How well does the Box Blade work

jfischer · Apr 14, 2015

Josh, keep me informed on how well the Box Blade does on Hard Packed gravel, as mine is pretty darn hard.

I have only used my Mini Hoe, and the 4 in 1. The Mini hoe is pretty handy, have taken out 2 small trees, and dug 3 big stumps out. They stumps were a few years old and not as hard as a new tree, but the trunks were about 2 foot across, and left a hole 3 foot deep when I pulled them out.

The armrest are working out fine, Not worth what they ask for them, think you could buy a whole seat with them for the money they want nearly, and I can see where they would be a problem for a wide person, but for me they are working out ok.

joshlee · Apr 15, 2015

They are going to deliver the attachments tomorrow and he said its all on one skid that weighs 580 pounds, so wish me luck. lol. The skid being on trailer bed will give me an advantage with lifting it, anyway, but setting it down is where I'm thinking there will be problems.

That mini hoe sounds very effective! Yeah, taking stumps out that way is great compared to grinding them, where the hole keeps on sinking for several years where you ground the stump.

I've been checking out different armrest, but it looks like I would still have to retro-fit to make them all work? Still looking though. :thumbsup:

jfischer said:
Josh, keep me informed on how well the Box Blade does on Hard Packed gravel, as mine is pretty darn hard.

I have only used my Mini Hoe, and the 4 in 1. The Mini hoe is pretty handy, have taken out 2 small trees, and dug 3 big stumps out. They stumps were a few years old and not as hard as a new tree, but the trunks were about 2 foot across, and left a hole 3 foot deep when I pulled them out.

The armrest are working out fine, Not worth what they ask for them, think you could buy a whole seat with them for the money they want nearly, and I can see where they would be a problem for a wide person, but for me they are working out ok.

joshlee · Apr 15, 2015

I forgot these machines lift 800 lbs; for some reason I was thinking 500 lbs.

jfischer said:
Josh, keep me informed on how well the Box Blade does on Hard Packed gravel, as mine is pretty darn hard.

I have only used my Mini Hoe, and the 4 in 1. The Mini hoe is pretty handy, have taken out 2 small trees, and dug 3 big stumps out. They stumps were a few years old and not as hard as a new tree, but the trunks were about 2 foot across, and left a hole 3 foot deep when I pulled them out.

The armrest are working out fine, Not worth what they ask for them, think you could buy a whole seat with them for the money they want nearly, and I can see where they would be a problem for a wide person, but for me they are working out ok.

MossRoad · Apr 15, 2015

You have to be wary of the lift capacity. I think its rated AT the quick attach and with NO ATTACHMENT. So the more distance the load from the quick attach, the easier it is to tip forward on your nose. Also, as you may or may not know, as you turn the machine left or right, it gets shorter, so your center of gravity moves closer to the front and the easier it is to tip forward on your nose.

If you haven't heard it yet, we call that tipping action the PT PUCKER!

BobRip · Apr 16, 2015

MossRoad said:
You have to be wary of the lift capacity. I think its rated AT the quick attach and with NO ATTACHMENT. So the more distance the load from the quick attach, the easier it is to tip forward on your nose. Also, as you may or may not know, as you turn the machine left or right, it gets shorter, so your center of gravity moves closer to the front and the easier it is to tip forward on your nose.

If you haven't heard it yet, we call that tipping action the PT PUCKER!

I picked up a big rock that the neighbor bought with the forks on my 422. The place he bought it from says it weighs 819 lbs. He had a paper showing the weight. Of course he had to stand on the back of the PT to stop the pucker.

ponytug · Apr 16, 2015

I have to say, I am always impressed at the Power-Trac's perfect willingness to lift objects right at (or over) the load limit. There is nary a complaint until it gets light and puckers.

I would not want to confess the number of times that I have turned a heavy load 90 degrees by a series of four degree increments. :laughing:

All the best,

Peter

joshlee · Apr 16, 2015

Well, unloading the pallet with the 3 attachment and 2 QA plates went well, although, after lifting it off the 53' trailer was easy, but when lowering the FEL the back end got VERY light. It all went well though.

MossRoad · Apr 16, 2015

Do some touchy-feely experiments with heavy loads to get used to it. With the unit turned full left or right and the bucket just a couple inches off the ground, have someone toss bricks into the bucket until the unit tips onto the bucket and the rear goes off the ground. Usually just one rear comes off the ground. Then straighten the wheel. As you approach center, the rear will come back down and the bucket will go back up. You'll find the sweet spot. Get used to it so you expect it so you aren't surprised when it happens later in your travels.

Watch this old video. This huge log is 27" in diameter at the narrow end, 37" in diameter at the wide end and 53" long. It was sitting in my back yard for a few years. I can't estimate the weight, but I can only budge one end a couple of inches with my 200+ pounds on the end of a 5 foot pry bar. I used the pallet forks, lifted it about 6 inches and backed up, which caused the right rear tire to come off the ground a few inches. I lowered it down to 1 inch off the ground and the tractor came back down. Took it away like this.

PT Pucker Explained

joshlee · Apr 17, 2015

I like that; "PT Pucker", haha. Unfortunately, my computer has issues trying to do Realplayer, so I didn't get to see the video, but I'll keep that stuff in mind. I imagine it will take a while to get the feel of this machine when picking stuff.

MossRoad said:
Do some touchy-feely experiments with heavy loads to get used to it. With the unit turned full left or right and the bucket just a couple inches off the ground, have someone toss bricks into the bucket until the unit tips onto the bucket and the rear goes off the ground. Usually just one rear comes off the ground. Then straighten the wheel. As you approach center, the rear will come back down and the bucket will go back up. You'll find the sweet spot. Get used to it so you expect it so you aren't surprised when it happens later in your travels.

Watch this old video. This huge log is 27" in diameter at the narrow end, 37" in diameter at the wide end and 53" long. It was sitting in my back yard for a few years. I can't estimate the weight, but I can only budge one end a couple of inches with my 200+ pounds on the end of a 5 foot pry bar. I used the pallet forks, lifted it about 6 inches and backed up, which caused the right rear tire to come off the ground a few inches. I lowered it down to 1 inch off the ground and the tractor came back down. Took it away like this.

PT Pucker Explained

ponytug · Apr 17, 2015

General advice on heavy loads:
Go slow, and low.

If you are moving at .2mph and it starts to tip, you will have lots of time to take corrective actions, e.g. straighten out, drop the load...I've put more than a few loads down, thought about it, and tried again. No harm done.

When I have those one off, biggies, my PT is in low throttle, creep speeds. There may be better ways, but I'm not that coordinated and it works for me.

All the best,

Peter