Grading Using a front blade skillfully

Robert_in_NY · Feb 17, 2002

Float for a front blade is designed to be used in reverse for smoothing. It is the same thing on a dozer, float will not do a good job going forward you will have to get more practice using your front blade out of float while going forward. With practice you will get better but float only works good in reverse.

keeney · Feb 17, 2002

No experience with dirt yet, but I do use the float when pushing snow on occasion when I need the front tires to bite more for steering.

When going straight, I push the blade down hard enough to lift the front slightly so that my drive gets scraped nice and clean.

Float is also useful going from the street up the curb. If I neglect to lift or float the blade, it is quite a jolt.

- Rick

Robert_in_NY · Feb 17, 2002

I was referring for most applications, snow is a different story and you can use float with no problems if you have a paved driveway or the ground has frozen but in dirt you will find float to hinder your work while going forward. It is great for backdragging a driveway when you work on it or even smooth out ground after you get done moving material across it.

Bob_Trevithick · Feb 19, 2002

...Float for a front blade is designed to be used in reverse for smoothing. It is the same thing on a dozer, float will not do a good job going forward you will have to get more practice using your front blade out of float while going forward. With practice you will get better but float only works good in reverse.

Ahah! I thought float would be good because the blade could follow the ground without digging in deeper each time the rear wheels hit a bump, etc. Next time out, I'll try just feathering. I'm still waiting for the JD dealer to get me some restrictor plates so the blade will be a bit easier to control (i.e., slower.) Now all I can do is nudge the lever.. anything more results in violent motion!

Thanks...

Bob_Trevithick · Feb 19, 2002

...When going straight, I push the blade down hard enough to lift the front slightly so that my drive gets scraped nice and clean.

Are you using the "feet" on the blade? I've had mixed results with them. They do keep the blade from digging up the drive when the ground is frozen, but it hasn't been frozen much this year.. so the feet just dig large ruts and get hung up and cause the blade springs to trip. I'm not sure whether to leave them on or not. Of course I remove them when pushing dirt.

keeney · Feb 20, 2002

Bob,

The driveway in my case is paved. It makes it easy to feel skillful with the blade. At least until you go a few inches wide and peel up a sod-sized piece of turf.

I do leave the skid feet retracted out of the way. I would rather have a few scrapes on the driveway vs having the wife gutting stuck on a small patch of ice on the up-hill portion and then complaining that all that expensive equipment I use to clear the drive does a poor job.

- Rick

Bob_Trevithick · Feb 20, 2002

...I do leave the skid feet retracted out of the way. I would rather have a few scrapes on the driveway vs having the wife gutting stuck on a small patch of ice on the up-hill portion and then complaining that all that expensive equipment I use to clear the drive does a poor job.

Ah, this sounds wise! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif My situation is different.. gravel driveway, ground still isn't frozen, etc.

I can sypathize with the wife issue! I spent a lot of time a while back smoothing out the mess of our front yard from when we had to dig it up and lay power cables. It didn't look bad until both my wife and a friend of hers (in two separate cars) got stuck up to the axles while trying to turn around on it. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif Fortunately she blamed the weird weather, and not me and the tractor! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif