options for 7500

[jwonder]

I am about to order a 7500 with FEL & MMM & BL7548 (Box blade) and would appreciate some input. Is a front grille guard necessary? Can I leave the box blade attached but in the up position while mowing with the MMM? Is the box blade an effective weight so that I do not have to fill the rear tires with ballast? Can I use the box blade to level out my hilly pasture? Does the BL7548 (box blade) have rippers? Thanks for all the input!

 

[snowman]

I think the grill guard comes with the FEL; it did with mine, at least (B7500 with LA302 FEL - delivered in 2/2001).

You can leave the box blade on, but it would be royal pain, as it uses the same 3pt system with the MMM, plus the fact it will bounce around alot and possible bend the 3pt linkages (depending on how fast you mow, etc).

The only 3pt implement I have is a rear blade, which is, I think, around 250 to 300 pounds. I do not have loaded tires. If the FEL is full, the back end can get light, but you can work around that (take smaller loads). Sometimes I'll leave the back blade on if I want more weight, but it tends to get in the way if I'm working on a large pile of dirt that I need to climb up the tractor with.

 

[TresCrows]

The front grill is part of the FEL attachment system. The 7548 box has rippers. No, I would not leave it or the FEL on when I mow. Yes, once you learn how to use the box you can knock down high spots with it. The lack of PC will make using the box more challenging. J

 

[Freds]

I only have about 16 hours on my 7500, but here's my input.
I haven't taken the FEL off yet and I mow with a RFM. manuevering around trees has become second nature and the FEL has gotten its share of use. I was glad it was already hooked up. I did some major tree trimming (so I could leave the ROPS up when I mowed) and tied the branches together to drag them back to the rear of my property. After I threw the second pile onto the first pile which was already tied on, the front end got real light when I went to drag the whole works. I just put some cement blocks in the FEL for makeshift balast and the front end stayed down fine, even on a slight grade. It was also handy for carrying my chain saw while doing the cutting and for standing on to get up higher. (Don't tell OSHA /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)
I also used the FEL in an emergency to scrape down a temporary road over my creek that high water was running around rather than through the pipe. I then dumped a dozen loads of gravel to dam/divert the water back into the creek. Prior to this, there was a new creek running beside my house and towards the neighbors house because the water couldn't find its way back where it had come from. I guess I'm saying, if your going to buy it thinking you might use it, leave it on. It might have more uses than you planned for.
My rear tires aren't loaded and the RFM kept things very stable when I was moving full loads of wet gravel. I'm not sure how the weight compares to a box blade.

Good luck,
Fred