Grading Rear Blade

rcambray · Feb 6, 2001

I have a 4100 HST with FEL and am thinking about a rear blade for cleaning snow. Just got done cleaning a 22" snow storm with the bucket. Did a good job but it keep overflowing over the sides of bucket, took longer to clean up everything.
Would like opinion on rear scraper blade and using it going forward (not backwards) not as agile as I used to be. My concerns are youre packing it down before you scrape it, also do you use the blade offset and what size would you recommend. Of all the blades I have looked into I like the Monroe Tuffline. Any info greatly appreciated

rekees · Feb 6, 2001

There's a good discussion of snow removal with a rear blade you may find helpful.

Section = Related Topic Discussions
Topic = Attachments
Subject= Moving snow with a backblade

Chuck in IN

Thomas · Feb 6, 2001

Rear blade plus the FEL can be the best of both worlds when plowing snow...but 22" takes twice as long and that why I adapted plow to my FEL...work real great.

Have you consider attaching a plow to your FEL,for you can really pile up the snow and the reach is better than the FEL and the rear blade.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Boondox · Feb 6, 2001

I use a rear blade for snow removal and love it. BTW: the Monroe Tuffline is one fine blade! Also check the 25 and 35 series LandPride blades. Moldboard height is essential.

As far as technique, unless the snow is very deep I generally drive forward over it with the concave edge of the blade facing forward. (I don't like backing either.) If I want to leave a bit of snow on the ground I'll still drive forward, but will reverse the blade so it drags the convex edge behind me.

Experiment and have fun!

Pete

Anonymous Poster · Feb 6, 2001

The heavier the blade... the better. Also it depends on what you're plowing over... dirt, blacktop?

I plow a small shopping center parking lot with an 8' rear blade. It weighs about 750 - 800 lbs. w/ skid shoes. I can offset the blade, but I don't... only set an angle. I put my draft control fully forward along with the position control in the float position. I also have my 3-pt. hitch linkage in float position.

I'll take a pass forward (like you're mowing), when I reach the end of parking lot pavement, I shuttle to reverse and plow backwards, each pass about 6 1/2'. (this takes care of any leftover). The snow doesn't know (or care!) you're plowing with the front of the moldboard or the rear.

Some big dump trucks are plowing the shopping center next to me and sometimes watch in amazement (remember they can only plow forward). I get done in literally half the time a truck does.

Then I use the loader only to move some side piles. Even in float position with the loader, you can "peel" up the asphalt if your bucket is not flat.

jyoutz · Feb 7, 2001

rcambray, I too have a 4100. I have a 5' Landpride blade that works great on the 4100. I use the techniques described by Boondox. I bought a 5' blade because I also wanted to use it for ditching and other heavier-duty use than snow-plowing. But judging how the 4100 handles 18" of snow with a 5 foot blade, I wouldn't hesitate to go with a 6 footer for snow plowing work. I wouldn't go above a 5 footer for heavy digging work though.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 13, 2001

I agree with the various techniques mentioned by others (e,g., using the back of the blade), I thought I might give a little infor about he Monroe Tufline blade you are interested in. I have the 5 foot blade on my 4100, I am not sure that the JD4100 can easily handle a larger one. However, the tractor does handle the 5 footer well (I cleared 14 inches of snow on about 200 yds of drive in December. The Monroe blade is heavy at 386 lbs compared to most small blades (pretty decent counter-weight for the loader), and is a bit pricey at just over $500. The various adjustments and the stand and optional skid shoes really make this a nice blade for most work. I used it to dig a hole about 2 ft deep by 30 ft by 12ft for a flower bed (I filled the hole with top soil).
With the blade tilted you can use it like a plow (great for breaking up ground), although when used like this it does not have the precision of a plow. Anyhow, if you get the Monroe blade I am sure that you will not regret it.