POLL: Have you used the pivot offset function of your rake or back blade?

[pwright]

This is not the ability to slide rear blades left/right where they mount but is similar. Some landscape rakes and back/rear/scrape blades have an offset function that makes use of a pivot at the front of the main beam(?) at the 3pt end. This allows the user to really get the rake or blade way outside of the tires.

Examples are the EA EXtreme Duty 6 Way blade and the EA EXtreme Duty Compact Tractor rake. Others such as Land Pride also include this feature in there LR 36 series and discontinued RB36 series.

My question to those that have implements with this function have you used this feature and when or under what conditions? How important has this feature been to you?

 

[Looking4new]

When I want to get my high snowbanks cut back I do angle and swing the blade to the right (mostly). Cut the bank back and then blow the spoils farther into the bush. It is also handy when I don't want my mirrors messed up by low hanging tree branches, but still want to continue on the same line. The swing was a feature I wanted and wouldn't have bought the blade without it.

 

[bcp]

Could be handy for cleaning out a roadside ditch without having to run your wheels in the ditch when the blade is angled.

Bruce

 

[rkaufmann]

I use this feature all the time when grading my .25 mile dirt lane with a 7' Kodiak HD rear blade. With full left offset and with the blade angled one hole less than max. angle I get about 8" of offset beyond the outside of the left rear tire. Bruce is spot on in his post regarding clearing of ditches. For some reason I get better visibility on the left side rather than offsetting right. I could get even more offset by utilizing the telescopic stabilizer bars but feel it better to pull with the 3 pt. linkage being straight with the tractor center line. I'm not sure if this makes any significant difference in terms of stress on the 3 pt. linkage or not. Does anyone have any thoughts on this as a bit more offset would be desirable at times? I would not want to be without the offsetting feature with a rear blade.
Rick

 

[Maine Hills]

We have a Woods blade which can be slide to either side. Offset it this winter to push snow further off the road into the ditch.

 

[CalG]

The TuffLine 7 foot blade has a ratchet link for the off set. Cranked over, and with a tilt to the blade, snow banks are readily topped off and pushed over.

As Posted by Looking4new, there is a considerable amount of snow that falls back onto the cleared road that is best blown over. Do the work on a cold day, and everything is dry and easy.

 

[TMGT]

I have a Leinbach blade and use the offset all the time to cut in our clean out ditches, much safer and easier to drive on a level road then in the ditch.

Also comes in handy when I have to load two tractors on the trailer for snow removal, set the blade to the side and I can park the smaller tractor right behind it.

 

[brown40]

The feature is nice to go from moving to smoothing without having to detach the blade, and to get the extra reach in the ditch.

 

[pwright]

Great info guys. Thanks!

Anybody using this feature on a landscape rake?

 

[BlueToy1]

I also use it as mentioned above for snowbanks and pulling gravel back into the driveway.