how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade

   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #11  
Danny,

I am by no means an expert. However, if you look at relatively recent posts from me, you will see that I was in your exact same position (box scraper newbie), just a couple of months ago. I've now got a couple dozen hours using the box scraper, and as others have testafied: practice, practice, practice.

You must pay attention to the angle of the box. The top link is critcal, and I've found that there is a "lag" in positioning the top link, and getting the result you are looking for. My B7500 has T&T, and when I'm going along, my right hand is on the top link lever almost all the time. I try to pay close attention to the highs and lows, and adjust the top link to compensate. I ain't perfect, but I'm a whole lot better than when I started.

Got a great compliment from my sister-in-law last night. She hadn't been down to see us for a few months. She commented that the driveway seemed a "a whole lot smoother" than it had ever been before. Then she remembered "Oh yeah, that's Bill on the new 'bota".

So I must be doing "something" right. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The GlueGuy
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #12  
Steve,

I can sympathize. I'm in Northern VA. Wife tells me we got 1/500 of an inch today. We could use the rain too.

Peter
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #13  
To get good with a box it takes seat time and even then you'll have your woop de doo days. Sometimes you can get by with floating the box with the toplink adjusted out so it's leaning back. Another thing when not in float get in the habit of feeling the tractor so you can react to the ground contours better. Last, take very small bites when doing final grade. It takes time just don't rush it and you'll get the hang of it.
Gordon

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   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #14  
Harv the experienced folks went through the same learing curve so they might be laughing now but sure weren't then./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Gauge wheels will spoil you, but they are worth their weight in gold. Cut down working time by so much it's not even funny.

Gordon

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   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #15  
You're right, Gordon. This thread has been good for a few laughs,/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif but only because I've probably made more whoop-de-doos than Harv and Danny together./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif For slow folks like me, I've found the hydraulic top link helped more than anything else.

Bird
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #16  
Y'all just stop it will ya? You're making me wish I had a hydraulic top link for my BX....
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #17  
I haven't tried loose dirt yet (going to tomorrow), but for crushed rock or gravel I was having a similar problem with whoop-de-doos. I finally found that filling the box blade up with material so that it CAN't dig out anymore causes it to smooth the material when it would otherwise dig, and when it hits a low spot it lets some out. I found myself actually making laps with a box blade full of gravel and it turned out great. After you're done you only have one box blade full of stuff to deposit as gradually as you can somewhere.

Alan L., TX
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade
  • Thread Starter
#18  
I think part of my problem is that my top link is too short. When I adjust it all the way out, the front blade of the box blade is only slightly higher than the rear one. I'll go check some prices on top links and if they're not too far out, I'll get a longer one. I'd get a hydraulic cylinder for the top link, but my TC29D doesn't have the hydraulics for it. I'll check on the cost of adding that next time I talk to the dealer, but I have a feeling it's more than I can pay right now. I wonder why they don't put draft control on compact tractors, seems like a lot of people could use it? By the way, what is T&T?
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #19  
I still think for final smooting the "thing" would be a belly blade...

I see them on old Farmall, like Cub's and A's; it seems like it should work well. I mean, look at road graders. The blade is in the middle. When the front or rear of the grader rises/falls, the blade only rises half the distance.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif
 
   / how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade #20  
Danny, you can get top links at TSC, Quality Farm etc. Probably cheaper than the dealer. T&T is just what you started to describe with your hydraulic cylinder top link. Hydraulic Top and Tilt. Bird and others have perfected the connections, valving etc. to replace the top link with a cylinder and one or both of the lift links allowing you fingertip control of the implement. I'm still perfecting the fine art of manual adjustments /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

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