Rear Blade rear blade

[thumperjb]

I just spent 2 hours filling the ruts in a neighbor's driveway. I don't have a blade and we discovered the best way to spread the dirt was to rotate the FEL almost upside down /\ and scrape the dirt backwards down the drive. It worked good for this small application but now I am sure I need a blade. Any suggestions on what options the blade should have? I would hate to go by a "plain vanilla" blade only to find that I need something different next year, but with the cost of implements I don't want to get something more than I can use effectively. Thanks

 

[Bird]

First choice, in my opinion, is a box blade the same width as the bucket on your front end loader.

 

[John_Mc]

<font color=blue>First choice, in my opinion, is a box blade the same width as the bucket on your front end loader.</font color=blue>

I second that. Don't forget the hydraulic TnT if you're going to be doing a lot of work with it (two days of climbing on & off to adjust things manually convinced me).

 

[patrickg]

Now on my second box blade. Really HD and has huge capacity B U T when tilting it forward to dribble out dirt (with scarifiers raised - much finer control than raising the 3pt) the box sides plow pretty seriously. I intend to get a rear blade that pivots left and right (can't do that with my box blade with TnT). Usually like to buy STRONG stuff but can't think of anything that would require realy HD back blade as I could just use box blade (will push or pull dirt). When backing up it is almost a small bull dozer.

Back blade will backfill ditches much faster and easier than box blade or FEL.

Patrick

 

[thumperjb]

Thanks for the advice.

Bird: Thanks, you helped me out allot when I was shopping for the 'middle buster' I appreciate your input with this also. I had been considering a rear blade that would angle for smoothing driveways but will give some serious consideration to a box blade.

Patrickg: There are so many specialty implements and I would like to have them all (where would I store them?) but with limited funds I have to buy implements that can be multipurpose. If you could only own one, either a box blade or one that pivots left or right which would you choose?

JohnMc: I am lucky in that I seldom work alone so have someone on the ground to make adjustments. All the neighbors have jobs they want me to do for them and the deal is you help me with a project and I will help you with one. Come to think of it buying a blade with hydraulic TnT might be a good idea as sooner or later all the neighbors jobs will get done then I will be alone and have to jump on and off the tractor. I (so far) only do small jobs, really this tractor is more of an expensive toy than anything else.

 

[JJT]

My box scraper is my most used 3pt implement, (fel most used attachment). I haven't used my rear blade in 2 - 3 years, the box does all I want and does it better than a stand alone blade.

 

[Bird]

Thumper, a rear blade that angles sounds like the best idea. I was going to buy one when I bought my B7100 6 years ago, but neighbors told me to get the box blade instead, and I did. One neighbor has a rear blade and told me I could use it anytime I wanted to. I keep intending to try it out, but I know it hasn't been touched in 7 years./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I think if we had snow, I'd want one, but I've never even seen anyone use one in my area. But everyone has a box blade of one type or another.

 

[Devildog]

I use to use a rear blade but after reading all the posts about box blades i went out and got one. My rear blade will only be used for snow removal now cause that box blade smoothed my driveway out unbelievable.
__________________________________________
Take care, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires.
Semper Fidelis

 

[thumperjb]

I live in Alabama and see maybe a couple of inches of snow every decade or so....
I'm so glad to have this forum available to me, I started out determined to buy a 'gray market' Yanmar and after reading the posts here came home with a Kubota. I started to buy the tractor first and then someday buy the FEL, but after reading more posts got it as a package.
Now I am headed off to buy a "BOX" blade, you guys are terriffic

 

[Bird]

We're always glad to help you spend your money./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

When looking at box blades, look at the different ways they have of raising and lowering the scarifiers (or ripper teeth). Some are pretty quick and easy; some are a danged nuisance.

 

[Tractorsearching]

Is there a "multi" purpose box blade / rear blade tool? It looks like it would be fairly easy to attach or dettach the scarifers and sides. Or is this a ridiculous idea?

 

[Bird]

Tractorsearching, I'm not sure I could find it now, but yes, there has been some discussion about the rear blades with removable end plates, so apparently they do exit; I've just never seen one personally. I'll bet someone on here who has one will let us know, and maybe post a picture of it. I'm not so sure about the scarifiers, though.

 

[patrickg]

I have a HD 6' box blade (traded up from a lighter unit with hydraulic scarifiers) with super HD hydraulic scarifiers
B U T today I bought a 7 foot rear blade (King Kutter $199) expecting it to do some things better/easier than box blade. 1. Backfill ditches since it pivots side to side, 2. snow plow (I can turn it around and back up going blade first if I want and with 4wd don't expect it to change traction situation much and again it pivots to move snow to the side. 3. if I just want to do some light grading and not drag dirt any distance it is wider 7' vs. 6' so it covers my tracks better and with TNT I expect to get finer control without plowing a pair of furrows. My box blade is so big (how big is it?) It is so big that if I tilt it forward for fine dumping control (much finer control than 3pt) and go very far the front of the box digs a couple furows. With tilt and 7 ft width I should be able to dress a crowned road in two passes this will become more important soon. It is a requirement before a contractor will start construction on my site to have an all weather road in addition to water and electricity. I get to build/maintain the road.

Patrick

 

[ronjhall]

thumperjb
<font color=blue>you guys are terriffic </font color=blue>
The CFO say's YOU guys are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...a 7 foot rear blade (King Kutter $199) ...</font color=blue>

That's an excellent price for a 7' rear blade...! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[patrickg]

I was surprised that the HD version was almost $600 so did a non-typical thing for me, opted for the lighter one. I figure I can wear out three for only a few more bucks than one HD costs or alternatively gamble that the regular model is "good enough" and if I am wrong buy the big'un.

Patrick