Bush Hog 8ft. blade

[Bluesteel]

I found a used 8ft Bush Hog blade series 90. Some of the info I came up with shows the weight at approx. 740 lbs. I was really looking at the 7ft. figuring that would be plenty wide. Like the idea of the extra weight for better cutting in some of our hard soil.

My question is do you think this is too heavy a blade for my XR4046? Blade is cat 1 and 2 so it will hook up. It has off set, angle and tilt and blade is reversible. Fairly standard for a blade this size.

Thanks, Bluesteel

 

[LD1]

I wouldn't want anything smaller for that tractor. I pull a 7' 700# blade with a much smaller tractor.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I found a used 8ft Bush Hog blade series 90. Some of the info I came up with shows the weight at approx. 740 lbs. I was really looking at the 7ft. figuring that would be plenty wide. Like the idea of the extra weight for better cutting in some of our hard soil.

My question is do you think this is too heavy a blade for my XR4046? Blade is cat 1 and 2 so it will hook up. It has off set, angle and tilt and blade is reversible. Fairly standard for a blade this size.

Thanks, Bluesteel

It's not the weight that is the concern, but the 8' width. The tractor will handle it fine for the most part, just have to keep an eye on the cut depth and how much of an angle you use. If the price is right, get it and try it out. If you don't like it for some reason, you can always sell it.

 

[Bluesteel]

Update: I went and looked at the blade and ended up buying it. It did not appear to have much use. Cutter edge was good with minimal wear. Pin holes were tight, etc. We loaded it up and home I went. Couple days later I use my FEL and unloaded it so I could hook it up. I had a little difficulty getting it on one of the lower arms. It seemed one was lower than the other which I thought was a little strange. Finally got it hooked up and lifted it off the ground. The blade was lower on one side so I thought maybe it was tilted for some reason. Nope, king pin or the blade mount or both are bent. The blade is 5" lower on one side in 8'. Wow! You couldn't really tell there was anything wrong sitting on the ground. Good news is I called the seller and told him the issue. He said he had no idea it was bent and I am taking it back to him the first of the week for a refund. Parts are expensive. Over $700 just for the king pin assembly.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I have no idea what you paid, but how much adjustment of the side link would it actually take to get the blade level? I don't think that it would be much to tilt it 5". Sort of hard to believe that a like new blade has the king pin bent. That would be some serious abuse to have that happen.

 

[Bluesteel]

I bought it for $1,050. I think new they sell for $1,500-$1,600. Several equivalent blades also run about that amount. I don't think I can get that much adjustment on the lower arm. Even if I could I wouldn't want to change that every time I used it. Here's what it looks like.

 

[Bluesteel]

If you notice there is more space on the left side of the angle plate below the king pin. That part is $700. The other red part for the tilt is attached to that and the blade bolts to it. That part is $800. Like I said, I don't know if it's the king pin or the other part or both. Either way, cost prohibitive to fix with new parts.

 

[LD1]

How much play is in the pin? If you push down on the high side, how far down can you push it? back to level? beyond level?

 

[Bluesteel]

Hardly any movement. I did push down on it. Very tight. Maybe get an inch with force.

 

[LD1]

If you rotate it 180 degrees, that should tell you if the pin....or frame is bent

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have that same blade, are you sure it's not just out of adjustment?

There's a setting for lowering one side down, I'd be checking for that... I can't imagine bending that pivot pin!!

SR

 

[Bluesteel]

I have that same blade, are you sure it's not just out of adjustment?

There's a setting for lowering one side down, I'd be checking for that... I can't imagine bending that pivot pin!!

SR

Yep, I'm sure. There are 3 hole settings for the tilt. It is in the center hole. In the pic the torpedo level on the top of the king pin is level. The 4' level is level by using a piece of 2x4 and 5/4 decking. So it's out 2 3/4" in 4ft. or 5 1/2" in 8ft. I measured from the bottom corner of the blade to the pavement. High side was 13" low side was 8".

 

[LD1]

Something is clearly bent or loose. Can see that by the bottom and top plates and the differing gaps.

Did you try turning the blade around backwards? That should show what is bent. By watching what parts move/rotate and what the bend follows.

 

[Bluesteel]

Something is clearly bent or loose. Can see that by the bottom and top plates and the differing gaps.

Did you try turning the blade around backwards? That should show what is bent. By watching what parts move/rotate and what the bend follows.

I didn't turn the blade around. When I had it on the back of the tractor I don't think I could turn it around due to the length. When I lifted it with the FEL I didn't have any help so I put it back on the trailer.

 

[LD1]

IF it wont spin 180 that would be a deal breaker for me.

A good blade will spin all the way around. They make the hitching portion longer so the blade is farther away to allow this

 

[Bluesteel]

I'm really not sure if it would turn 180 or not, I didn't even try it after I noticed the bend. The frame was fairly long so it probably would spin.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yes, that blade will go all the way around...

SR