Box blade neck bent

[cdover73]

Well, I did it! Pushing a stump up the other day and creased the neck of my Bush Hog SBX 720 box. The stump was only about 7" or 8" but must have had a **** of a root system. I can still use it to drag my driveway and the pin goes in straight, but it is definately bent. I guess I am going to have to heat it (burning the paint off /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ) and bend it back straight. Now I see what I could have done to begin with, other than not overpowering the box. BTW, I have a Mahindra 4530. Anyway, once heated and bent straight, I will weld a piece of 2" angle across the front of the neck riser for a kind of strong back.
Has anyone done this and, if so, how did you fix it?

 

[cdover73]

Well, I did it! Pushing a stump up the other day and creased the neck of my Bush Hog SBX 720 box. The stump was only about 7" or 8" but must have had a **** of a root system. I can still use it to drag my driveway and the pin goes in straight, but it is definately bent. I guess I am going to have to heat it (burning the paint off /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ) and bend it back straight. Now I see what I could have done to begin with, other than not overpowering the box. BTW, I have a Mahindra 4530. Anyway, once heated and bent straight, I will weld a piece of 2" angle across the front of the neck riser for a kind of strong back.
Has anyone done this and, if so, how did you fix it?

 

[PineRidge]

If you can dissemble the bent part and use a hydraulic press instead of heat the metal will be stronger for it. Maybe post a picture so we can get a better idea of where the damage actually is.

 

[PineRidge]

If you can dissemble the bent part and use a hydraulic press instead of heat the metal will be stronger for it. Maybe post a picture so we can get a better idea of where the damage actually is.

 

[beenthere]

I'd be interested in seeing a pic too. Don't quite know what the "neck" is, so would like to learn.

I can't imagine a box blade bending from just pushing against a stump, even though it was 'immovable' because of the root. All the energy would be released by the tires slipping if pushed.

Now, I can imagine bending something if the stump was rammed into, rather than just pushed. Because then something has to give if one gets a run at it and hits the immovable object. Sometimes the object gives, but more often something breaks. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[beenthere]

I'd be interested in seeing a pic too. Don't quite know what the "neck" is, so would like to learn.

I can't imagine a box blade bending from just pushing against a stump, even though it was 'immovable' because of the root. All the energy would be released by the tires slipping if pushed.

Now, I can imagine bending something if the stump was rammed into, rather than just pushed. Because then something has to give if one gets a run at it and hits the immovable object. Sometimes the object gives, but more often something breaks. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Stimw]

I bent the 1/2" X 4" support arms on my 5' KK. I was knocking down a forest fire near a friends house using reverse with my Branson 3510.
I took the bars off and used a 20 ton shop press to straighten. I would try to straighten yours cold. Heating softens the metal. Also I would not weld braces on to them. The next time something important might break like castings on the tractor.

 

[Stimw]

I bent the 1/2" X 4" support arms on my 5' KK. I was knocking down a forest fire near a friends house using reverse with my Branson 3510.
I took the bars off and used a 20 ton shop press to straighten. I would try to straighten yours cold. Heating softens the metal. Also I would not weld braces on to them. The next time something important might break like castings on the tractor.

 

[cdover73]

My 4530 is 4wd and is quite impressive for its pulling/pushing power, especially in reverse which I was in when this happened. I was in low range, 2nd gear, 4wd, and just above idle. Trust me, you don't have to hit something wide open to cause damage. I was backing into the stump at a crawl and got on the clutch as soon as I saw it didn't move, the tractor hardly ever grunted. I do agree about the heat. I don't want to do that, but I don't think I am going to be able to bend this cold! I may try using a hydraulic ram (port-a-power), but I'm afraid I won't get an even bend with it and could even cause more problems. I don't have any pictures yet, but here is a link to the box I have: http://www.bushhog.com/turftoc.html Just select SBX Box blades from the box blade pull down menu, I have the 720. The neck is what I refer to as the two wide plates that come up to form the top link of the 3pt. They are toed-in toward each other and the top link holes are not straight with each other any more, but the pin does go in. You can see where the paint has already chipped from being warped and that is the area where I will need to bend. I know I need to learn what the equipment will and won't take, but I am not impressed at how easy the box bent on this. I am always picky about how my equipment is taken care of, and I probably throttle back way more than I should. My fault for asking too much of the box, but I still don't think this should have happened to a 6' medium duty box.

