2N vs Back Blade

Bryce Frazier · Nov 18, 2013

Hey it's Bryce. What do you guys think is an appropriate size back blade for my 2n? Fluid filled tires, and box chains. I have a Howse 5 foot, and that wont even cover the wheel tracks of the tractor... Neighbor says that he has a 10 foot cutting edge off of a grader blade, and he offered to widen up my blade and put a new edge on it, so I have the option of size. I was thinking that 7 would be about right and that anything more than that would be too much for the tractor, what do you think? THANKS, Bryce

old-9 · Nov 18, 2013

I bought an 8 footer at auction for my 9-N. I loved that it covered tracks but could not reverse it. I cut a foot off left end and used it for a while, then cut the right side. Looking back wished I had not cut the right side.
joe

Bryce Frazier · Nov 18, 2013

You could still spin the blade around if you just unhooked it from the tractor, then manually pulled the pin and spun the frame rather than the blade. Then you would just drive around the other side and hook back up, right? Did it handle the 8 foot okay?

old · Nov 18, 2013

6 footer is about right for the N series tractors. Many of the bigger ones are to heavy and you will find that it is hard to steer when the front tires are off the ground

Fordfarmer · Nov 18, 2013

Old is right - 6' is about as big as you want on an N. If your neighbor is just going to put the longer cutting edge on your existing blade, I don't think you'll be happy. The cutting edge that sticks out beyond the moldboard will move very little snow - or gravel. Most of it will just spill over top of the cutting edge.

oldtanker · Nov 18, 2013

I have a 7 foot for my 8N and it's a little big for it.

Rick

Bryce Frazier · Nov 18, 2013

No, he is going to build full extensions for the blade, and then put a new cutting edge on it. If you guys think that it will only handle a 6 footer, then I will believe you, however here is a thought: Even if I have him bump it up to 6 foot, it still will just barley hang on the outsides of the tires, so, should I have him put all of the 1 foot extension on one side of the blade so that it hangs out more on that side so I could move the snow farther off of the road? Thanks, Bryce

Dachshund · Nov 18, 2013

I have a 7' blade that works excellent on my 8N.

gene bender · Nov 18, 2013

You wll like the wider blade for removing snow 8ft would be fine so when you have the blade angled it will move it clear of the wheels then on the next pass you can realy get it off the road go fo it. You have the power we are just moving snow.

Bryce Frazier · Nov 18, 2013

Here is a picture of the same blade I have. This one still has all of its paint though! Bryce

gene bender · Nov 18, 2013

Old doesent have much snow to move im up north and have moved lots of snow in yrs past.

pburg · Nov 18, 2013

I would guess that with a six-foot blade you are able to reverse the blade without unhooking the blade from the 3-pt. But if you put a longer blade on it, you won't be able to rotate the blade. Something to consider before you decide to have it lengthened.

davpal · Nov 18, 2013

I use a ten foot 2x12 on my six foot blade on a 9n. I just bolt it on in the winter with a couple pieces of threaded rod and I'm good to go. I leave 1 foot on the left side and three foot on the right side and it sticks out like a gallion grader and lets me plow much easier without getting caught in the ditch. I can swing the blade out and get around close to the buildings and around the mailbox. It works great. Adds weight to the back of the tractor so it pulls it very well. I does a much cleaner job of plowing the driveway and yard. Pulls it fine.

Bryce Frazier · Nov 18, 2013

Yes, but I have 1 mile of drive way, and I get around a foot of wet snow over night, not sure the boards would hold up! I think I am just going to beef it up to a seven foot. Thanks for the info guys! Bryce

David G · Nov 18, 2013

I would go with 7'

BushogPapa · Nov 18, 2013

I have found that for snow, I never need to reverse my blade and backing with the blade not reversed screets the snow off the gravel best.

If the snow is packed, cutting going forward, then scraping it off in reverse gets the gob done best for me.
mine is a heavily reinforced 7' TSC 3-point blade on my JD 630.
I Pile the snow up with my JD "B" with a 6' blade on the manure loader.
Both have loaded tires and weights.
7' is plenty wide for a 2n, etc but will be nicer to use than a 5' for sure (since you have loaded tires).
Angling the blade is usually an exercise in futility, as the front end just cannot handle the job of steering everything.
In 12" of fresh snow, you will have your hands full, though..

Ron.

Fordfarmer · Nov 18, 2013

I'm in n/w WI, and have plowed my share of snow... Unless it's light, fluffy snow, 6' is plenty for an N...

gene bender · Nov 18, 2013

Go 8ft cause when you have an angle to move the snow sideways you are losing width go with 8ft you can always cut some off later cause when you angle the 8ft you will be cutting 7wide

Wile E · Nov 18, 2013

A 7 foot rear blade for a 2N. Anything wider and the 2N will not have the power.
I have a 5 foot grader blade for snow on a 24HP 4wd Deere.

old-9 · Nov 18, 2013

Way to much work to hook and re hook and re hook. As I stated leaving the extra 12 inches on the right side would have been the right thing for "me", maybe not for you. joe

old · Nov 18, 2013

One word for that. BULL We get 24 inches of snow from time to time and I would NEVER use a back blade to move it. My driveway is a full mile long and I use a V-Plow to move snow so don't be telling me I do not get snow or tell me I do not know snow but in many places that your snow is nothing but then I have been up to the arctic circle
This is how I move snow. 30 inches from top to bottom and 8.5 foot wide

old · Nov 18, 2013

Your problem will be traction or should I say the lack of it. 6 foot is all a 2N will want and then only if you have fluid in the tires or wheel weights since you will just sit and spin other wise. Now if you have a front blade that would be better since when you set the blade down there goes the traction when your using a 3 point blade

ericlb · Nov 18, 2013

i argee with most a 6 footer is probably the best width for a n series vs horsepower available, that being said what else do you use your tractor for? the N series will narrow down to as little as 48 inches wide if you dont need to have it wider for something else. i run my jubilee at 52 inches wide for nearly everything and this is a using tractor it runs nearly every day doing multiple farmyard tasks as well as contract brush hogging , at that width a 5 foot blade will easily cover its tracks

Samuels68 · Nov 18, 2013

Maybe just for refrence purposes, clamp a scrap piece of 2x4 to the blade you have, tip it to where you think is a good angle, then mark the 2x4 at the widest point of the tractor. This would give you a minimum length. You could always go 6-1/2', or any other increment since this is a custom project. Also for test purposes, you could guess at the extra weight you will add, add weights totalling that amount to your existing blade and see how it handles.
As far as being light in the front end, I have a small Kubota with a 5' blade and I know the feeling of light in the front end. It is no fun when you are fighting a heavy snow and freezing your a$$ off!
Good luck and let us know how everything comes out!

Bret4207 · Nov 19, 2013

I have a 7 footer and an 800 with loaded rears and double ring chains. In significant snow it will just barely handle it. A 2n is going to be doing good with a 6 footer- maybe. The problem with a back blade is that tractor can't really push well going backwards and you can't pull more than a blade full and then you have to have someplace fresh to dump it each pass or every other pass at best. A back blade is okay for 4-6" but it's torture for much more. A front mount is worlds and worlds better, but you can buy a beat up plow truck for what that would cost you. Of course, you can often buy a beat up plow truck for what a new back blade costs too!

We measure our snow in feet here.

2N vs Back Blade

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