Box Scraper box blade advice

   / box blade advice #1  

digger2

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
268
Location
n.e. pa.(lycoming co.)
Tractor
kubota B26 TLB,former B7610 owner
Hey guys,
I'm new to the box blade world sooo.....
I have a B26 TLB Kubota.The rear track is 53" wide total.What width box blade would be best suited for this tractor?
digger2
 
   / box blade advice #2  
digger2 said:
Hey guys,
I'm new to the box blade world sooo.....
I have a B26 TLB Kubota.The rear track is 53" wide total.What width box blade would be best suited for this tractor?
digger2


Is that a 26 hp machine? I bought a 6' boxblade for my 40hp machine and I think I could have gone bigger. I too am new to boxblades. I would say a 5' minimum to cover the full width of the tractor. I don't think you will be underpowered for that.
 
   / box blade advice #3  
I agree with Marcel, cover your track fully at least. My 6' boxblade will almost cover my tracks, wish I had a 7' though. The extra width would let me get in tighter when grading up close to something where you have to angle in to get to it and sweep out. With the 6' blade, the rear tire is mighty close or totally in the way at times. I've got my eye on a new boxblade at a small dealer here - much heavier than my Atlas and very reasonable price, will buy the 7' when I'm ready to buy. That's the other main factor with a boxblade - buy the heaviest one you can find/afford, the heavier they are, the better they work.
 
   / box blade advice #4  
A 5’ box has worked fine for years on my B21. The key to effective box blade work is weight so shop for the heaviest one you can afford.

MarkV
 
   / box blade advice #5  
digger2:

There have been many, many threads related to boxblades here at TBN. If you are inquisitive and/or bored do a search. The general "Rule of Thumb" is 1 foot per 5 HP, but a lot is dependent upon intended use, soil type and composition, tractor weight, and tire type. I agree with MarkV, heavier is better in the boxblade world and you definitely want a boxblade wider than your wheel width. I probably could have gone wider , but my heavy clay based, rocky, and rooted soil as well as manuverability were important issues for me. Jay
 
   / box blade advice #6  
my BB is 66" wide so it covers my tire tracks. (tractor is 60" wide to the outside of the tires)
I also have a bracket on top of it to set buckets of concrete for added mass when I'm working with clay instead of just spreading gravel.
At the time I bought the tractor the BB was included, otherwise I'd probably have gone for a 6' one instead.

good luck
 
   / box blade advice #7  
I think in general it is thought to have a box blade as wide or maybe 6" wider than your tractor. Get as heavy as you can afford in the size that fits your tractor. Beefier the better. I have to disagree with the 5 horse power per foot rule for box blades. I have a 75hp tractor, there is no way in the world that I could pull a 15' wide box blade. I have an 81" wide 1000lb roll over Gannon box blade. It works very well for me, but even it will stop my 12,000lb tractor at times. A lot depends on what you are going to use it for. If you are going to only be moving fresh soft material, then you could get away with a lighter duty box. But if you are going to do any digging or ground ripping, then you are way better off with a heavy box.

Oh, to answer your question directly, 54"-60" wide is what I would look for.

Just my views, others will vary.;)
 
   / box blade advice #8  
For what it's worth, I went to an equipment auction last week where new 6' heavy box blades were selling for about $315-$325. It was sort of strange because the first new blade that sold was 7' and it brought $310.
 
   / box blade advice #9  
MtnViewRanch said:
I have to disagree with the 5 horse power per foot rule for box blades. I have a 75hp tractor, there is no way in the world that I could pull a 15' wide box blade.


I have an 81" wide 1000lb roll over Gannon box blade. It works very well for me, but even it will stop my 12,000lb tractor at times.


Ha ha! I like that, 15' box blade!

Excellent point that even your larger sized tractor can be stopped dead by a 7' box. As you said, it alll depends on the soil, the tires and the weight/balance of the tractor.

For the original poster, don't go over 5' wide if you plan on doing any serious digging work with the box. (scarifiers down) The tractor will spin the tires or stall fairly often. If you are just spreading or smoothing, then you can go to 6'. If you can find a 5' box in the 600# range, that would be matched pretty well to your tractor.

Enjoy,
jb
 
   / box blade advice #10  
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't more about the weight of the box blade then the length. You want the weight to get enough bite when you want it and the width wide enough to cover the rear tires. From what I've seen guys go wider to give them more weight. If they made a 1000 lbs 36" box blade it probably would stop a 40 hp 4x4 tractor.
 
 
 
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