Box Blade operation tips?

wushaw · May 3, 2006

I will just add that hydraulic Top And Tilt added to your tractor will speed up the learning process of what you can accomplish with your box blade.

smokedtires · May 4, 2006

Ok, so take it slow and watch what I'm doing. Adjustments to the top link can make a big difference to how the BB works so expermentation is required here, but tipping forward is good for removing rocks or plowing, and it's possible to do dozer style work in reverse. I think I've got it, oh yea, ( practice practice practice) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The top and tilt looks like a great thing, but too much other stuff before I can look at that /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks everyone !

flusher · May 4, 2006

BBs for CUTs tend to be too light. Figure you'll need to add weight to get it to work effectively.

I have a 4-ft KK box blade for my 21hp B7510HST. It weighs about 250 lb. To strip weeds/turf for landscaping around my new house I have three 120-lb concrete weights that I can load onto the BB frame.

KiotiJohn · May 4, 2006

( and it's possible to do dozer style work in reverse )
Yes, within reason. Be careful to go even slower in reverse as you're going the opposite way the hitch arms are designed for.
If you go too fast in reverse and hit something hard, you can break a lot of things! Just go slow.
John

Highbeam · May 4, 2006

Flusher, how do those attach to the BB? I have buckets, can get quickrete, and have pipe. Want weight.

3RRL · May 4, 2006

Highbeam,
Don't know how flusher mounts them but you could weld some pipe vertical on your bb and slip those pipes over them?? From what I've seen, you're in pretty good shape and could do that easily. (except your injured hand for now...hope it's getting better)
I have to agree, adding weight makes a HUGE difference in performance.

BrianW · May 4, 2006

Don't turn when the scarifers are in the ground or you will bend them! Don't ask!

3RRL · May 4, 2006

( Don't turn when the scarifers are in the ground or you will bend them! Don't ask!)
Well, too late...I won't ask because it's happened already....don't ask /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also, don't use the scarifier when cutting a gutter or when one side of the boxblade is way up and the other down. It creates an angle where the bb is not sitting square to the tractor anymore. (perpendicular to the direction of travel) The low side is farther back than the high side so the shanks are slightly sideways now. I managed to jack up every scarifier I put into the low end!

Lucky for me that won't happen anymore since I re-inforced the shanks.

theboman · May 5, 2006

Ooooooh, if you're really needing practice, here's an offer you shouldn't pass up, really! Come on down to my house, bring your tractor and BB and I've got some landscaping projects.... I'm putting in the plumbing lines, electric lines and so an and so forth... So, I have a lot of dirt, humps and need to get 'er smooth and grass and straw down ASAP, oh bring a spreader if you have one. I live in KY and I'll hook ya up with some great bluegrass (music).

Highbeam · May 5, 2006

I was trying to imagine how to mount them to keep the weights out of the way so that I can still use the BB. The only place I can imagine is right over the box. I still want the volume in the box to be available for material, the back clear so I can doze with it, the sides need to be clear so that I can get up close to things like fences, and the front clear so I don't crunch the tractor. The upper 3ph structure on my frontier/woods BB is solid plate with a 4x4 size hole in it just like yours Rob. I though Maybe I could slip something through there and slide weights on it.

I have been really successful bending ripper shanks straight with either the rosebud on a torch or using a good ol' propane weedburner as a forge. Two of the shanks on mine have been bent and straightened and you couldn't tell which ones they were. Mine bent when hitting solid roots underground while at moderate speed, this is a great way to spill your beer.