Yet another home made box scraper

[GaryInWA]

I have been wanting a box scraper for my tractor for some time and had some free time and materials to build one. I would guess it took me about 15 hours to design, fabricate and weld everything..I havent painted it yet and dont think I will.

My tractor is a Kubota B21 with a detachable backhoe and can only handle 4 foot implements so I built a 4 foot box scraper.

I used a Dewalt angle grinder with cutting disc to cut most of the metal to length,I have burned up many an angle grinder and so far the dewalts seem to last the longest plus they are bright yellow and easier to find when I misplace them
I used my trusty Lincoln buzz box and 7018 rod to weld everything together so if the welds doesnt look purdy thats why I have never used a wire feed welder and prefer stick welding as I can reach into spots with the welding rod that arent accessible with a wire feed welder.

I have a 4 foot brush hog for my tractor so used measurements from its A-frame when building the a-frame for the box scraper. The metal I used for my a-frame is a little heavier duty than that used on a box scraper I saw at my local tractor dealership so I think it can handle the tasks ahead.

I decided to buy 4 rippers/scarcifiers rather than build them and boy are those things pricey but it would have taken me forever to cut, heat treat, etc my own.

I tested the scraper out and it worked pretty good, I think I will strap a few cinder blocks to it and try it again as the gravel road I share with my neighbors is very hard packed and the rippers arent digging in enough....I probably will add a cutting edge to the box blades box which will help gather up loosened material and redistribute into the potholes.

I placed a bunch of photos of the build up and some photos of potholes before and after using the scraper on them at:
Box Scraper pictures by luvmud85 - Photobucket

 

[ihuntbear]

nice job..I think I'll build one when the snow leaves

 

[ovrszd]

Looks purdy to me!!! Wish you lived nearby, I'd give you a used grader blade to add for a cutting edge. Nice job. You'll get years of good service from that outfit.

I welded for forty five years with a Lincoln. Bought a wire welder four years ago. I ran outta wire the other day and finished up a project with the Lincoln. Burned a couple rods before the technique came back to me. I'd forgotten how to weld with stick. :laughing:

 

[BillBeyer]

Your build on the box blade looks good. Definetly add the cutting edge like you described. One question on the hook up to the lift arms. The ends of the left and right lift arms appear to turn out towards the tires. Are they reversed from what they should be?

 

[Jstpssng]

nice, I also plan to build one this summer using iron from an old bush hog.

You've given me some ideas on what I need to do. :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

Your build on the box blade looks good. Definetly add the cutting edge like you described. One question on the hook up to the lift arms. The ends of the left and right lift arms appear to turn out towards the tires. Are they reversed from what they should be?

I noticed that as we. Good eye:thumbsup:

 

[TraderMark]

Good looking job!!

+1 on adding the cutting edge

 

[MMagis]

Pins pointing out is normal, but it does appear that they should be reversed to fit the tractor arms better.
Edit: Never mind, I read that completely wrong. I agree that the arms appear to be backwards.

 

[teg]

I noticed that as well. Good eye:thumbsup:

Looks like the might be bent... or s I like to call "custom designed".

 

[bironacad]

Didn't think to build a box blade, beaudy, more for the to do list, lol, I wonder when I will get that done, eh?:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I decided to buy 4 rippers/scarcifiers rather than build them and boy are those things pricey but it would have taken me forever to cut, heat treat, etc my own.

No doubt. I'm trying to decide if I want to buy or build either a box blade or a grading scraper. It looks like somewhere in the $30+ range is what you'll pay each with shipping. I don't have much for scrap metal to use so I would have to buy the steel. If I wanted to match a factory made unit I would need at least 6 rippers.

Nice job.

 

[bakerg]

nice job..I think I'll build one when the snow leaves

I have to agree, nice job. i am in the process of building 1 myself. I had scrap steel around and could not see me spending the money on a manufactured one. I will not be using it that often and a home maked one will work for me.
If you got paint, I would paint it. It would make the tractor look better.:thumbsup:

 

[GaryInWA]

Thanks for the comments folks!!

