BOX BLADE :: PHOTO comparision of brands

[HomeBrew2]

Good looking blade. It's interesting that it only has 3 rippers but, from experience with a baby tractor and 4' blade, that might actually work better than 4.

A few alternatives that might help with the pix cuz it sounds like your system has a prob with the new TBN system (join the club!):
First, you could put them on a free photo site, like Yahoo, or on TBN, then copy the url for the photo (or gallery). After you copy that url, type some text into a reply, then highlight that text, then click the "insert link" button (in the enhanced reply interface) and paste the url in the popup box.
Second, don't waste time trying to get a link going, just reduce the size of your pix to 640x480 pixels or so and post as you do now. Your pix are way too big for most uses. Much has been written on TBN about how to reduce pic sizes under the old system.
Third, PM MikePA, as he is the expert on long url's and big pix.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Roxy that is a giant photo.

Ok based on the criteria of the thread, the lower links are not the captured type that most prefer for heavy duty uses. That, in combination with the fairly lightly built A frame construction that goes up to the top link attachment point makes this a fairly light duty box blade. That may be fine for you uses. It is odd that you only have 3 scarifier teeth, most 4' BBs I've seen have 4. As you noted, you have to adjust the scarifiers with a bolt, however you may be able to change that by getting 3 short top-link pins and replacing the bolts with the top-link pins. Also, just for the sake of being descriptive along the lines of this thread, you have "cut corner" rectangular side plates, which is the most common shape for side plates.

What is the shape of the rear moldboard? is it curved or flat? Can the cutting edge be removed by unbolting it and so it can be sharpened?

 

[AndyM]

Good looking blade... Much has been written on TBN about how to reduce pic sizes under the old system.
Third, PM MikePA, as he is the expert on long url's and big pix.

First, this is an interesting thread, and I'd like to thank Bob and the other contributors who share this kind of info with the tractoring community.

Second, boy, that's a big picture. I've never been able to post anything remotely that large and stay within the size limits. How did you do that? I've always had to reduce my photos TOO small to be helpful to anyone to stay within the size limits... wish I could find a happy medium!

Third, there's no need to PM MikePA.
Even if he's sleeping, he'll wake from the middle of a deep sleep if he senses there's a long link or an oversized picture.
He'll be along to help shortly!

 

[roxynoodle]

All my pictures are coming out giant on here. I made that picture smaller too before I posted it. I took 3 pictures of it for you guys to look at but after I once again posted a giant pic, I didn't put the others up. The back of the BB has a curve. I just bought it and haven't had a chance to use it yet due to the barn explosion (see giant pic of that under the Projects forum). I suspect my barn explosion will keep me busy for some time.

 

[dfkrug]

Very impressive ripper control mechanism, Rob! How far do the
rippers move when you rotate the bar from stop-to-stop? Have
you bent any of those AgriSupply replacement rippers yet?

 

[3RRL]

Very impressive ripper control mechanism, Rob! How far do the
rippers move when you rotate the bar from stop-to-stop? Have
you bent any of those AgriSupply replacement rippers yet?

Dave,
Rippers linear (vertical) movement is 4" when box is level. When box is tilted forward I can get 6" to 8", depending how much I tilt it. Not only that, but I bought the 14" long ones and I have them sitting so I have 1 hole to lower them more (about 2") but I'll never need them to go that deep...next time I'll buy the shorter ones....cheaper too.
I have not bent a single one of the Agri-Supply scarifiers and have done tons of ripping/grading since the modification. A lot through pretty hard granite too. Main reason is the "gaurds" or braces that surround the sides and back of them. They are made of 5/8" thick steel all welded together.

 

[Superduper]

Here is a Frontier blade. This is a 48" blade but it only has 3 scarifier teeth??? It was lighter built than some of the others. I wonder if this model is designed for the Sub CUT size John Deere 2210?

The blade displayed was the frontier BB2048L, which is a light duty blade designed for category 0 or limited category 1 hitches, weighing in at a breezy 275 lbs. This frontier blade would not have been a good unit to compare against the larger box blades. It would have been better to compare 6' blades with other 6' blades, 4' blades against other 4' blades, etc.

Frontier blade specifications:
48"
60" & 66"
72"
84" + 96"
Hydraulic scarifier models:

 

[flINTLOCK]

If you're not using the box a lot, is the hydraulic scarifier control worth the extra $$??

 

[3RRL]

If you're not using the box a lot, is the hydraulic scarifier control worth the extra $$??

That really depends on how you look at it, and like you said, how much you use it.
It's not exactly the same, but it's kinda like having 4wd when you need it....IMO, if you only needed it once, it would be worth it.

On my box blade, it became quite annoying to change the position of the scarifiers. Of course I use mine all the time too. But those little pins were difficult to get on and off easily. Sometimes needing pliers and then they would fly off in the dirt. Some areas needed them down more and others needed them up more. If the box was sitting on them, or they were engaged in the ground, no way to budge them. I said screw that, I'm making mine hydraulic so I can adjust them from the seat ... on the fly if I wanted.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Good point. How much does hydraulic lift on scarifiers add to the cost??