Grading Box Blade weights

[DCS]

What's the best way to add additional weight to my box blade?

 

[KiotiJohn]

If you want the weight to be permanent, have someone "sister" some extra metal to the box, making sure you distribute the additional weight evenly over the box. In other words, weld the metal on each end, and maybe some on the rear, but not some on one end and some on the back.

A couple of times when I wanted a little more weight, I tied a heavy piece of scrap steel across the top of my box where the rippers usually reside. I took those out. It worked pretty well, but would be better if it were in those other locations.

John

 

[browns40]

Hi DCS,

I dusted off the old weight set & dropped 240# across the back in the center of the old bench bar... fits right in the "center aisle" between the 3pt bracing...

does interfere a bit with the box completely filling & dumping to the "far" side though... plus the bar is a "V" now...

but the added ballast for FEL was amazingly helpful, plus no more bouncing scarifiers/box /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

easy, cheap, & removable

Happy tractoring! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MrSteve]

If I was going to need extra weight on a box, I would just make a box bolted together using angle iron just the right size to hold Cinderblocks.

 

[JerryG]

I have a somewhat different weight setup. I have a pipe across the back of my box. It is about 10” in diameter and has a side wall thickness of 7/8”. It weights about 48 pounds per foot. Two legs are welded on the bottom, which go into two pockets on the boxblade.

 

[DDT]

I used rear wheel tractor (ag) weights. Chained them to the center. It is raining so I do have a lond distance pic, look hard.

 

[CMunger]

Jerry, Could you tell a difference when you added weight?
The angle of the shanks or cutting edge should pull the scraper in regardless of weight.
Chuck

 

[JerryG]

It made all the difference in the work. In hard packed soil and with our high density of rocks it didn't want to cut any without the weight.

 

[Paddy]

I use 3 5gal buckets filled with gravel. One at each end and one in the mid. It cuts so good the draft control kicks in! Mine buckets just sit there wedged in so no fancy attachment required

Patrick

 

[EddieWalker]

The cleanest and probably the easiest method that I've seen is using allot of pieces of half inch rebar.

Even distribution and easy to attach. Just use large U bolts and your done. If you don't have enough weight, it's easy to add more without changing the look of anything or spedning allot of money.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[flusher]

Same here, but filled with concrete instead of sand (see attachment). Used two 60-lb sacks of mix in each 5-gal bucket. Makes a big (positive) difference in BB performance, especially when stripping weeds/turf from a landscaping area.

I put a piece of chain link fence post in each weight extending about 10", each end so it has better support from the box blade frame. The post also gives me a way to grab onto the weight.

I chain the weight to the BB via the U-bolt.

 

[JimR]

You could weld some hooks on the sides and backside of the box to hang 25 pound barbell weights off of.

 

[DCS]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Just one of my own, I discovered last night that the ramps for the trailer will fit across the box blade also. They are heavy and are about 5' long and they are always with me and tractor.

 

[Paddy]

Not sure that is enough weight. I use about 200lb

try diff weights to see where you get the disired effect

Patrick

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

I went with the buckets, now the box blade works. :thumbsup:

This set up with the buckets and the barbell weights gives me 510#'s each bucket took 2 sixty pound bags and the weights are 25#ers.

 

[dieselcrawler]

At work, we have a 5.5' BB with half of a small forklift/tow motor counter weight. Nice ballast on the back of the L4310.

 

[Fallon]

Just be careful, you can end up exceeding the strength of the box. Ideally all the weight would be in structural components. If the box is on the lighter side & you suddenly make it a lot more effective, you might end up breaking things when it digs better.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Just be careful, you can end up exceeding the strength of the box. Ideally all the weight would be in structural components. If the box is on the lighter side & you suddenly make it a lot more effective, you might end up breaking things when it digs better.

Very good point... that's why one of the projects on my to-do list at work is rebuild/upgrade the 3ph attachment points on the BB pictured above. Aside from nearly 30 years of abuse (it was purchased new with the other tractor, a 1986 L2850) adding the weight as well as putting it behind a larger tractor (L4310) has taken its toll in the last few years. But the added weight does help a lot.