Front-End Loader Box Blade VS. rear angle blade VS. FEL for dirt driveway

[djradz]

Tell me more about a York rake. I think he had some of those too. I thought those were for collecting rocks from the dirt.

"York" is actually a brand of "landscape rake". Many of us (me included) however ofter refer to the device as a York Rake simply because they must have been one of the first, best, most common or whatever. Whatever you call it though, if you get one with the caster wheels option, I think you will find it the best for routine grading, filling in small potholes (before they get to deep) and reestablishing a perfect layer of stones on the surface - ie. driveway maintenance. On the other hand, if you have severe washouts, large potholes, or need to move significant gravel, the rake just isn't severe enough.

Yes, a rake can be used to collect larger rocks and do other typical "raking" activities such as preparing a seed bed, picking up branches and other large debris, but IMHO, when fitted with gage/caster wheels it is the best tool for maintaining a gravel driveway. Besides York, King Kutter, Landpride, Woods and several others make rakes in varying sizes and construction. Usually, you will find that the wheels are optional, but greatly increase the usefullness and ease of use of the rake. Probably why there are so many posts on TBN for builiding gage/caster wheels.

 

[The Saint]

Digesting all the posts, I think that the best implement to use depends on surface state, type of material and ability of the operator. That said, any of the implements will work with various levels of suitability and irritation. I recently spread 30 yards of 'pack' (ground up asphalt) over rutted packed gravel using the FEL and rake with gauge wheels and it did a great job.

I have a rear blade but know my limits (gauge wheels are your friend).

 

[3RRL]

Also wouldn't be able to pitch driveway.

What was he talking about when he said that? What did he mean, exactly?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Also wouldn't be able to pitch driveway.

What was he talking about when he said that? What did he mean, exactly?

Obviously somebody that doesn't know the ups and downs of how to use an implement.

 

[DraftHorse]

Reading all the different posts about the differences between grader, box and rake, I might as well chime in about what I am using. I have a LP1572 rake with gauge wheels and the drop down grader blade.

The grader blade will act as a small box blade with the side plates attached, or as a grading blade without the sides.

I recently purchased the LP 2577 Scarifier that allows the rake to be directly attached to it.

I did a test on a short piece of driveway by taking out my wash board in one easy pass.

I will admit that the the above combination is not cheap, but I am tired of buying c**p implements that I constantly need to repair or replace due to going cheap.

Peter

 

[amitysanimal]

I need some advice. I have a 6' York rake and I also have a new 6' cutting edge. I want to "clamp" the cutting edge to the bottom, of the rakes tines and make it into a grader blade. I would run bolts through the cutting edge, between the tines and through a thick piece of angle iron, clamping it tight to the tines. Anyone think this is a bad idea? Keep in mind its just temporary until I can make a new frame for the cutting edge.

amitysanimal

 

[3RRL]

For a real temporary blade, sure that would work.
It might not be the most rigid and you chance straightening out those tines, but just be careful with it. Then get on with making the frame for the blade right away.

 

[amitysanimal]

I already have 2 broken tines, any ideas where to get new ones? The rake is made by York, the metal plates are missing that tells any other info. If I have to order online, how the heck do I know I'm ordering the ones with the right curve to them?

 

[2smallbotas]

Has anyone tried on of these?
#1Double B Repair Pull-Type Road Grader
Seems like with all the talent on this site it wouldn't be too hard to build something like this.

 

[3RRL]

I already have 2 broken tines, any ideas where to get new ones? The rake is made by York, the metal plates are missing that tells any other info. If I have to order online, how the heck do I know I'm ordering the ones with the right curve to them?

Try contacting York either via this link or a phone.
York Landscape Rakes

 

[LBrown59]

For maintaining my 1/2 mile gravel road, with my 2615, I use my loader, and a 7' BushHog 3507 angle blade, about $420.00. With the 7' blade you can angle it, and still cover your tracks.With this combination, I've never felt the need for a box blade.
I only work my road when the moisture content is just right.

A box blade is ok for grading or leveling but it's usless for moving dirt any distance,

 

[RadarTech]

What would you define as any distance?
I am pulling down a grade in my new backyard.
and the boxblade has really been a great tool.

the only problem has been that it is semi-hard packed clay and some loam with some rocks about as big as the box.. I wish I had a toothbar, but the CFO tells me I should only need it for this project so why buy it.

I have dropped the teeth all the way down, dug with the FEL to a loose level and turn around drop the blade and drag a full box of dirt and a loader.

We are moving the dirt about 80 feet, granted not real far, but when you have a full bucket and a full box on about every pass it drops the level quickly!

I guess I should add that I using a lighteight 5 ft BB, with about 100 lbs of weight on an L3400 HST with an LA463, loaded rear tires and AG's all around.



Later,
Jim

 

[Charlesaf3]

In all seriousness you should get the toothbar. It is useful to the point tractors shouldn't be sold without them - you'll use it a lot, trust me.

 

[LBrown59]

What would you define as any distance?
We are moving the dirt about 80 feet, granted not real far,
Jim

What if the dirt had to be moved beyond the 80 feet across a yard driveway ditch or through/around a fence or wall?
How would you do it with a box blade?
What if there are trees or other obstacles in the path?

50 chevy 60 chevy Bx23
OUR FIRST CAR
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001.JPG 60 Chevy Impala Convertible front http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG rear view

 

[3RRL]

Using the boxblade to move dirt from one area to another is a great way to use it. Use the fel bucket too at the same time such as I did when I built my entire barn pad. I dragged and scooped dirt over 100' to do so. I say use what you got and make it work to the best you can.

If you've got to go over a fence, over obstacles or any longer distance where you can't drag to, use the fel but more likely use a dump trailer or dump truck. That will save you trips with just an fel bucket full of dirt. Depending on the obstacles, maybe the fel or dump trailer won't work either? Like what if you had to cross the Nile? What if you had to cross the Universe? Shees, come on.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

There are implements for moving dirt a long distance, but for those of us that do not have these implements, we use what we have. I think that a lot of people would think that you would not want to drag dirt much farther than a couple hundred feet. But then there are usually some exceptions.

 

[John_Mc]

What if the dirt had to be moved beyond the 80 feet across a yard driveway ditch or through/around a fence or wall?
How would you do it with a box blade?
What if there are trees or other obstacles in the path?

Obviously, you'd use the FEL, or a dump trailer or other implement designed for the job. A boxblade is not intended for such purposes. It is intended for dragging soils from one location to another. The effective distance depends on the job, the materials to be moved and over what surface, and the terrain and obstacles in the way. I think the reference to the boxblades superiority in moving soil from one location to another was in comparison to a rear blade or landscape rake... neither of which is designed for this task, though both beat out the box for "sidecasting" soil or rocks.

 

[Slippy]

I bought an old dump trunk that works great for those big dirt moving jobs, but even it seems small after you use it for a while.

 

[3RRL]

Hey Brian,
Do you still have that 5 footer grader available for Loretta's tractor? If it's in my budget, I'd be interested.
Maybe take a drive down to your place to pick it up one of these weekends?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Hey Brian,
Do you still have that 5 footer grader available for Loretta's tractor? If it's in my budget, I'd be interested.
Maybe take a drive down to your place to pick it up one of these weekends?

Rob, I still have it. Did you want it painted to match that bumble bee black and yellow, or is the std implement yellow OK? Are you planning to make road maintenance Loretta's job?