Box Scraper Box Blade Ballast

   / Box Blade Ballast #1  

Deerfoot

New member
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
20
Location
Georgia
Tractor
John Deere 2305
I just received these suitcase for my 2305. The plan was to hang them on the box blade when the 200CX FEL is attatched, and put them on the front when it is off. They really seem to fit well on the BB. Now it looks like I can fit one more to balance it out. My question is am I doing any damage to the BB or tractor by hanging these weights on the BB? I don't notice any strain on the tractor when lifting the BB. I have got to say with my tires filled and these weights on, the back end acts like it is nailed to the ground!!!

 
   / Box Blade Ballast #2  
Deerfoot said:
I just received these suitcase for my 2305. The plan was to hang them on the box blade when the 200CX FEL is attatched, and put them on the front when it is off. They really seem to fit well on the BB. Now it looks like I can fit one more to balance it out. My question is am I doing any damage to the BB or tractor by hanging these weights on the BB? I don't notice any strain on the tractor when lifting the BB. I have got to say with my tires filled and these weights on, the back end acts like it is nailed to the ground!!!



LOL wow... that's a lot of weight.. it SHOULD feel nailed to the ground. I would guess it's POSSIBLE to damage the BB like this just because there is probably more vertical force than it was intended. IT was intended for horizontal forces, but I would guess that if it holds up to the horizontal, it will handle the vertical. Now THAT was one big circle.:eek:
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #3  
You are experiencing what ballasting the tractor is all about, including added traction. I don't think it will hurt your boxblade at all. Try using the boxblade that way too. It will perform 10x better. One thing to keep in mind is to somehow secure them so they don't bounce and rattle around or flip off.
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #4  
I wouldn't think the weight would damage the BB but it will make it engage the ground...including rocks and stumps, more solidly, whereas without them the BB might ride over an obstacle. So you might have to be a little more careful when using the BB. Also make sure you have not exceeded your 3 pt lift capacity, but that is unlikely.
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #5  
N80 said:
I wouldn't think the weight would damage the BB but it will make it engage the ground...including rocks and stumps, more solidly, whereas without them the BB might ride over an obstacle. So you might have to be a little more careful when using the BB. Also make sure you have not exceeded your 3 pt lift capacity, but that is unlikely.


You say it like it's a bad thing. Riding over obstacles is what you want to avoid. Ripping them out of the ground and leaving a fine smooth flat path is what you want. right?

jb
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #6  
john_bud said:
You say it like it's a bad thing. Riding over obstacles is what you want to avoid. Ripping them out of the ground and leaving a fine smooth flat path is what you want. right?

jb


That works fine till you hit the top three inches of 3/8 angle iron that is buried 6 feet in the ground with a T cross piece on the other end. (part of an old windmill) You better have your seatbelt on. I have not hit that object, but I know here it is on my property. I tried to pull it with the loader, couldn't get it so I had a neighbor come over to cut it off below ground level. He told me I'd never pull it because it was as described earlier.
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #7  
Deerfoot said:
I just received these suitcase for my 2305. The plan was to hang them on the box blade when the 200CX FEL is attatched, and put them on the front when it is off. They really seem to fit well on the BB. Now it looks like I can fit one more to balance it out. My question is am I doing any damage to the BB or tractor by hanging these weights on the BB? I don't notice any strain on the tractor when lifting the BB. I have got to say with my tires filled and these weights on, the back end acts like it is nailed to the ground!!!


How much weight have you added to your BB?
I have a KK 4-ft BB on my B7510HST along with 360 lb of concrete weight. The total weight on the 3pt is about 600 lb, way below its capacity.
Had to add the weight to get the BB to cut through turf effectively.
 

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   / Box Blade Ballast #8  
Deerfoot said:
I just received these suitcase for my 2305. The plan was to hang them on the box blade when the 200CX FEL is attatched, and put them on the front when it is off. They really seem to fit well on the BB. Now it looks like I can fit one more to balance it out. My question is am I doing any damage to the BB or tractor by hanging these weights on the BB? I don't notice any strain on the tractor when lifting the BB. I have got to say with my tires filled and these weights on, the back end acts like it is nailed to the ground!!!

I do the same thing with my box blade. I hang 350 lbs (2 100lb and 2 75lb) on the blade braces just like you do. Most of the time I remove them when doing dirt work. The dirt can lift the weights off of the bar and occasionally I have to go back and find one.
I wouldn't worry about being a little out of balance, your tractor or box blade won't notice the difference. If you want the extra weight for dirt work, you can hang them on the outside of the box blade but be careful of the extra width and don't hit anything.
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #9  
Afternoon Deerfoot,
Looks like a great idea to me! You might consider drilling and tapping the weights on the thin side to use as a lock for the weight.

Maybe something along the lines of 3/8" x 16 thread, then you wont have to worry about losing them along the way !:)
 
   / Box Blade Ballast #10  
rback33 said:
That works fine till you hit the top three inches of 3/8 angle iron that is buried 6 feet in the ground with a T cross piece on the other end. (part of an old windmill) You better have your seatbelt on. I have not hit that object, but I know here it is on my property. I tried to pull it with the loader, couldn't get it so I had a neighbor come over to cut it off below ground level. He told me I'd never pull it because it was as described earlier.


Ok, I'll give you that one!!

jb
 
 
 
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