How much weight to add?

[Racer71]

I have added gauge wheels to my box blade and I am getting the floating action I want most of the time. The blade will ride on top of hard ground raising the wheels in the air. This is on a packed sand drive. The box weighs 500 pounds now.

What is a good starting point for adding weight? 50, 100, 250, 500 pounds? What has it taken you to make a difference?

The tractor can lift another 1,000 pounds but I don't think I need to go that far.

 

[texasjohn]

good job on the wheels! On my BB, which has no wheels (project on the list), I have added 300 lbs, approximately..... I think you should be prepared to add in the 300 to 500 range... any way you can temporarily put stuff on the blade and try different weights? I think it will depend a lot on your particular situation, soil, etc....

 

[Highbeam]

I had fantastic success in hardpan removal by adding weight to my boxblade. I was desperate enough to use a subsoil to break up the ground before the BB but even the subsoiler would skip along the hard surface.

The method I used was to acquire a 55 gallon plastic barrel and lash it to the top of the BB just aft of the 3pt linkage. I used plain old motorcyle type straps to keep the barrel in place. Then add water to the barrel. 8 lbs per gallon for at least 50 gallons gave me the much needed weight. The box dug in and scraped that hardpan up. The tractor needed low range and the diesel fuel was being burned but dirt was moving. At the end of the day you drain the water and all is well.

 

[john_bud]

For that tractor, target 750 - 800# as a starting point. Don't go over 1000# without proper front weight.

jb