Box Scraper Are my Box Blade expectations too high?

[JRP]

My Gannon Box blade weighs 1100 pounds. The specs say it can rip asphalt. The teeth can dig in so well it will stop my M6800 in 1st gear. Most box blades look like box blades. I think most buyers don't realize the difference between a good Land Pride, Gannon, or Kubota box compared to the 400 pound models that sell quickly.

Stop at a building site and look at the box blade a box blader uses. A Gannon costs about 10% of the cost of a tractor but it gets the work done. This week I moved and spread 300 cu yards of dirt for my shop foundation.

You could try adding steel, like RR rail along the back top, just over the cutting edge.

If you shop for a new (I mean another, not a new) box, look for a used Gannon. They are hard to tear up and it won't depreciate once it is used. This is what I'm talking about: This box probably costs $1300 new.

Search ebay for item 150168847467

 

[tony123]

Great replies and info. Thanks.

I think I have a little bit of everything going against me.

1. Yes, the dirt is hard as brick right now.

2. I don't have a short enough top link

3. It is a less expensive implement, and could use some weight. Where does one go to buy old railroad rails?

JRP, I agree with your comments. However, realize that my $300 box is 10% of the cost of my tractor. I may at some point look to sell this one, if I find a better one at a good used price, much like the link you gave on ebay.

My original question is answered. I should expect it to really dig in and move some dirt!

 

[Redbug]

Hi Tony,

You need more weight on the box blade. I bought one of the King Kutters, (looking back, I should have researched more and gotten a Land Pride or Gannon), and discovered I also needed more weight on it to really dig in. I got some rail and welded on a tray of sorts to hold it. Now it works great! Standard size rail weighs 50 lbs per foot, and I added 6 feet of rail. You can get rail at a scrap metal yard. The naked box blade weighed 500 lbs and I added 300 lbs of rail.

If you have a front end loader, just keep your box blade attached all the time and it becomes your weight box to provide a counter weight.

 

[flusher]

I've been using my box blade now for about a month. It's a 48" United. I've tried every setup adjustment I have, but can't find any way to get it to bite in more than an inch or two.

Specifically, I'd like to get the teeth to dig in several inches deep before the blade. Almost in a plow sort of fashion.

Maybe I need a really short toplink?

Am I trying to get it to do too much?

Most 4-ft wide box blades are too lightweight. Add weight. I have three 120-lb concrete weights that I can load onto my King Kutter 4-ft BB that I use with my 21-hp Kubota B7510HST. With the extra 360 lb that KK BB works OK except in the summer when the soil is like a brick around here.

 

[tony123]

Weight it is. Thanks for the photos and ideas.

I'm going to try and track down some railroad rail. I'll start with one length and add a second if still needed.

One of my BB projects is to maintain 600' of gravel drive. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to assume the packed crusher run is going to take more "bite" than the dirt is.