Grading Box blade for the BX24?

[Tom_H]

Tom H

Try tipping your box blade back and lower the rippers so that they just skim the ground about 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep. With the BB tipped back it will ride on the rear blade and just pick up what the rippers work loose. This has worked for me on hard packed dry clay and gravel.

ron

Thanks Ron, I'll try that. Thing is, this Gannon unit has a fixed double rear blade. There's one on the back for pushing backwards, and one on the inside of the box facing forward. I'm not sure if I can tip it enough to keep that inside blade from biting into the soil or not. I have tried raising the rippers; I'll try tipping and see what happens. Wish I had top n' tilt with one of those BBs where the rippers and the blade will both pivot into and out of position. Thanks again Ron.

 

[Timber]

That what all box blades a like. Any way just play with it and you will figure it out It is easier to work tipped back. You will find the sweet spot playing with it. Plan on spending a lot of time with you hand on the 3 point lever. LOL it is a tool that requires a lot of finesse Think of it as a steal garden rake used when moving material. You can move you soil and then lift the box a bit and push the rocks out or push material into a low spot. A top & tilt would be great but it isn't needed to use it. you just have to get off your tractor to make adjustments LOL

 

[bx23barry]

When the ground around here drys up (at least all summer) the rippers or the blade won't do anything no matter how they are tilted. If one ripper does bite it will stop everything, right now (4 wheels a spinning). I can work the gravel drive most any time but real dirt work is saved for spring/fall.

 

[_RaT_]

Unless you have some pretty loose sandy soil don't go any bigger than 48"


murph

Or, just have a D5 or bigger come in with a kelley ripper, open the soil up 5+ feet deep and your good for another 50 years. Your BX will be ripping the ripped soil like nobodys business.

 

[HomeBrew2]

I've got a Bushhog 48" box @ 430# w/ fixed rear blade. The BX23 will pull a full box of dirt but I do drop the tires to 15 psi and load the FEL.

I don't know how my soil compares to Tom's or Barry's but in summer, it's almost bullet proof. The shanks and blade just glance off. (I replaced my 3 hole shanks w/ 4 hole ones, BTW, so the teeth are well below the cutting edge.) I had no choice but to work some dirt last summer and here's what worked for me. shortening the toplink as far as possible to get the teeth real aggressive. Then I made a straight pass(es) ripping .... with VERY little effect. Then I made half a dozen zig zag passes to try to get one or more teeth hooked into the ground. Then another straight pass, maybe. I was always able get the ground to breakup, but it's a lot of work.
The attached pic shows the pattern and the beginning of soil breakup. From this point on, the dirt will rip completely up. As Barry said, sometimes a tooth will hook and stop the BX but I could usually power thru it or use the 3PH to pop out a giant chunk and the zig zag technique seems to help keep the machine moving when snagged. Usually the ripped clods were BIG (for a little tractor) ... up to volleyball size. Once ripped, I took my ranch truck, w/ over inflated tires and pulverized the clods.

 

[638]

Homebrew,

Thats a technique that I had not thought of. Thanks for the idea.

ron

 

[Tom_H]

Homebrew, thanks for taking the time to share the tip.

 

[Tom_H]

Or, just have a D5 or bigger come in with a kelley ripper, open the soil up 5+ feet deep and your good for another 50 years. Your BX will be ripping the ripped soil like nobodys business.

More and more vintners are buying up the farms around here and planting grapes. They rent a D11R from Holt in Stockton and rip through this concrete hard hardpan to about 8'. I've stopped by the road a few times just to watch it. That thing is one monster machine.

 

[_RaT_]

More and more vintners are buying up the farms around here and planting grapes. They rent a D11R from Holt in Stockton and rip through this concrete hard hardpan to about 8'. I've stopped by the road a few times just to watch it. That thing is one monster machine.

A very old friend of mine who recently passed away would open up the soil by ripping before planting fruit trees. The results are really amazing. It is a sight to see such large pieces of equipment pull one huge shank through the soil. By the second perpendicular pass, the dozer is having an easier time.

 

[vrman]

I took the plunge and ordered a Howse 48" box blade from Northern Tool this week for my BX23. (also ordered the 48" howse rotary mower too!)
I couldn't find anyone around here that handled KK or Howse. Everything is Woods or Landpride, which were way too expensive for the amount of use I'm planning for them.