Adding weight to a box blade.

[Highbeam]

This hard clay I have around here laughs at my box blade and rippers so I have a 55 gallon drum I attach to them and fill it with about 50 gallons of water. I lay the barrel on it side with 1 bung hole up and 1 down. I take the top bung out to fill it and the bottom bung out to drain it. When I want to change implements I just drain the water out. I use ratchet straps to hold the barrel in place. This adds 420 lbs to the implement witch make it work much better. I have been doing this for a couple years now with out any problem with my tractor.

Tim, you are a genius. Ha! I've been using the 55 gallon poly drums the exact same way, right down to the ratchet straps. This is only when cutting into hardpan and boy does it make a difference. The drum is narrower than a box blade so it doesn't add to the width and when you are done you just drain the water out to make lifting and stowing easy on the back.

 

[Bspring]

Tim I was thinking about your idea and I realized that I need to consider the visibility issue with what ever method I use. If you want to back up to push some dirt around can you see what you are doing with the drum on the Box Blade? I have had some problems with doing this and hitting something even when I thought I could see what was there so it is not that important but I was just wondering.

 

[Tim Stuart]

Tim I was thinking about your idea and I realized that I need to consider the visibility issue with what ever method I use. If you want to back up to push some dirt around can you see what you are doing with the drum on the Box Blade? I have had some problems with doing this and hitting something even when I thought I could see what was there so it is not that important but I was just wondering.

Bspring, I have not noticed a visibility issue any worse than normal but admittedly I normally use it going forward and use mine for more of a rough grade situation. If needed to remove it takes about 60 second to take it off. Poly barrels are cheap so give it a try before going through other more expensive methods.

 

[jimgerken]

Bspring: Here is a pic. Ignore the added curved plates on the sides, they are for forming half-pipe shapes in deep snow conditions for the "kids" to slide downhill in. The added plate steel is about three inches thick. There are actually two layers totalling 3 inches thickness, and the dimensions fit the boxblade well. I was fortunate to find this steel in the local scrapyard, so it cost me 20 cents a pound. It does cause one problem. If I am using the boxblade backing up grading, dirt and sod get caught in between the cutting edge and the bottom edge of the steel plate. If I could I would raise it. Other than that, it makes a great boxblade out of a KingKlutter boxblade, and also greatly improves its value as a loader counterweight.

 

[Bspring]

Jim, thanks for posting the pic. You guys have given me a lot of great ideas. I may have to make a trip to my scrap yard to see what they have available.