blade. Looks a bit heavier, and a bit more rusty. The rust part probably don't matter too much.
King cutter tractor scraper blade
King cutter tractor scraper blade
Plow vs scraper blade for driveway maintenance
- Thread starter Komrade
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Fallon
Super Member
Personally I find a box blade better than a scraper blade for moving dirt. They are sturdier, have scarfiers to loosen up dirt & most importantly are much heavier than a scraper blade. They also keep a pile of dirt trapped in-front of the blade to fill in low spots.
Check out everythingattachments (TBN sponsor too), they have good videos of operating the various gear at the bottom of each section. Also talk about the different use cases for scraper vs box blade down at the bottom of the box blade page.
Tractor Box Scrapers- Box Blades
Scrape Blades, Rear 3 Point Hitch Scrape Blades & Tractor Loader Scrape Blades
Their whole video collection at Tractor and Skid Steer Attachment Videos is a great place to go learn about impliments & their operation.
Check out everythingattachments (TBN sponsor too), they have good videos of operating the various gear at the bottom of each section. Also talk about the different use cases for scraper vs box blade down at the bottom of the box blade page.
Tractor Box Scrapers- Box Blades
Scrape Blades, Rear 3 Point Hitch Scrape Blades & Tractor Loader Scrape Blades
Their whole video collection at Tractor and Skid Steer Attachment Videos is a great place to go learn about impliments & their operation.
nybirdman
Super Member
In your locale;not much snow.I rear blade for snow removal will suffice.Again Pull don't push with it,you also can turn the blade the other way and pull and it won't dig in.For dirt work;a rear blade will work but a box blade is much better but are not the best snow removal tool.If you already have a snow-plow,why not use it for it's intended purpose(adapt to the front) for your snow chores.
I use a 7ft.rear blade and a 8ft.snow-plow,we average maybe 80in.yr.
I use a 7ft.rear blade and a 8ft.snow-plow,we average maybe 80in.yr.
Fallon
Super Member
You can save about 50% buying used. It will be a bit ugly & rusty, but that won't affect it's performance at all. Your brand new one will get banged up & bludgeoned with rocks immediately anyways. Blades have a wear edge that can be worn down (and are designed to be replaced), but other than that, there's not much to wear out. You want to make sure a scraper blade can move, but even if it's stiff & gritty, it doesn't need to pivot much.
With implements, the heavier the better. Weight is what make these things work.
Threepoint
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"Scrape blade" is o.k., most folks will know what you mean. Everything Attachments uses it a lot on their website. Rear blade is probably the more common term, but counter-intuitive to me, since there are other types of blades that go on the rear.
Now, "rear scrape blade" leaves little doubt... The blade you link to on Craigs List does look like it offsets, by sliding the blade in a bracket, as vulcancowboy says. That's one way to do it, but requires a big wrench. Here's the kind of offset I had in mind, although not necessarily this particular brand: Everything Attachments 72 inch, 6 Way Deluxe Value Scrape Blade for Compact Tractors with 25-50 HP V2.0
If your rear tires are in fact 72" outside-tread to outside-tread, then a 72" blade won't clear your tracks once it's angled, unless it offsets. You might be o.k. with a blade longer than the 72" Kubota recommends, but I'd wait for input from folks with your particular tractor. Kubota calls for a 60" blade for my smaller B2150, but I've bladed miles of snowy driveways for years with a 72" blade on it. The problem with an angling blade that's a bit too long is that it creates a lever-arm that can scoot your rear end sideways when you're digging in or when the snow is more than a few inches. That's less of a concern with a heavy tractor and filled tires, of course.
If you're not planning to move snow, then a 60" or maybe 72" light-duty box blade sounds like it would be much better for what you want to do. I'd start with that. Then later add a 72" offsetting rear blade when your budget allows. I pretty much guarantee that you'll want to start moving snow when you see how much fun you're going to have with that tractor.
By shortening the toplink and using care, you can avoid scraping off your gravel.My tractor is <60" wide (5ft). I made a math mistake above which I will correct now.
Also, folks keep bringing up snow. I am not worried about moving snow at this point.
I need to grade my driveway from bad washouts (and to prevent future washouts).. shoveling got old pretty quickly. It's about 400-500 long once I measure the whole loop.
Similar to what this guy is doing:
3GUTTER.jpg Photo by rliefveld | Photobucket
In addition there is a road in the community that needs maintenance. It's probably another 3000-4000 feet of potential maintenance. We don't get enough $ from homeowners to pay to fix it, so I may volunteer once I have the right equipment.
