Plowing with a rear blade.

[IndyIan]

Well, today I had to flip the blade around and plow in reverse. The snow was just too dense and heavy, enough to make the driveline start chattering when driving over it pulling the blade. I was surprised how much more snow the blade and tractor can push in reverse as it was rolling off snow balls 3' tall off of a 12-14" tall blade. I can't say it was comfortable going backwards for an hour but I got the job done and learned that I shouldn't always wait until the storm is over...

 

[Iowan]

I use mine in reverse to clean up after the city plow goes by.

 

[Thomas]

Plus one can take tighter corners

 

[Buppies]

Have always pushed backwards just a little hard on the neck and back

 

[sam5570]

Have always pushed backwards just a little hard on the neck and back

me 2 most always push backwards

 

[kiotiken]

I've only done it a few times. I did push backwards a little to hard into a pile of dirt in the summer a few years ago (with a much smaller tractor than our DK's) and snapped the top link in two, so you need to be careful not to overdo it or hit something.

 

[IndyIan]

I have to take the blade off the 3pth to flip it which is why I've never tried it backwards. Anytime I needed to push snow i just used the bucket but the blade is nice as it's sort of self regulating. Just drop it and go.
My driveway is a 1/4 mile and being able to plow forwards at nearly full speed in midrange is nice to get it done fast but that method isn't good for a huge amount of snow.

 

[Coyote machine]

Have you tried taking multiple cuts of the depth of snow, say 1/3 at a time using the same method with your bucket?
Cut the top 1/3 then take another sweep, then final clean up cut?

 

[milkman636]

One thing I learned several years ago is that the lift arms are more vulnerable to damage when pushing in reverse. I remember having to use a come along hooked to the top link connection of my old Ford 2000 to raise one side of the blade so I could limp back to the barn. One of the lift arms cracked in half while I was bucking the piles back at the end of the driveway. IIRC it was around -10ºF that day, it was miserable. If I push with my blade in reverse it is slow and easy so there is very little momentum if it catches on anything.

 

[deerseeker001]

i use the loader bucket and back-blade at the same time does good job.

 

[IndyIan]

Have you tried taking multiple cuts of the depth of snow, say 1/3 at a time using the same method with your bucket?
Cut the top 1/3 then take another sweep, then final clean up cut?

Atleast with the sticky snow I had last time, the snow wouldn't even roll off the blade unless it was down banging along the driveway, the snow would just push along and pack up lifting the blade off the ground even higher. My blade isn't the smoothest with some rust so snow stickage can be a problem. The real problem is that I usually take 6 passes but fast going forwards, and I have one part of the hill that I can't pull the blade with a lot of snow in it while having all 4 tires on more snow. Going backwards I still did it in 6 passes but just alot slower with double the amount of snow I usually plow. I was thinking when I started I should get a blower but the rear blade worked well enough in reverse.

 

[whatsgnu]

Ya mean you can go forward with the back blade too ?? No, I've gone forward some but find that with a lot of snow going backwards works for me . I just work the 3pt controls to "try" and keep it from hanging up on uneven stuff and have broken/bent the hitch pin many times. Ya, the back and neck get a little stiff but it's better than shoveling !

 

[deerseeker001]

i always go forward with my back-blade down and use front end loader bucket down,works well for me