Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers.

   / Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers. #1  

Cityboyfarmer

Gold Member
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
369
Location
Macon, Ga.
Tractor
Kubota B8200D; JD 5205 MFWD w/522 Loader
First day using new Tufline 72" BB. Regrading driveway and BB did great a great job. I decided to cut down a small section of bank next to the drive to allow for better drainage to the sides of the driveway to help prevent water ruts. I hear a small "ping" sound behind me. Stopped and looked and saw one of the ripper teeth on the ground. The welds didn't look all that strong, plus I didn't even feel a tug on the tractor when I hit the small root.

Well, I was still having fun and moving a lot of dirt so I kept going. The teeth kept popping off with what seemed like to me minimal resistance. I slightly bent just about all the rippers, and bent the one on the left end pretty bad. I did pull up a root with a center the size of a soccer ball at one point. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The box blade itself suffered no damage at all and I was pleased with how it performed. I wonder if the ripper steel was just too soft or was I working the rippers harder than they were designed to be used?

I'll post some photos later. It was dark when I finished yesterday and the suns not up yet as I post this.
 
   / Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers. #2  
Around here Tufline is regarded as a pretty good brand so far as I can tell. Sounds to me like a bad batch of welds on the ripper teeth. I'd take it back to where I bought it and show them what's happening. The teeth shouldn't be breaking off the rippers.
I've bent a few rippers and had them straightened in a press, but never broken any teeth off.
 
   / Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers.
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Took the rippers back to the dealer and showed him and a mechanic the damage. They both concurred that the rippers should have held up better and ordered 7 new ones for me. They had 4 on hand and gave those to me today.

They think the steel was just too soft and the teeth were not welded properly. You could tell the welds did not penetrate the teeth, and the teeth were made of a harder steel than the rippers. Stuff happens.
 
   / Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers. #5  
Whoa! I'm considering the Tufline 7' (TB284).

Which model do you own? is it the 100, 200, 300 series?

Thanks!
 
   / Broke 6 of 7 Ripper teeth & bent rippers.
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Sonny,

I have the TB 172, which is a lighter model than you are looking at. The rippers were the problem, not the box blade itself. Tufline makes good products and you will like yours if you decide to purchase it. Remember all attachments have their limitations. I've maintained my 1500' driveway with an old used 60" Tufline blade for about 4 years and it has held up well.

Now, like I said, I did pull up a soccer ball sized root with the TB 172 at one point. The tractor didn't even grunt, but it cost two ripper teeth and another bent ripper. The stump attached to the root ball was only 3" in diamater. Still, the dealer said the rippers should have held up better and I've got 7 new ones on the way.
 
 
 
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