Rear Blade Why doesn't my rear blade cut?

[dcyrilc]

Here are some pix from after I tried some grading.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Cyril,
Looks like you are making progress. I find that the more I angle the blade (so it pushes the dirt to one side) the more aggressive it cuts. You can push the dirt to the center of the road then square up the blade and shape the road into a slight crown. Finally, spinning the blade around and pulling it backwards will smooth things out without accumulating dirt.

Also slowing down helps a blade dig in. Sometimes if the cutting edge is worn parallel to the ground it will actually help to shorten the top link to put the leading edge in contact with the ground. Of course flipping the blade for a fresh edge is best.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Cyril, you have to much energy.:laughing: Actually I take that back, you can not have to much energy. You must have a lot of energy. :thumbsup: With the design of your blade, I would first flip the cutting edge and see how much difference that makes. I think that you will be surprised at how much more dirt you will cut with that other 1/2". If you need more than that, maybe start adding weight. The blade is not designed strength wise to handle the weight though and with the size of your tractor, I would see blade failure in the future. My thinking is that if anyone needs to add weight to an implement, then they need a different implement.

I know that a HD blade is costly, but as most of us know, you get the tractor, you need to get the size implements that fit that tractor. A good match for your tractor would be a Land Pride RBT4096, might be able to get away with an RBT3596, but I would get the 40 series.

Hope all works out for you, keep us informed.

 

[dcyrilc]

Cyril, you have to much energy.:laughing: Actually I take that back, you can not have to much energy. You must have a lot of energy. :thumbsup: With the design of your blade, I would first flip the cutting edge and see how much difference that makes. I think that you will be surprised at how much more dirt you will cut with that other 1/2". If you need more than that, maybe start adding weight. The blade is not designed strength wise to handle the weight though and with the size of your tractor, I would see blade failure in the future. My thinking is that if anyone needs to add weight to an implement, then they need a different implement.

I know that a HD blade is costly, but as most of us know, you get the tractor, you need to get the size implements that fit that tractor. A good match for your tractor would be a Land Pride RBT4096, might be able to get away with an RBT3596, but I would get the 40 series.

Hope all works out for you, keep us informed.

I've slowed way down from where I used to be in my 20s and 30s. Now that I'm 47, I feel like notheing gets done anymore.:laughing: Having a tractor should help though.

The blade came with the tractor which I bought back in September. It had issues when I got it, but that put the price down where I could actually afford to get it. Still working out issues with the tractor, but everythings getting closer to what it should be. Slowly, one item at a time, the tractors problems are being resolved. The 3PH is going to be the next big step. I want to try to get some work out of the way first, regrading driveways and mowing, then I'll tear into the 3PH and be without the tractor for a month or so.

I appreciate everyones help with figuring out the blade. I'll rotate the cutting edge this weekend and keep everyone updated as I go along.

One thing I noticed yesterday, was that my 3PH has enough slop for the blade to tip about 4-5" either direction rather than being solid and stiff. Part of this is because the pins on the sides of the blade for the lower lift arms seem to be loosening up and part is play where the lower lift arms attach to the tractor. On a new tractor, with a blade lifted, how tight is a blade from being able to tip side to side? Do they have some give or are they like a dozer blade and rigid as all get out? I'll tighten the pins before using it again and see how much play is left to determine if I need to replace the bushings on the tractor end of the lower lift arms or not.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you think that you've slowed down from a few years ago, (I know that I have) wait and see what happens in a few more years. I'm 53, one of my problems is that there are days that I feel like I'm 40 again. Usually after those days I feel like I'm 70 and that feeling usually lasts for a few days. :laughing:

I would say that my 9' blade has less than 2" of slop-play side-side. I will double check whenever I use the blade again. Now my 8' MidWest blade has more, but a lot of that is because it has pins for the adjustments and the pin holes in the adjustment flanges were just flame cut at the factory. But I got what I paid for and didn't know any better at that time. :ashamed:

 

[FxdGrMind]

On my tractor my 3pt arms have diagonal links to the center (Sort of) to triangulate the arm for more positive location and control of the implement. The links are threaded rods with a turnbuckle to tighten/loosen.

When tight it still sways 2-3 inches side to side... nothing to prevent that as the distance from the pivit point to the implement is quite large and subsequently multiply's the little slop there is.

I'd suggest angling the blade and using a level on the blade to make sure it's level when down and grading. Adjust the link arms (vertical adjustment) to get the blade level when angled. then go back and work from the outside in on your drive. That should put a nice pile in the center to then form into a "Crown" which you can make by back blading down the center.

Practice and patience is key to making a nice road. A slow and steady tractor helps. =)

 

[Chilly807]

I'm in the slow and steady club. Your blade is similar to my Land Pride, Cyril. They're ok for spreading new gravel, grading soil, moving snow, etc. Heavy duty work (grading compacted driveways like yours and mine) is on the heavy side for them, but your job is better than mine from what I can see.

If it were me, I'd keep the blade you have and maybe look at a box blade down the road. They'll do a better job on driveways in my opinion.

Mine can't be that frail, I was leveling out some muck (no better word for it !) behind the barn last weekend, and hooked an old stump. Stalled the tractor in low range, but no bends in the blade. Not this time anyway. Going slow helps avoid damage in my experience.

Chilly

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Chilly, put a few thousand more pounds in the equation on the tractor side and see how well the blade holds up. Cyril's tractor is just a weeee bit bigger than yours.

 

[dcyrilc]

My question for play in the blade wasn't for side-to-side movement, but rather tilt side-to-side. In other words, if you were to put a block under one end of the blade and lower it, how much would it angle before the block supported the full weight? I found most of my problems tonight I think. With the exception of the bolts holding the cutting edge on, every bolt on the blade was loose.

I tightened the Cat 2 pins and that helped alot. I'm going to have to check them though, because the holes in the blade are much larger than the threads on the pin. In fact, the lock washer just fits inside the hole and is actually keeping the pin centered in the hole. The bolts which hold the blade to the boom are also loose, but were rusted to the point I could not budge them either tighter or looser so I sprayed them with YEILD snd eill try them again another day. I'm currently down to about 2" of tilt from 6".

I also flipped the cutting edge tonight. Those bolts were tight and are tight again now that it's done. What a difference looking at the angle of attack on the bottom edge of the cutting edge when attached to the tractor.


Here are some pix from my cell phone while the blade was off the tractor and the cutting edge had been flipped. Sorry for the poor quality. The lens get so much dirt on it that it just doesn't clean any more. Scratched I think.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think that you are going to be surprised at what a difference all of this makes. Now I can hardly wait for you to bend it while rolling all that dirt. As you know, there's a thread that can help you out deciding on a new one that will work good for you. Now you're going to get us a picture similar to that one of mine that you posted, right? :thumbsup: