Box blade question

[PumpingPete]

Is the hydraulic adjustment much of a time saver/useful? Sorry for the newbie questions!

 

[TripleR]

Is the hydraulic adjustment much of a time saver/useful? Sorry for the newbie questions!

It has been for me and my sons, we use ours on a Kubota L5740HSTC and M8540HDC and it sure saves time and energy climbing in and out of them to make adjustments.

Some also find a roll over scraper such as the ones by Dirt Dog really handy and don't need hydraulics so much, but I have never used one.

 

[EMcPhee]

If you are working roads I think the hydraulic kit is a must so that you can change the cut and the angle as needed from the seat. It helps greatly in creating a level, graded surface.

Go with an HD unit, but make sure it is sized to the tractor as you'll also be pulling a bunch of material around with you.

I have an 84 inch unit on a JD 4510.

 

[jeff9366]

I am currently looking for a box blade for my NH workmaster 55 and can't seem to decide on the size. My tractor is cat ll/cat l compatible on the 3 point. I was thinking that an 8 ft box blade would probably be the best size/match.

You want you Box Blade as wide as your tractor tires, or a tad wider, if you want to trench. If Box Blade is narrower, you cannot back into trench for next tranche.

According to TractorData.com your Workmaster is 4,000 pounds/ 55-HP / 68" wide and I presume four wheel drive. A 72" or 84" Box Blade should pull, full, satisfactorily. Buy a Box Blade at least 125 pounds per foot. Six footer = 750 pounds. Seven footer = 875 pounds.

Pulling dirt is high draft work, plus the dirt is heavy. I am not too sure you want to go to eight feet. Box Blades are not the easiest things to maneuver, full or empty. Box Blade is most common implement used as counter-balance to FEL loads, in counter-balance function you will be maneuvering Box Blade in reverse, looking over your shoulder......

Hole in the picture was 54" deep. Without 60", 630 pound Rollover Box Blade counter-balance plus 4-WD, tractor would have slipped irresistibly into the excavation.

 

[rjwerth]

I would also suggest the EA 78" It is a good balance between weight and cost. I use one on my DK50SE which is similar in size as your NH.

 

[Ken45101]

The typical "heavy duty" units are more needed for the higher hp tractors (say 90 hp and above).

I have a Bush Hog MBX84, medium duty and it's well made and a good match for my Kubota M5040. Going to a true "heavy duty" unit would have about doubled the cost. For years I used a smaller unit of unknown origin but similar construction.

Note, Woods, Gannon, Bush Hog, etc. seem to be clear in the "light/medium/heavy" duty nomenclature and don't resort to extreme adjectives which are inappropriate and confusing.

Depending on where you are using it, it's generally good to have the bb a little wider than the tire tracks but not much. I use mine on trails in the woods and if I had something significantly wider than the tractor I couldn't get down the trails without catching on trees, etc.