Box Scraper Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading?

   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #1  

RealJimbo

Bronze Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
57
Though I know I want TnT, I want to understand it better B4 I go off looking for one. My mount is a Kubota M6040. I have a long unimproved road/driveway that was put in over 10 years ago. Basically, no one has maintained in much. So I bought a box blade, thinking I would resell it (was a deal with a flail) but I have started using it.

Last year I did some work on the road with a cheap rake, but I decided that without gauge wheels, it was minimally effective. The box blade digs up the big rocks and fills in holes, but it too seems to need gauge wheels when attempting to smooth/finish. It also seems to take forever to move stuff from the ditch to the crown, which was why I wanted a back blade. Anyway . . .

I am hoping someone can help me understand how TnT will improve Box blade performance without gauge wheels. Seems straightforward that Tilt will make ditch/crowning simpler, without getting on and off the seat. But how does the hydraulic top link help? Do they have a float position?
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #2  
I don't think TnT will improve the "blade" performance...Operating a box blade becomes an art. One learns the 3 point hitch and the float feature ... the more practice time spent the finer job you will do thus improving the blades performance.

Once the top link is set to achieve the right cut (depth) then use the tractors 3 point to keep the amount of dirt rolling in front of the blade.

On Edit ... I forgot to answer the question! The hydraulic top link is just as you say, keeps you from getting off the tractor to tilt the blade forwards or back to adjust the cutting edge.
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #3  
The TnT really isn't, in my opinion, going to do much on a straight run where the angle doesn't change. It helps tremendously in areas where the cut needs to vary or change sides such as in establishing a flat road through hilly land.

The hydraulic top-link allows adjustment on the go to feather edges, adjust cutting depth or change from cutting to dragging/leveling. For me the top-link is essential, but having used a TnT, it just isn't worth the cost for what I do.

Some people really like these for ease of use:Land Pride Grading Scrapers

We use one of these and like it for road maintenance, but don't have ditches on the side:Land Pride Drag Scrapers

Some see the TnT as invaluable and I see it as nice to have.
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #4  
Without gauge wheels neither a box blade or a rear blade can do a proper job.

Put guage wheels on a rear blade combined with TNT and you have a pretty fair grading system.:thumbsup:

Now if you want it properly done it will have to be set up like a road grader.
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #5  
I have no gauge wheels or TnT ... I can level a building site and finish grade a driveway .. drag and move alot of dirt with a blade or a BB.
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #6  
I have no gauge wheels or TnT ... I can level a building site and finish grade a driveway .. drag and move alot of dirt with a blade or a BB.

If you can do this well without "TnT", then you would be pleasantly surprised at how much easier it would be with "TnT" ;)
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #7  
OK i'll bite what is TnT?
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #9  
Though I know I want TnT, I want to understand it better B4 I go off looking for one. My mount is a Kubota M6040. I have a long unimproved road/driveway that was put in over 10 years ago. Basically, no one has maintained in much. So I bought a box blade, thinking I would resell it (was a deal with a flail) but I have started using it.

Last year I did some work on the road with a cheap rake, but I decided that without gauge wheels, it was minimally effective. The box blade digs up the big rocks and fills in holes, but it too seems to need gauge wheels when attempting to smooth/finish. It also seems to take forever to move stuff from the ditch to the crown, which was why I wanted a back blade. Anyway . . .

I am hoping someone can help me understand how TnT will improve Box blade performance without gauge wheels. Seems straightforward that Tilt will make ditch/crowning simpler, without getting on and off the seat. But how does the hydraulic top link help? Do they have a float position?

It sounds like you understand the side link usage although there are other times that it may get used also, especially if you have float position with your side link control valve and you do not have a side link with the DPOCV check valve on it.

As far as the top link, you change the pitch of the box to work either the front blade or the rear blade of a std design box blade. Things are a little different if you have a roll-over box blade. So depending on if you want to actually dig-scrape up material or if you want to use the back side of the blade to smooth the ground. Some people use it to change the angle of the rippers for digging up material.

Since I use roll-over box blades, I find that I use my tilt cylinder far more than my top link when I am grading. If what you grade is basically flat, you may not use the tilt cylinder all that much. I have many curves and hills to deal with and because of that I tend to use my "TnT" more than a person that is on flat land.
 
   / Help me understand TnT-how does it help grading? #10  
OK i'll bite what is TnT?

TnT=Top and Tilt. It is achieved by using a hydraulic cylinder in place of the top and side links of the 3pt hitch. That allows you to make adjustments without getting off the tractor and to change adjustments on the fly.

MarkV
 
 
 
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