RB84 woods 3pt blade .. more welding....

[GaryS]

'your mileage may vary'

How old is your blade? As you saw in my thread, I'm about to buy one of these. I'll be using my for the same work as yours - snow removal. I bought a cheap blade 5 years ago and have had problems. I wanted to buy a rear blade that'll last. This thread now has me concerned.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

David, do you think that since you have had these problems that maybe you should have purchased a little bit heaver duty blade? I know that my first rear blade seemed fairly heavy duty and the dealer said that it would be fine with my tractor. Guess what, it wasn't. They sold me a blade meant for a 50hp tractor and mine is a heavy 75hp tractor, it literally bent the very first time that I used it. Dealers response was that I had abused it. Anyway, my point being that maybe the blade that you bought is actually built for a lighter tractor than what you have.

 

[DavidVT]

MtnViewRanch,
Fair question. When I bought the tractor (34hp Kubota), it came with a no-name blue rear blade as a package. I told the dealer what I wanted to do and he cut me a deal....

After the first storm I knew that short 'blue' blade was not going to work out. I told the dealer my concerns and the new (same model) tractor returned with the RB84. It seemed much more robust compared to the first thing.

GaryS,
I brought my original tractor home (with the original blue blade) 5 years ago last month. The replacement tractor with the RB84 arrived April 22, 2005.

I need the width to cover my rear tire footprint. I normally push in reverse in low or mid range depending on the depth and how loaded the tractor (HST) sounds. The blade is usually cupped towards the front to help it climb over obstacles.

I clear an uneven driveway, not smooth asphalt or concrete.

Sometimes I pull forward when the snow is not too deep. Perhaps that is where the blade has caught and caused the failures? These are supposed to be good blades, that is why one might sense that I am taking some of the responsibility.

Design, Abuse, or simply the wrong product for the task? ('your mileage may vary')
Look at the center plate that is welded to the hub assembly and bolted to the back of the blade.
Now look at the span of the blade that exists on each side beyond that fairly narrow center plate.
Now image the leverage or torque that is passing down that blade to the center mounting plate when the end of the blade catches something.

I have a woods loader that I am very pleased with except for the zerk fittings at the curl.
I have a woods backhoe that was used but I am very pleased with it.
I have a woods brushhog that is underused but I am pleased with it.
And I am only unhappy with this woods blade.

The bright side is that it is helping me learn how to weld.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

With your success with your other implements, it is my feeling that the RB84 is just too light duty for your tractor and your uses. It is my feeling that you need to get a heavier duty blade. It is also my feeling that you should not be able to damage your 3pt implements with your tractor with normal use. In other words, the implements should be able to hold up to the tractor that they are attached to. If not, then one needs a better built implement. Traction should be the weak point, everything else should hold up.

I know that someday when I can afford one, I plan on getting a Land Pride RBT35 Series Rear Blades for my Mahindra 3215HST. My little tractor weighs around 5000lbs and this is the smallest unit that I can find that is available with all the hydraulics. A little HD for what I need, but I shouldn't have any structural problems.