Box Scraper box blaxe digging too deep in sand

[dr chops]

I have a 26 hp 4 wheel drive tractor and use a 5 foot box blade. It is soft sand where I am working and the box is digging into the sand and completly filling the box. It digs in so much that the back tires sink into the sand and the front wheels almost come off the ground. Front weights may help some, but are expensive. I am wondering if gauge wheels or some type of plate mounted horizontally on the box to act as a float to keep the blade from digging in too much would work. Another thing I thought about was facing the scarifiers backwards to see if they would float the box a little. Any suggestions are appreciated.

I have tried adjusting the top link to short, long, and everthing between. The more dirt gets in it. The more it digs in and raises the front end of the tractor.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Use your 3pt to raise the box up so that it is not able to dig in as far. You don't have to run with the hitch control allowing the implement to drop as far as it can.

 

[dr chops]

After five minutes, my arm hurts so bad from moving the lever up an down, it is just not worth even messing with. It fills up instantly when it starts touching the dirt even when I dont let it all the way down

 

[PapaPerk]

Sounds like top link is not adjusted right. Front of box may need to be significantly higher than rear to work right in sand.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. toplink is adjusted too agressive.. and the box is being allowed to drop too low.

 

[BoFuller]

You should be able to adjust the angle with the top rod. Unscrew it so that the blade sits more level on the ground. You should be able to adjust it far enough that it won't dig at all, just drag on top.

 

[s219]

Yeah, your top link angle is way off. Tilt the front of the box blade way up. Does the box blade have a rear-facing cutter edge? At some point, when tilted up all the way so that only the rear cutting edge is skimming the surface, all it will do is smooth the sand and can't dig in anymore.

Maybe take a picture to show us what you're dealing with.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

After five minutes, my arm hurts so bad from moving the lever up an down, it is just not worth even messing with. It fills up instantly when it starts touching the dirt even when I dont let it all the way down

You should be able to allow the box to only go below grade 1/2"-1". You should not be constantly adjusting. Try setting the box down slowly on a level HARD surface. Notice where the 3pt control lever is at the point where the box just touches the ground. Now try it at that location out in your sand. If that works, great, if not try it either up or down FROM THE LEVEL POINT LOCATION as needed. But at least you have a reference point to work from. You should not need to constantly be adjusting the hitch up & down.

Now this only applies if you have a std type hitch control where you can set the hitch height as in a position control 3pt hitch. If you have one of these hitches where you are either up or down or there is not a position setting to be had, then you are on your own.

Good luck.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yeah, your top link angle is way off. Tilt the front of the box blade way up. Does the box blade have a rear-facing cutter edge? At some point, when tilted up all the way so that only the rear cutting edge is skimming the surface, all it will do is smooth the sand and can't dig in anymore.

Maybe take a picture to show us what you're dealing with.

There we go, a picture will be worth a 1000 words. :thumbsup:

 

[Ted Summey]

What are you trying to accomplish? It is quite possible that the BB isn't the best tool for the job! A scrape blade, drag harrow, chain harrow or root rake might be the better tool. Do you have a front end loader? Back dragging with the bucket may do what you need.

 

[bcp]

For a "box blade in sand" idea, look at the photos in this post and several following

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/103611-box-blade-slober.html#post1177127

Bruce

 

[/pine]

Is the "cutting blade" original or has it possibly been replaced ?...does the BB have both a forward and backward cutting blade?

is your adjustable top link original? it's possible that the top link is not adjusting long enough to mellow the aggressiveness of the cut?

on level ground you should be able to lengthen the top link so the rear facing cutting edge (if it has one) touches the ground first when lowered...

 

[wrangler6831]

If your strictly using the just the blade and not the teeth then you need to shorten the top link and raise the back of the bladeit seem counter intuitive but trust me this is correct. Just imagine if this is the blade --/ at that angle its gonna cut in if you shorten the top link it would then look like this -\ . Then it would glide across the surface rather than dig in.

 

[dr chops]

Everything is stock. Nothing replaced of changed. Even with top link all the way out so it is tilted back slightly, when the front blade edge catches it buries it. It doesnt seem to make sense that it would pull easier with the top link short but like one of you said. It actually does. But i cant get it quite short enough to not dig in but it is much better than when the top link is longer. So will gauge wheels helps out with this or not?

I am trying to move dirt to establish a grade around a house. A lot of dirt.

 

[Ted Summey]

If the position control won't allow you to control the depth and top link adjustments won't work. Do you have a front end loader? I think you might need a different machine if it is a lot of soil. Skid steer with a loader or other tractor with better controls. Is renting something out of the question?

 

[jimmysisson]

On mine with the top link shortened it digs less. The sides set the cut depth and tilting the back up ( short top link) raises the blade out of the ground.
Not sure why you're using scarifiers in sand, esp if it's being too aggressive.
Is your 3- pt able to hold a height setting? If not, gauge wheels might be the solution.
Jim

 

[DeereRack]

Like others have said, lengthen your top link so the back cutting edge touches the ground well before the front cutting edge.

 

[jimmysisson]

My comment applies to a box like my Gannon, with a fixed blade at the rear facing front. Also has a normal-hinged blade facing rear.
With a front blade as well, how does material get into the box?
Jim

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Honestly, without some pictures, I don't know if we are going to be able to help. :confused2:

 

[sparc]

the tractor model would be helpful too to better understand how the 3 point works.