 

[cdover73]

My 4530 is 4wd and is quite impressive for its pulling/pushing power, especially in reverse which I was in when this happened. I was in low range, 2nd gear, 4wd, and just above idle. Trust me, you don't have to hit something wide open to cause damage. I was backing into the stump at a crawl and got on the clutch as soon as I saw it didn't move, the tractor hardly ever grunted. I do agree about the heat. I don't want to do that, but I don't think I am going to be able to bend this cold! I may try using a hydraulic ram (port-a-power), but I'm afraid I won't get an even bend with it and could even cause more problems. I don't have any pictures yet, but here is a link to the box I have: http://www.bushhog.com/turftoc.html Just select SBX Box blades from the box blade pull down menu, I have the 720. The neck is what I refer to as the two wide plates that come up to form the top link of the 3pt. They are toed-in toward each other and the top link holes are not straight with each other any more, but the pin does go in. You can see where the paint has already chipped from being warped and that is the area where I will need to bend. I know I need to learn what the equipment will and won't take, but I am not impressed at how easy the box bent on this. I am always picky about how my equipment is taken care of, and I probably throttle back way more than I should. My fault for asking too much of the box, but I still don't think this should have happened to a 6' medium duty box.

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, you under bought the box blade for the power of your tractor! One thing I noticed is that the Hp listings seem to be for 2wd tractors. A 4wd tractor is a much more powerful beast, seems like almost 2 for 1 in pushing. I know my L3410 4wd can way out push my Ford 4140 with it's loader and 3000 pound BH on for ballast.

Next time, buy one like THIS and you won't bend it up! I use the 65" low back.

You will be able to easily bend it back straight with a hydraulic press. No problem, if you have access to one, that is! If you have a welder or a buddy with one, you should add lots of extra steel to help it stay in one piece. Use 3/8th or thicker.

HTH,
jb

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, you under bought the box blade for the power of your tractor! One thing I noticed is that the Hp listings seem to be for 2wd tractors. A 4wd tractor is a much more powerful beast, seems like almost 2 for 1 in pushing. I know my L3410 4wd can way out push my Ford 4140 with it's loader and 3000 pound BH on for ballast.

Next time, buy one like THIS and you won't bend it up! I use the 65" low back.

You will be able to easily bend it back straight with a hydraulic press. No problem, if you have access to one, that is! If you have a welder or a buddy with one, you should add lots of extra steel to help it stay in one piece. Use 3/8th or thicker.

HTH,
jb

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'd have to agree with John Bud that you undersized the box blade for your tractor. The SBX series blades are not all that stout to begin and are for use on tractors up to 35PTO hp so your tractor is at the very top edge of what that blade can pretend to handle. None of that fixes your blade.

If it was mine, I'd take it to a machine shop and have them make a much heavier A frame that has additional bracing with contact points all the way back to the rear of the blade. Take a look at other brands of box blades and you will see what I mean. The machine shop can easily do that work and you'll end up with a much stronger box blade instead of one that has been weakened bending and heating and bending.

You may want to look at this thread, and you may want to add your photos to it as well: Box Blade Photo Comparison Thread

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'd have to agree with John Bud that you undersized the box blade for your tractor. The SBX series blades are not all that stout to begin and are for use on tractors up to 35PTO hp so your tractor is at the very top edge of what that blade can pretend to handle. None of that fixes your blade.

If it was mine, I'd take it to a machine shop and have them make a much heavier A frame that has additional bracing with contact points all the way back to the rear of the blade. Take a look at other brands of box blades and you will see what I mean. The machine shop can easily do that work and you'll end up with a much stronger box blade instead of one that has been weakened bending and heating and bending.

You may want to look at this thread, and you may want to add your photos to it as well: Box Blade Photo Comparison Thread

 

[normde2001]

Box blades and 3 point hitches just ain't designed for pushing. I have never heard of anyone bending or breaking anything by pulling them, only pushing.

 

[normde2001]

Box blades and 3 point hitches just ain't designed for pushing. I have never heard of anyone bending or breaking anything by pulling them, only pushing.

 

[john_bud]

Norm,

There is a guy in Texas (SteveF) that put a bit of a smile in the blade going forward. Takes a bigger tractor and harder dirt.

jb

 

[john_bud]

Norm,

There is a guy in Texas (SteveF) that put a bit of a smile in the blade going forward. Takes a bigger tractor and harder dirt.

jb

 

[cdover73]

Pics finally. You can see in this first one that the mast is bent out and slightly twisted.

 

[cdover73]

Pics finally. You can see in this first one that the mast is bent out and slightly twisted.