Gill box blade

workinonit · May 15, 2024

Your handle is not releasing. If you release the handle and lower the blade the tines should roll around and hit the ground. Then you can dig them in and back up until they lock in place. You have to pull that handle while you lower the box. If you're doing that then something is wrong with the release mechanism.

Patriot820 · May 15, 2024

workinonit said:
Your handle is not releasing. If you release the handle and lower the blade the tines should roll around and hit the ground. Then you can dig them in and back up until they lock in place. You have to pull that handle while you lower the box. If you're doing that then something is wrong with the release mechanism.

Thanks for the reply workinonit. The handle releases the assembly but something is keeping the assembly from fully coming down. I posted a video showing the extent of the movement. I just don't see what is keeping it from fully coming down. I guess I'll just have to keep messing with it. Really appreciate your and the others input. Thanks.

workinonit · May 15, 2024

It looks like the handle may not be disengaging the locking mechanism. Should be easy enough to figure out.

Xfaxman · May 15, 2024

workinonit said:
It looks like the handle may not be disengaging the locking mechanism. Should be easy enough to figure out.

It is clearly disconnected at the start on the video:

I agree it should be easy enough to figure out.

Sportsman762 · May 15, 2024

The gill box blade linkage is convoluted. I have a Massey Ferguson 18 that was made by Gill and had problems with the scarifier bar going down.
Below is a link to the Massey parts book. https://parts.agcocorp.com/us/en/apbsearch?q=masseyferguson/651212/l&name=MF+18+GRADING+SCRAPER

I would remove the shanks and detach from the tractor so its easier to move the scarifier bar by hand. I would then make sure that the pockets (item 2 on diagram below) on the sides of the bowl where the bar attaches are clean. If there is debris in there it could prevent the bar from swinging forward.

You can see in this photo how when the bar is down any dirt would inhibit its full rotation.

My problem was that the middle pivot pin was seized (item 11) The one end of the pin is bolted to the main beam (19). However it siezed in the mast (10) this essentially made them almost one piece. I would remove the bolt holding the pin in and see if it will rotate more.

If this does not work I would leave the bolt holding pin 11 in out and spray all the pivots with penetrating oil (not WD40 but something like liquid wrench) and come back the next day. I would then take a large sledge hammer and start working the bar up / down while spraying the pivots with oil. It will take time but you can free it up eventually. This is what I had to do (that and chip 100 lbs of concrete out of the bar to get the scarifier shanks in)

Xfaxman said:
It is clearly disconnected at the start on the video:

Yep your correct!

WVH1977 has the operation down. Mine is free enough that if you pull the handle with the box blade in the air it will drop the tines down in a very violent movement so stand well clear or use a rope and pull it from the tractor seat.

WVH1977 said:
Tines come partially down. Then you get on tractor and back-up. It will push the he tines down and they will lock in place.

When you lift the blade do so slowly the first time. I have a Massey Ferguson 20C and the blade gets close to the tires.

Patriot820 · May 17, 2024

Sportsman762 said:
The gill box blade linkage is convoluted. I have a Massey Ferguson 18 that was made by Gill and had problems with the scarifier bar going down.
Below is a link to the Massey parts book. https://parts.agcocorp.com/us/en/apbsearch?q=masseyferguson/651212/l&name=MF+18+GRADING+SCRAPER

I would remove the shanks and detach from the tractor so its easier to move the scarifier bar by hand. I would then make sure that the pockets (item 2 on diagram below) on the sides of the bowl where the bar attaches are clean. If there is debris in there it could prevent the bar from swinging forward.
View attachment 870263

You can see in this photo how when the bar is down any dirt would inhibit its full rotation.
View attachment 870267

My problem was that the middle pivot pin was seized (item 11) The one end of the pin is bolted to the main beam (19). However it siezed in the mast (10) this essentially made them almost one piece. I would remove the bolt holding the pin in and see if it will rotate more.

View attachment 870262

If this does not work I would leave the bolt holding pin 11 in out and spray all the pivots with penetrating oil (not WD40 but something like liquid wrench) and come back the next day. I would then take a large sledge hammer and start working the bar up / down while spraying the pivots with oil. It will take time but you can free it up eventually. This is what I had to do (that and chip 100 lbs of concrete out of the bar to get the scarifier shanks in)

Yep your correct!

WVH1977 has the operation down. Mine is free enough that if you pull the handle with the box blade in the air it will drop the tines down in a very violent movement so stand well clear or use a rope and pull it from the tractor seat.

When you lift the blade do so slowly the first time. I have a Massey Ferguson 20C and the blade gets close to the tires.
View attachment 870266

Thank you for that detail Sportsman! My Tractor is the MF20 Industrial and yes the blade comes very close to the tires. I may pock your brain on other subjects involving the MF20 in the future if you don’t mind. I will probably end up taking the bar apart and giving it a good cleaning and putting back together. Thanks again!!

Patriot820 · May 18, 2024

Per your advice Sportsman, I removed the bolt holding in pin 11 and the ripper assembly came down. The pin is indeed seized. More work to do but we got down to the root cause. Thank you so much.