3-Point Hitch Does Draft Control have any use for blade work (or is it mainly for plowing)?

[davefr]

Hi,
My JD1070 has a feature called draft control. My limited understanding is that it provides feedback to the 3 pt lift to keep pressure from the hitch constant. (the manual shows plowing as the example).

I wonder if this feature has any use for blade work like scraping a road level. I have a steep gravel driveway that gets washboardy and it seems like as the tractor encounters a bump the blade digs in a little deeper and I'm not getting it leveled out that well. Would draft control help in this situation? If so how?

Thanks

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yes, helps a lot if your rear blade is heavy though. What rear blade do you have?

 

[beenthere]

Mainly for ground engaging tools such as the plow, that you want to maintain a depth of cut. A blade works a bit differently from a plow and draft control is not as effective, if at all, in maintaining a level attitude.

The feedback (back in the day of the Ford 8N) was through the top arm. Not sure if the 1070 has a spring-loaded top arm for its draft control or a more modern design.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Mainly for ground engaging tools such as the plow, that you want to maintain a depth of cut. A blade works a bit differently from a plow and draft control is not as effective, if at all, in maintaining a level attitude.

The feedback (back in the day of the Ford 8N) was through the top arm. Not sure if the 1070 has a spring-loaded top arm for its draft control or a more modern design.

I have to disagree with you. Here is a link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/325689-scaper-mfg.html to a guy that learned from my explanation of draft control, saved him time and money.

 

[beenthere]

You are welcome to disagree.

Hope that member davefr can use your explanation to help him with his JD 1070.

 

[MossRoad]

Hi,
My JD1070 has a feature called draft control. My limited understanding is that it provides feedback to the 3 pt lift to keep pressure from the hitch constant. (the manual shows plowing as the example).

I wonder if this feature has any use for blade work like scraping a road level. I have a steep gravel driveway that gets washboardy and it seems like as the tractor encounters a bump the blade digs in a little deeper and I'm not getting it leveled out that well. Would draft control help in this situation? If so how?

Thanks

Trying to keep a road level.... draft control will contribute to ridges across the road. Here's why...

Draft control is meant to limit wheel spin when plowing. If you're plowing along in soft sand at 12" deep and hit hard clay, the wheels start to spin, the plow pulls hard, it pushes on the top link, which activates the draft control, which raises the plow, which lessens the drag on the tractor, which allows the wheels to stop spinning and move forward, which releases pressure on the plow, which releases pressure on the top link, which de-activates the draft control, which lowers the plow back to the 12" depth.

Now substitute a back blade. The back blade digs in, the draft control raises the blade, the tractor moves forward, the draft control lowers the blade, the blade digs in again, etc.... you get ridges up and down and up and down and up and down.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would set the load and depth control to the middle position. That is what I found worked best for box blades and rear blades in the past.

 

[oosik]

David - your explanation seems to follow the brief description of draft control in my Op manual. And I do mean brief - one paragraph - its like they are afraid to discuss the subject. Since I've found that my rear blade never digs into my driveway anyway - I set the draft control to float position. I only use the rear blade for snow removal. I don't use draft control when I use the moldboard plow either - too many rocks. I'm constantly on the position control lever when using the moldboard plow.

 

[davefr]

Now substitute a back blade. The back blade digs in, the draft control raises the blade, the tractor moves forward, the draft control lowers the blade, the blade digs in again, etc.... you get ridges up and down and up and down and up and down.

That's what I want it to do but just the opposite. My road has small hills and valleys of rock on the steep part. I'd like the blade to hit a hill, sense the pressure, lift the blade slightly so the blade deposits rock in the valley. Then the blade should lower right before the next little hill of rock as the back pressure goes down and thus create an even surface.

Whether it'll actually works this way or just the opposite is TBD. I'd like to get the oscillation of the draft the exact opposite of the road so it creates a smooth surface.
I guess I'll just experiment some more. (I guess speed is also a variable to get all this to work).

Position control doesn't really help. (ie tractor's front wheels hit a bump, blade digs in a little deeper, front tires hit a valley, blade comes up slightly). This doesn't even out a washboard road. If anything it keeps it the same or makes it worse.

Does the 3pt lift on a 1070 has a float position? I guess I'll have to take another look at the manual. Does it float when the lift is in the full down position? Due to the weight of the rear blade (Frontier 72") I'm not sure float would help much.

I realize the right implement might be a box scraper but hope I can get by without one.

Thanks

 

[Tx Jim]

I have to disagree with you. Here is a link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/325689-scaper-mfg.html to a guy that learned from my explanation of draft control, saved him time and money.

I disagree with you that draft control should be used for a rear blade if operators intentions are to leave a smooth surface. Draft control will give a wash board effect to graded soil or gravel.