Problems grading

[Knight]

I can't seem to get the ground flat. (See little mounds in pics) As I pull the rake, the material will build up, then as the material gets too heavy it dumps or the rake lifts over and creates a mound over and over as I go.
The same thing will happen with a box scraper. These are great tools for mound making, except I don't know when you ever need mounds.
What is a good way to create a flat surface and remove material as you go?

 

[8934]

Grading takes practice, it is a lot harder than it looks, untill you figure out how.

It may help to slightly angle blade, or rake one way, and then the other. This will cut from high spots, and fill in low ones.

 

[Thomas]

As 8934 said.."Grading takes practice"
Try taking half the amount...some cases the FEL will cure the problem back dragging.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I'd use that driveway surface as a guide to get yourself straightened out. Come in at 90 degrees to the direction you've been grading, float your bucket flat on the driveway and keep taking slices off until the dirt is flat. In addition to back dragging, you can also roll your bucket all the way back and float going forward. This will act like the heel of your hand pushing against sand to flatten it out. Once you have these waves it's pretty hard to get them out with any kind of dragging tool because it just keeps going up and down as your wheels ride up and down the waves.

 

[Gizmo2]

Are you using gauge wheels?

 

[Egon]

Angle the rake and use Gage wheels. Roll the material back and forth a few times. Pretend you have a Grader.

 

[Knight]

I gave it another try with some good advice here.

I don't have gauge wheels, but angling the rake did the trick. Angling let excess material spill out. Also using the back side of the bucket, like MarkLeininge described worked very well.

 

[cowboy357]

Yep Takes Plenty of Practice . I Use The Rippers Down on the box Blade & Raised Where the Bucket Only Lets it Dig in an Inch or So for Roughing in & Moving the Dirt & Allways Use the Loader Bucket Back Dragging to Finish Grade . Glad You Got it Figured out though. Bob

 

[Knight]

Part of the problem is that I was using a new rake
1. wider
2. more aggressive tines.( these tines grab material more than my older york rake.)

 

[IslandTractor]

Part of the problem is that I was using a new rake
1. wider
2. more aggressive tines.( these tines grab material more than my older york rake.)

You may need to adjust your topping lift (shorten it) so the rake tines are pointing backwards a bit. That will temper the aggressiveness.

Width should not be an issue.