Box Blade Size vs HP

[Mike52]

I did a search thru the archives but couldn't find anything that specifically answered my question....so forgive me if this has been beaten to death earlier....

I have an MF 220 Diesel...26.4 PTO HP, Cat 1 PTO, FEL. I sometimes pull a 5' brushog....seems to work great.

Question: what size of box blade can I get and successfully pull without overworking the tractor? The brushog "fits" between the wheels so it looks like I would need to get at least 60" (will leave tracks) or 72" (probably won't leave tracks). Can it pull a 72" ok?

I intend to be cutting thru sod to make a dirt road...and then use it to keep the road reasonably level.....

thanks in advance......

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Box blading is one of the tasks were HP is less of an issue than the weight of the tractor. Take for example a Kioti CK25, it is a 25hp tractor, but without FEL or filled tires, it weighs over 3000#. Then take a NH TZ25, that tractor is a little Sub-CUT machine, probably weighs only 50% of the weight of the CK25 but offers the same horsepower.

The CK25 can easily handle a 5' box blade and probably, except under the worst conditions, could handle a 6' box blade without breaking too much of a sweat. On the other hand, the little 25hp Sub-CUT, at roughly 1500#, is going to struggle along with a 4' box blade at the maximum usable size under adverse conditions.

 

[Bird]

How wide is the bucket on the FEL? I've found it's frequently very helpful if the box blade and FEL bucket are the same width. Personally, I'd definitely want a box blade just a little wider than the outside of my rear tires. And I think a 72" box blade is what you'll like best.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

It is not so much the HP as the weight of the tractor that will affect how wide of a blade you can effectively operate. Were it me, I would go with the 60".

 

[Mike52]

Wow! quick replies from all and thanks for the info....

the FEL is 60" wide and the tractor weighs about 3000 lbs (with the FEL)

I'll probably go with the 72

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I'd agree with Bird. Cover your tracks without much more and you'll be ok. Too much and you'll end up snagging something and too little and you'll be digging holes.that your tractor doesn't fit in.

Also in addition to the weight of the tractor, the weight of the box blade decides how much bite it has. If you have a light tractor a lighter box blade might keep you from dragging.

You want to match the tractor HP to what the manufacturer of the blade says to use so you don't twist it in half. If you have 4wd add 10 or 20 hp to your tractors rating to be safe.

 

[familyman]

I got a 72" a couple of weeks back and have about 2 hrs. time pulling it. Things are real dry right now and undisturbed dirt is rock hard, mostly orange/blue clay with some softball sized rocks thrown in. At 2000 rpm, 2nd gear low, no problems. The blade is only cutting 2-2.5" deep at most, trying to go deeper might be difficult, but I don't need to. I haven't needed to weight the box at all: as long as I set the top link correctly, the rippers pull the box right down and she digs in. It's a great tool. Last year I did all the smoothing by hand rake and it was less than fun (back-blading with the bucket only does so much). Not this year! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[VTer]

I have a JD4310 with R4's. The distance between the outside of the rear tires is about 58" or so. I've been spending the last few days pulling gravel back up my driveway using the Frontier 2060 (60") boxblade. I think this is a pretty good combination...the tractor has plenty of power to pull a full load of gravel at a good clip - which is nice for feathering out the gravel.

I think the 65" Frontier boxblade would have worked out well too for this application but maybe too much blade for the application you describe. I wanted the 65" blade but it was becoming too much hassle (read money) to change. I was advised that a 72" boxblade would be too much for this tractor, and that is probably so.

I agree with the other posters...go a little wider than your tires and that shoud suffice. I would rather be overpowered (err towards a narrower blade) than underpowered (too much blade).

Good luck.

 

[have_blue]

I borrowed a 600 pound Bush Hog 72" box blade for over a month. I put quite a few hours on it, and it gave my 35hp tractor all it could handle. I could pull it fine in lower gears, but sometimes you need to pull a box blade at a good clip to help the dirt spread evenly.

 

[Mike52]

hey familyman:

thanks for the region-specific evaluation. We're west of Media (PA) and have the same dirt/conditions. Looked up the specs on your kubota and they seem to be pretty close to my MF 220. Had already decided on the 72" based on everyone else's good advice...yours put it "over the top".

Have a co-worker that lives where you do....nice area. Originally from around there myself.

thanks again to all