Third cry for help

ovrszd · Aug 30, 2011

davcog said:
From what I understand it is easier to get a uniformly level roadway faster with a MM blade. The washboarding caused by the front or rear of the tractor going over humps is reduced because you're not fiddling with the height adjustment of a front or rear blade to compensate.

Yep, that's the idea. A construction road grader works the same way. The John Deere I run has a 22' wheelbase with the blade just behind center. So if the front tires go over a 6" hump the blade only rises 3". Make two or three passes and the hump basically disappears.

MarkV · Aug 30, 2011

davcog said:
From what I understand it is easier to get a uniformly level roadway faster with a MM blade. The washboarding caused by the front or rear of the tractor going over humps is reduced because you're not fiddling with the height adjustment of a front or rear blade to compensate.

I understand the washboard effect and wonder if the wheelbase on a BX with a mid-mount blade is enough to make it more effective than a rear blade with guide wheels. After all when you add guide wheels to a blade or rake you are pretty much doing the same thing and it would seem to be a cheaper way to go. It would also seem to be an easier system to switch from when the tractor was needed for other tasks. With guide wheels I do not have to do any height adjustment while raking the drive, the guide wheels maintain a constant height like a mid-mount blade would.

MarkV

ovrszd · Aug 31, 2011

MarkV said:
I understand the washboard effect and wonder if the wheelbase on a BX with a mid-mount blade is enough to make it more effective than a rear blade with guide wheels. After all when you add guide wheels to a blade or rake you are pretty much doing the same thing and it would seem to be a cheaper way to go. It would also seem to be an easier system to switch from when the tractor was needed for other tasks. With guide wheels I do not have to do any height adjustment while raking the drive, the guide wheels maintain a constant height like a mid-mount blade would.

MarkV

True that.

brinet · Sep 1, 2011

Agreed. However, the true goal for me is maneuverability. Many of the projects I would like to do would not be possible with the added length of a rear blade. Guide wheels would make it worse.