It sounds like a rear blade of 72" will do, but a box blade might be a good thing to shop around as well due to the fact that it might be less work (it keeps the loose gravel more even by keeping it in the box), plus it's heavier.
The dirt here is "hard". We are on a shale hill.
Also, folks keep bringing up snow. I am not worried about moving snow at this point.
I need to grade my driveway from bad washouts (and to prevent future washouts).. shoveling got old pretty quickly. It's about 400-500 long once I measure the whole loop.
Similar to what this guy is doing:
3GUTTER.jpg Photo by rliefveld | Photobucket
In addition there is a road in the community that needs maintenance. It's probably another 3000-4000 feet of potential maintenance. We don't get enough $ from homeowners to pay to fix it, so I may volunteer once I have the right equipment.
It sounds like a rear blade of 72" will do, but a box blade might be a good thing to shop around as well due to the fact that it might be less work (it keeps the loose gravel more even by keeping it in the box), plus it's heavier.
The dirt here is "hard". We are on a shale hill.
Fallon
Super Member
Back blade, drag blade, blade, rear blade, scraper blade, grader blade... All pretty much different names for the same thing. Some could be other implements as well, but there isn't necessarily a proper name & can be lots of confusion.
I'm not quite happy with my 72" behind my L3200 (32hp, 3,200lbs with loader & loaded R4s). I want something wider, not quite sure if it clears my 60" track when mostly angled, but it's close. If I had it to do over again, I'd get an 84" or something. If I'm doing anything serious the back blade won't cut it anyway, I need to bust out the box 72" King Kutter box blade which is twice as heavy. The 72" box blade is fine for my tractor, not the heaviest in the world, which means it doesn't cut as well as some, but I can easily pull it with a full load of dirt 85% of the time.
Look for something 80"+ with a 6,000lbs tractor. I'd recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist, I see them all day long around here for $200-400. If it doesn't meet your needs, they are pretty easy to resell too.
I ended up getting hydraulic angle on mine & like it. I wouldn't get hydraulic tilt on a blade. Get a Top 'n Tilt kit on the tractor, similar cost & function, but it works with all implements not just the blade.
I'm not quite happy with my 72" behind my L3200 (32hp, 3,200lbs with loader & loaded R4s). I want something wider, not quite sure if it clears my 60" track when mostly angled, but it's close. If I had it to do over again, I'd get an 84" or something. If I'm doing anything serious the back blade won't cut it anyway, I need to bust out the box 72" King Kutter box blade which is twice as heavy. The 72" box blade is fine for my tractor, not the heaviest in the world, which means it doesn't cut as well as some, but I can easily pull it with a full load of dirt 85% of the time.
Look for something 80"+ with a 6,000lbs tractor. I'd recommend keeping an eye on Craigslist, I see them all day long around here for $200-400. If it doesn't meet your needs, they are pretty easy to resell too.
I ended up getting hydraulic angle on mine & like it. I wouldn't get hydraulic tilt on a blade. Get a Top 'n Tilt kit on the tractor, similar cost & function, but it works with all implements not just the blade.
Fallon
Super Member
Generally you are not going to do road maintenance with a back blade. Not enough weight. A box blade is what you need, or better yet a land plane grade scraper (look for the ETA video). The box blade is the most versatile implement though. Road maintenance means filling in potholes & washboard, which the back blade won't do well. The box blade will cut better & pull a pile of gravel around to fill in the low spots, the back blade can't pull nearly as much dirt & leaves stuff spilling off to the side.
Back blade works for light stuff & for snow, but not so much grading & serious dirt work.
Back blade works for light stuff & for snow, but not so much grading & serious dirt work.
Tollster
Veteran Member
I used a York rake with scafier and blade in combination with the rock tines in a new 500 yards install, to remove stubborn rocks, even and pitch grade, and fill holes...
Naturally not the best tool for snow removal, but likely the best decisions I made when I was faced with the same situation last year.
This is a picture of a new one, mine is a golden oldie with zerks, and real cranks for pitch and height control, found it locally on craigslist for 600. Can drag it uphill with my 23 horse, 25 ton of gravel pitched and graded in combination with sub base leveling and pitching took about 3-4 hours.
Naturally not the best tool for snow removal, but likely the best decisions I made when I was faced with the same situation last year.
This is a picture of a new one, mine is a golden oldie with zerks, and real cranks for pitch and height control, found it locally on craigslist for 600. Can drag it uphill with my 23 horse, 25 ton of gravel pitched and graded in combination with sub base leveling and pitching took about 3-4 hours.
Baby Grand
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