Rear blade width on L3240HST+

[Boondox]

Guys - looking at the specs tells me I ought to be using a 72 inch wide rear blade on this new tractor of mine...but since the primary task will be snow removal and it would be awfully nice to be able to stand off from the ditches a bit, I was considering an 84 incher. I'm sure it would handle the light fluffy stuff just fine, especially with the hydraulic outlets that let me change the angle on the fly, but that extra width would probably toss the tractor around a bit in late winter when the snow is wet and heavy...or when I do some grading of the road.

Anyone tried such a wide blade on a relatively small tractor like this?

Pete

 

[vrmnthntr]

I have a 84 landpride rear blade for my 3540. It handles it well. I can't comment on snow. It is not hydraulic either. I think the weight is a little over 300 pounds.

Last week we were digging our ditch out with a mini excavator. There was a lot of wet clay that I had to push around and I was surprised how well it did. My rear tires have rimguard so that helped, I believe.

I did get to the point where when I was pushing backwards I had so much clay in front of the blade I was sliding. But the ground was muddy too.

I think 84 inch is good. If u have the blade tilted it will still cover your tracks.

 

[Baby Grand]

I have an 84" KK Professional on my L3240 and I wouldn't want anything less for moving snow. We get a lot of wet, sticky snow down here and being able to put a large angle on the blade while still covering the tire tracks is very helpful in getting the job done efficiently. For moving soil, I'd consider a 6' with some weight to it, as I found I rarely needed the extreme angle in that use.

FYI - I'm set up with R1s at about 63" from sidewall to sidewall.

 

[nybirdman]

Go with the 84in.and load the rear tires.Not the best set-up for "Stowe" but better than a shovel.Best think about a snow-blower for that country.Been there many times,have friends in the area.

 

[Chilly807]

I'd agree with the rest of the guys, minimum 84". I have a 72" on my L3400 and although it does get pushed around by the blade full of wet snow, I'd like something wider to better clear the driveway. You'll want ice chains as well, especially if you're on a gravel driveway. Be sure the blade you get can be offset at least a foot to one side or the other, I run mine fully angled and as far to the right as I can get the lift arms to wing the snow back as far as possible, especially in early winter.

Sean

 

[Redbug]

I have an L3830 and have a 7 foot landscape rake. I can rotate the rake completely around, (it does not hit the tires), if I want to use it going backwards. A 7 foot rear blade would be the same way. I would not want to go any larger for that reason.

 

[Boondox]

Wow, I'm surprised by the responses! I was sort of expecting some lectures about putting too much blade on the 3240. Nice to hear some real world experiences, and also to hear that the 84" can still clear the tires to reverse the angle. I've thought about a snow blower over the years but can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I actually needed one. Both happened in the same year. For Valentine's Day we got 38" in one storm, and later on St Patty's Day we got 32". Despite the fact that we're at 1500 feet one hill over from a Nordic ski resort, typically what we get accumulates a few inches at a time, and can easily be moved with the rear blade and FEL. Chains are a fact of life here, as our hill has a 28% grade and tends to ice over in late winter. I use Norse-style ice spikes.

Okay...so I'll give the LandPride RB3584 with hydraulic angle another look. Thanks!

 

[BeezFun]

I got a rear blade that offsets to either side about a foot rather than getting a really wide blade. I found I always had problems getting through gates and catching the blade on things when I had a wider one, so I got a 72" blade that offsets. It also has a position that allows it to rotate around the axis in the direction of travel of the tractor, which allows it to follow the contour of the surface.

 

[94BULLITT]

The Landpride RBT3584 would be very nice for a Grand L. A Woods HBL84-2 would be nice and less expensive. The best thing would be a front snow blade for the the loader. Buy a old truck plow and adapt it to SSQA.

 

[Chilly807]

You won't regret the hydraulic angle option, I added it to my 1572 Land Pride and it has been one of my better mods. Getting on and off the seat to change the blade angle gets old in a hurry.

Sean