Box Blade/Draft Control

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Do you guys operate your box blades in Draft Control mode, assuming you have draft control on your tractor?

 

[greg_g]

Only if the material being worked drags the box lower than the desired operating level. This often happens with the scarifiers extended - and when working soft ground. When that happens, I just reach for the draft control lever to establish the depth at which I want the hydraulics to pull the box back up.

//greg//

 

[Markey]

When draft control is engaged, the implement will follow the contour of the land. In other words, if you have a series of small slopes one after the other, then draft control will maintain those rolling slopes. The implement will automatically raise and lower according to the up and down contour of the rolling waves of the land. It knows when to raise and lower according to the resistance encountered in the 3 pt. mechanism as you cut through the high waves (higher resistance) vs cutting the in-between level areas (less resistance). On the other hand, engaging position control will maintain the implement at the set height irregardless of the contour of the land. So, if you want to cut out all of those rolling slopes and create a smooth, level area, then position control is the answer. Hope this helps.

 

[greg_g]

When draft control is engaged, the implement will follow the contour of the land. .

Huh? You just described "float" mode.

//greg//

 

[Z-Michigan]

Sort of, but not really. Float mode means the implement can be pushed up and down. Draft control means that the implement is hydraulically raised whenever there is significant pull back on the tractor (as measured by the sensing link, which is commonly the top link) and then lowered again to the setting on the position control lever when the pull is reduced.

If you have an implement that digs itself deeper, like a plow, BB or subsoiler, draft control will limit how deep it digs in, while float mode without draft control will let it dig in all the way. Float mode is best used for stuff that doesn't try to dig in, like mowers.

 

[greg_g]

Sort of, but not really. Float mode means the implement can be pushed up and down. Draft control means that the implement is hydraulically raised whenever there is significant pull back on the tractor (as measured by the sensing link, which is commonly the top link) and then lowered again to the setting on the position control lever when the pull is reduced.

Ok, so how is that "following the coutour of the land " with a boxblade? With a plow maybe, but not with a boxblade. The only "contouring" with a BB would be on rolling ground, when the rise and fall of the tractor front wheels fall outside the parameters of the draft control setting.

I use draft control when I want to level, not follow. The BB hits a high spot and digs down till the draft control pulls it back up to the level preset on my position control. If there's a low spot, it simply drops what's in the box. When I'm done making a few BB passes with draft control engaged - on uneven ground, not rolling ground - I've left behind a FLAT surface, not a rolling one

//greg//

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

HMMMM.......Don't think we have come to a consensus here. Others want to jump in?

 

[greg_g]

HMMMM.......Don't think we have come to a consensus here. Others want to jump in?

Some may. But I'm curious as to your motives here. Your profile lists a tractor WITH draft control AND a boxblade. Why don't you just find out for yourself/

//greg//

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Some may. But I'm curious as to your motives here. Your profile lists a tractor WITH draft control AND a boxblade. Why don't you just find out for yourself/

//greg//

Probably a good idea Greg. I've always used mine in position control. I was just wanting to find out if there is a better way. Lots of experience on this forum and lots of ideas. I just wanted to see if there is a consensus of what is the best way, but it seems that is not the case. I'll try mine in draft control the next time I use it and see what I think. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[JerryG]

My thoughts are that Draft Control is worthless for anything but a moldboard plow. That is what it was actually designed for.