Landplane with clay?

[Arc weld]

I'm building a 1/4 mile motorcycle flat track and need to get it as level as possible. I got a Frontier LP1184 landplane to try out and it does OK but the first blade piles the loose clay up on the frame. Is this normal? I know some landplanes have higher sides with the frame mounted higher and was wondering if they allow the material to flow over the blade before it piles up on the frame. My concern is that once the material is up against frame cross bar it doesn't let the blade cut as much as it should. Hoping someone has experience with this. I have a box blade too but it's really hard to get such a long distance level.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I'm tuning in because I love flat track racing.

 

[bcp]

I think the second crosspiece should be at the rear so it doesn't interfere with the material going over the blades.



One poster said if material builds up and you are carrying too much, you need to drive faster. You have a slightly different problem, but might try that.

Or move the second crosspiece to the back end. Do you know a welder?

Bruce

 

[Egon]

I would suggest a rear blade with gauge wheels would work much better for levelling. The land plane would be more of a maintenance implement to keep it smooth.

If possible a real road grader would be nice for the original shaping of your track.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Might try extending the top link a bit to help prevent the front blade from digging in so much.

 

[blackdog2086]

If you have a rental yard nearby with one in service, I would rent a powered rake (aka Harley Rake). I bought a used one several years back with the intent of selling it once I fixed my driveway but I find myself using it all the time for one project or another. They do a great job of removing high spots and moving the material to the low spots to level things out.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Might try extending the top link a bit to help prevent the front blade from digging in so much.

Exactly. Another thing to do is do not just put the position control lever all the way forward, but just let the implement down to ground level. Make some fine adjustments accordingly from that point.

Try these things and see how things go.

 

[Arc weld]

We did extend the top link a little but will try not letting the 3pt all the way down. Thanks for the suggestions. It is kind of dumb to have the cross brace directly over the blade. The guy I bought my skid steer from in 1994 now works at the JD dealer but in skid steer and commercial sales. Normally they don't demo AG implements but he arranged it with the AG salesman. I guess that's why some land planes have higher sides. I think it will do a good job but don't want to start modifying quite yet. The gravel pit that has helped me lot has a grader but they are usually way too busy to bring it over for a couple hours. I'm wondering if the county might be able to a few laps of the track. I thought about gauge wheels for my box blade but I think once we get the track level the landplane should be all that's needed.

 

[oosik]

I got a Land Pride GS2584. So I compare the picture of your Frontier to my Land Pride. First off - the two angled cutting blades, on yours, are sure close together. I see what you mean about the frame piece being right above the first cutting blade BUT - there is no way material should pile up that high anyway. The first blade should cut - material flow over and second blade may or may not cut - but it should seriously flatten out all the "passed" material from the first blade.

Back off on your top link(extend it) - somebody already suggested. It just could be that clay will not flow over the cutting blades as easily as "normal" dirt or gravel.

Going to have to play with the settings on that LPGS to get it to work the way it should.

For sure - get the LPGS laying FLAT on the ground. If too much material still piles up in front of the first blade- lengthen the top link, thereby raising the first cutting blade in small increments. Brother - this is where a hydraulic top link pays for itself very rapidly.

 

[rScotty]

I'm building a 1/4 mile motorcycle flat track and need to get it as level as possible. I got a Frontier LP1184 landplane to try out and it does OK but the first blade piles the loose clay up on the frame. Is this normal? I know some landplanes have higher sides with the frame mounted higher and was wondering if they allow the material to flow over the blade before it piles up on the frame. My concern is that once the material is up against frame cross bar it doesn't let the blade cut as much as it should. Hoping someone has experience with this. I have a box blade too but it's really hard to get such a long distance level.

Once you get it done, you'll probably find that practice produces gollywobbles, ruts, and ripples on the clay surface - especially into and out of the corners. On our local track they smooth those out by using a standard 3pt back blade - but it is a real big heavy one - must weigh close to 1000 lbs - and it is pulled BACKWARDS. That is, the curved surface of the blade is facing away from the tractor. So instead of digging in, that heavy blade just sort of smooths things out.