Box Blade "Issue" ?

[DJFireUSA]

Okay so I have more than just a few hundred hours pulling a 6' (or larger) box blade in standard soils in Florida but now that I am in TN and everything here seems to be hard packed clay, I am running into an small issue...

Clay is being compacted between the blades (think the area where the nuts are for the blade mounting bolts). This is building up to the point where it inhibits correct blade "bite". The clay buildup ends up being what is dragging on the ground instead of the blade itself.

I don't want to over think this so let me ask a very simple question... When working with damp/wet/moist clay... is this buildup something that I just need to keep an eye on as the job progresses or is there "fix" ???

We are dealing with a smaller, 5' box blade without rippers installed.

If you want a picture of my current project... let me know.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

One of the reasons to have a swinging tail box blade or a roll-over box blade. You don't get any build up with those. Different conditions sometimes require different tools. Sorry, I know that was not the answer that you were looking for.

 

[DJFireUSA]

Kinda funny cause it "looks" like I have a fine touch being able to skin thin layers off the surface like a butter knife.... if they only knew the truth! muhaa ha ha

Gotta find a way to make what I have work. Too close to winter to add more equipment.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Tilt the box forward a little bit more so that more of the front blade is being used and use the position control to maintain the correct height.

 

[DJFireUSA]

yeah, um... tried that

 

[94BULLITT]

Add a piece of metal between the cutting edges so there is not a area for it to collect in.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

yeah, um... tried that

Sounds to me that you really need a different box blade, but since that is out of the question, good luck with the build up. Hopefully someone else will have some sort of a fix for you., I can't think of any and I don't have to deal with that type of situation.

 

[mikehaugen]

would it help at all to remove the rear cutting edge? I am assuming that you have 2 and between them is where it is building up?

 

[Piston]

Have you tried adding more weight? What model do you have?

 

[skipmarcy]

I've worked my 6' boxblade commercially both in Florida and here at home in TN., I can say I've never had the problem you are describing in the clay here. Are you one of the guys that refuses to push with your box in reverse ? I've never had a problem using the boxblade in reverse, have never damaged my 3pt by doing so and I use my box in reverse as much or more at times than forward. My boxblade does not have captured drawpins so if I hit or bog too hard it will bend a $3 drawpin that I can bend back straight with a 10# sledge a couple of times before having to replace it. Another factor might be that I have a hydraulic toplink and can keep my box adjusted on the fly ... Alot of times I'll get clay built-up on the rear of the box from pushing but never between the two blades. Maybe since I go back & forth quite a bit it keeps it out of that area, can't say for sure.