I had no idea the 3pt lifting arms were not installed right, I bought them off ebay and they had no instructions/pictures of how they should be mounted....the kubota stealership wanted an arm and a leg for the 3pt kit and my tractor didnt come with the 3pt kit as it almost always has a backhoe attached to it....this kit needed a little coaxing to fit but I made it work and saved alot of $$ too.

The upper and lower u-clamp mounts on my 3pt have different sized holes and were of different widths so they only would mount on the way I had them mounted unless I drilled out the holes where the bolt and pin goes and also pried open on of the u-clamps so they would fit around my tractors lifting arm.

I went ahead and gave this a try, I used a big backhoe bucket tooth to open up the u-clamp that was too narrow to connect to the upper link (see photo) and the other u-clamp was too wide so I beat on it with mr.sledge

The pin that was supplied that connects the upper link to the tractors lifting arm wasnt long enough so I just used a bolt to connect it to the tractor and attached some photos, is this how the 3pt should look?

I used the box blade again with the 3pt linkages in this new configuration and it worked just as well as before, as soon as I add the cutting edge that will really help I am sure.

 

[bakerg]

Thanks for the comments folks!!

I had no idea the 3pt lifting arms were not installed right, I bought them off ebay and they had no instructions/pictures of how they should be mounted....the kubota stealership wanted an arm and a leg for the 3pt kit and my tractor didnt come with the 3pt kit as it almost always has a backhoe attached to it....this kit needed a little coaxing to fit but I made it work and saved alot of $$ too.

The upper and lower u-clamp mounts on my 3pt have different sized holes and were of different widths so they only would mount on the way I had them mounted unless I drilled out the holes where the bolt and pin goes and also pried open on of the u-clamps so they would fit around my tractors lifting arm.

I went ahead and gave this a try, I used a big backhoe bucket tooth to open up the u-clamp that was too narrow to connect to the upper link (see photo) and the other u-clamp was too wide so I beat on it with mr.sledge

The pin that was supplied that connects the upper link to the tractors lifting arm wasnt long enough so I just used a bolt to connect it to the tractor and attached some photos, is this how the 3pt should look?

I used the box blade again with the 3pt linkages in this new configuration and it worked just as well as before, as soon as I add the cutting edge that will really help I am sure.

It looks like the arms should be switched from left to right so the bends at the balls curve in to the center of the box blade.

 

[LD1]

Thanks for the comments folks!!

I had no idea the 3pt lifting arms were not installed right, I bought them off ebay and they had no instructions/pictures of how they should be mounted....the kubota stealership wanted an arm and a leg for the 3pt kit and my tractor didnt come with the 3pt kit as it almost always has a backhoe attached to it....this kit needed a little coaxing to fit but I made it work and saved alot of $$ too.

The upper and lower u-clamp mounts on my 3pt have different sized holes and were of different widths so they only would mount on the way I had them mounted unless I drilled out the holes where the bolt and pin goes and also pried open on of the u-clamps so they would fit around my tractors lifting arm.

I went ahead and gave this a try, I used a big backhoe bucket tooth to open up the u-clamp that was too narrow to connect to the upper link (see photo) and the other u-clamp was too wide so I beat on it with mr.sledge

The pin that was supplied that connects the upper link to the tractors lifting arm wasnt long enough so I just used a bolt to connect it to the tractor and attached some photos, is this how the 3pt should look?

I used the box blade again with the 3pt linkages in this new configuration and it worked just as well as before, as soon as I add the cutting edge that will really help I am sure.

That is still incorrect.

The vertical arms that you just messed with where fine. The LOWER are are what is backwards. As the previous poster mentioned, the ends should curce back towards each other. That way they will be near parallel, instead of turning out at a sharp degree.

You can either turn them upside down, or swith sides. What ever works the best.

Please see my attached crappy drawing. Yours looks like the ones on the left. But it should be like the ones on the right.