Rear Grader Blade for Snow Removal

CBox · Dec 11, 2005

Ok, so it is early in the snow season in Indiana, and we have already had 10+ inches of the white stuff. Last season I used the FEL and a 6' box blade to remove the snow. If there's not too much, the box does all right, but for this much snow, I am really wanting a blade.

What size would you guys recommend for my 33? I can't really see myself doing much grading with it, just snow removal. I would really love a blower, just can't swing the money now, too many Christmas presents to buy for my better half. Especially since I am wanting to buy myself an early present (rear blade), I need to keep her happy. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
CBox

RoyJackson · Dec 11, 2005

How long is your drive? Do you ever plow out your neighbors?

If your plowing needs are less then a couple hundred feet, I'd go for a 72" blade. Two passes should be enough to clear a drive.
If you have a long drive (> 200'), you might want to consider a bigger blade so you can do it all in one pass.

I use a 72" blade behind a Deere 790. My drive is about 150', plus parking area. I also do my neighbor's drive (at least 200'). For my drive, the 72" blade is quite sufficient...plus, I got the blade really cheap and don't want to buy a bigger one. I also enjoy plowing snow...so the extra time isn't a hassle.

SacandagaBrad · Dec 11, 2005

Get wide enough to fully cover your tracks with the blade fully angled. I also suggest one with a tilt feature. I pull the tilt pin on mine which allows it to follow the contour of the ground freely. Left in a fixed position, it will try to grade whatever it hits, very dependent on top link adjustment and angle of the blade.

I run a 72" behind my 24 with no problems up to about 8", then switch over to a blower. The blade will handle more, it just takes more passes with snow coming over the top, etc. I wouldn't be without it.

Brad

CBox · Dec 11, 2005

Roy and Brad,
Thanks for the replys. My gravel drive is almost 1300' long and about 11' wide, plus a parking area. I was considering the 72" blade because my box is 72" and it covers my tracks, but I was not sure if the 72" blade would cover the tracks with it fully angled. Do you guys run R4 tires? That is what I have. Brad, is the frame size of your 24 the same as my 33? (for tire width)

On a side note, I think I have convinced my wife I need the blade. I didn't plow the drifts yesterday because we were supposed to get more snow last night. I drove her 4X4 SUV to my work last night and I got it stuck in the drive when I came home this morning! She was not real thrilled to see her "baby" stuck about 400' from the house. I told her, look on the postive side, it could be 1200' from the house.

I'm heading out to plow now..........

CBox

RoyJackson · Dec 11, 2005

I have R4's on my 790. They work fine, but the areas I plow are not sloped in any way.

I angle my 72" blade about 30 degrees. This still covers the width of the 790 and does a fine job in moving the snow out of the way.

With a 1300 foot drive, I'd go for as wide a blade as my tractor could handle. I know I could easily handle an 84" blade (tractor weighs an estimated 3000 lbs with FEL and loaded tires). In fact...you're in the territory for a blower, if the snow accumulations can justify it.

What is a CIH DX33?

daTeacha · Dec 11, 2005

Let me rudely answer your question here, Roy, since that's one of the machines I'm weighing the pros and cons of. Unless I miss my guess, a CIH DX33 is the Case International Harvester Farmall DX33, which is the same machine as the NH. I think it's the TC33 when it's blue.

I'm in the northeastern quarter of Ohio. We get some fairly serious snow now and then. Back blades and box blades are pretty common for snow removal. I have a 6' blade behind my little Kubota B7100. Heavy wet deep snow will cause my tractor to move sideways rather than moving the snow, but my tractor/loader only weigh about 1250 lb combined. In those circumstances, I use the front loader or, strangely, a front mounted blade on my little Cadet 109. If you can get a front blade on your tractor, you might be surprized at how much snow you can push. The stuff pushes much better than it pulls, probably because your tractor is then operating in the cleared area behind the plow instead of getting the snow packed up underneath the tractor.

hazmat · Dec 11, 2005

My gravel drive is almost 1300' long and about 11' wide, plus a parking area. 

That's a 1/4 mile! Unless you are retiring from work soon, get a blower - Spend the money once for the right (fast) tool.

I picked up a used one for <$500. If you buy new, you are garunteed to prevent snowfall for the remainder of the season. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

daTeacha · Dec 11, 2005

I always thought blowers were great for big snow, but kind of overkill for what we get here in Ohio. I think Indiana gets less than we do, except maybe up in the Chicago snowbelt area. No one around here, about 75 miles south of Cleveland, has big snowblowers. I have to think they can't justify the expense. On the western side of the state, where the ground is flat and there's nothing between them and the north pole except a barbed wire fence with 2 wires down, some guys have them for drift busting, but those are the only ones I know of in this latitude.

SacandagaBrad · Dec 11, 2005

CBox,

The TC33 and DX33 are the next size up, Class II, quite a bit larger and I would assume wider. My 54" blower just covers my tracks, but I have turfs which are the widest tire you can get. I'm sure you could handle a 84". I even do quite a bit of grading hard packed gravel road with the 72" on my 24.

Roy, I think maybe the CIH is Case/International Harvester DX 33?

Brad

SacandagaBrad · Dec 11, 2005

( Spend the money once for the right (fast) tool.)

Let him get both, everyone knows how much fun it is to spend someone else's money /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Hazmat is right, I love my snowblower. Never encountered too much for it to handle. One pass and its gone. Can't say that about a blade, heavy or deep snow can get tough to push around.

Brad