Go Bottom7510 and snowplow one last time
 | Oliver
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 210 Massachusetts 
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2006-01-09 122499
I pretty much decided that a Curtis 6' blade is too expensive and not ideal for my tractor, so I have been looking for a used 6' (or so) blade that a friend can cut down and rig up to attach to the bucket. Today I found a 6' Curtis blade that came off a 7510 with an LA 302 loader. The story is the guy used it for a season and decided to buy a bigger tractor with a snowblower. The dealership sold the tractor but the new buyer did not want the blade. The dealer is asking $1150.
Some say this type of rig is too heavy for my tractor-- and the weight will be too far forward. What do people think? I don't want an $1100 piece of metal that sits rusting because it is too big for my machine!
Thanks!
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 | jarndt
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 351 Northern Virginia
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2006-01-10 122520
The balance of your rig can be adjusted with some sort of rear ballast (3PH is arguably the best type), a relatively simple fix for the far-forward configuration. As far as weight goes; just make sure the plow isn't heavier than your loader's rating. Be sure to take into account the moment arm created if the plow is mounted forward of the bucket. If those problems can be addressed, the only issue I see is manuverability (a long rig), and the tendancy for the plow to shove the front end of the tractor around. ....
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 | DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ 
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2006-01-10 122526
You would be better off with taking the loader off, installing the quick attach hitch (couple hundred), and using the quick attack snow blade (about $1000). I don't think you will like the loader blade set up on that size tractor. ....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2006-01-10 122533
With all due respect to my friend Dennis, he & I differ on this point.
A tractor is designed for, and really likes a LOT of ballast under conditions such as snow or mud.
Don't forget, when you are plowing, almost the entire mass of the plow is resting on the ground. It's only when its in the air the weight is on the FEL.
My personal tractor is albeit a little bigger than yours, but I run a blade on the FEL, with the arms up so that all of the FEL weight is on the front axle, and at least 1,000 pounds on the 3pth, often more.
I have done basically the same thing with B-series tractors. I showed a friend who was going to get a bigger tractor what happened when he loaded up his tractor. He was amazed at the difference. He also kept his B-series unit.
We used to plow commercially with small L-series on (unloaded) turf tires by merely loading them up with about a ton of ballast split between front and back. They are nearly unstopable.
Try a little test. Get a scoop of sand or something in the loader bucket, then put the heaviest implement you have on the 3pth (maybe even chain a couple together) and try pulling or pushing something around. Then unload the machine and try again. I think you will be surprised at the results.
I can bump start a 1 ton truck with my HST FMM by merely lifting the deck and putting some sand bags on the outside end, and having somebody stand on the back.
Weight = traction, period.
Best of luck. ....
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| DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2006-01-10 122534
Looking at your profile, you have horses so you will probably want the loader on all year, so nix the quick attach if that is the case.
I like the quick attach approach on smaller tractors targeted at home owners so they can change the implement from a blade to a blower should they eventually become dissatisfied with the blades results.
I like having no snow banks from a plow that a blower gives you, but hey that's not a problem here with temps in the 50's this week ;-).
Dennis ....
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2006-01-10 122539
If the loader is a quick-detach type it might take as much time to put the Curtis blade on the FEL as it does to put a Kubota designed plow on a frame mount.
On my Deere I can have the FEL off and the plow on inside of 10 minutes quite easily.
I would bet that you could get a Kubota plow for about the same money and you could have power angling which I find a very useful time and back saver.
I am assuming here that the Curtis plow would have a manual angle feature since the FEL is still operational.
If so.... you will get tired of climbing on and off the tractor to make angle adjustments.
My 2 cents. ....
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Add Photo7510 and snowplow one last time
| Oliver
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 210 Massachusetts
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2006-01-10 122543
Thanks for the input. A few things:
1. I like the idea of the plow being attached to the loader arms because of ground clearance. All of the frame mounted plows I have seen (and I admit I have not looked into them too much) seem to restrict ground clearance, either due to the amount the blade can be raised or the sub frame I have seen some of them have.
2. During the winter I can get by without the bucket; we muck stalls into a Kawasaki Mule and dump it in a back field. I sometimes have to push the pile, but don't have to scoop it up.
3. The Curtis unit is a manual angle, which I am used to but agree, it is a pain. I know Cutis sells the same unit with a cylinder on it -- I wonder if it can be added later?
4. The Curtis blade, used, is double (or more) what it will cost me to rig up an old plow that I will chain onto the bucket. I am inclined to go for the Curtis unit, but am hesitant about it being too big for the tractor. What I am hearing is that with proper ballast it should work fine.
Thanks-- and if there are other thoughts out there, please continue with your helpful responses! ....
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