Box Blade

[bazman82]

I have been dragging my feet on this for way to long and finally pulled the trigger today. Just ordered an EA box blade. I went with the 96" 60-125hp extreme blade with lockable floating tailgate. I spent the extra for their viper teeth as I know I have some big rocks in the ground and car parts from the old junk yard. I was thinking of having it painted black but decided against it and will just stick with their industrial yellow.

I will have to update again (w/photos) in about 4 to 5 months!! Its a long wait and my only regret is that I didn't order it back in Sept...

 

[Vigo327]

Im usually the kind of guy that wants to find something broken and fix it, make the thing i want out of something else in a scrap pile, or at least buy the cheapest thing i think will do the job.

BUT, after seeing this guy Ted at EA drive his box blades around like it's a demolition derby car (and similar test videos of other implements) and talk with great honesty about their design, process of refinement and improvement and attempts to find the weaknesses, i think EA is one of the few companies I wouldn't hesitate to spend 'full retail' to get their products.

Hopefully yours ships early!

 

[oosik]

Specs indicate that going to be a good implement. Waiting is the pits - I know how you feel.

 

[big bubba]

having a hyd top link would be icing on the cake for the anticipated blade

 

[metalbender]

The video tells me not to buy a used tractor from Ted.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Im usually the kind of guy that wants to find something broken and fix it, make the thing i want out of something else in a scrap pile, or at least buy the cheapest thing i think will do the job.

BUT, after seeing this guy Ted at EA drive his box blades around like it's a demolition derby car (and similar test videos of other implements) and talk with great honesty about their design, process of refinement and improvement and attempts to find the weaknesses, i think EA is one of the few companies I wouldn't hesitate to spend 'full retail' to get their products.

Hopefully yours ships early!

I can't think of one person saying that their purchase from EA was not a positive thing. That is pretty amazing. They have been at it a while.

 

[Goose1776]

The video tells me not to buy a used tractor from Ted.

Hahahahaha
Exactly
The one thing I would never buy from EA, would be a used tractor.

 

[Smokeydog]

I think it will be worth the wait. Like their ripper attachment mounting and new ripper design. Would be top of my list too. 8’ is a big one.

 

[Skagit]

I can't think of one person saying that their purchase from EA was not a positive thing. That is pretty amazing. They have been at it a while.

I actually did have a negative experience with them, ended up sending the implement back for warranty repairs and it came back 'sort of' fixed... Their response was basically it's not supposed to be pretty and sell it if you don't like it. Most of my highschool metal shop would have done a better job building it... Ended up selling it.

That said, I have another implement from them that is flawless and completely deserving of the reputation they have. I also just ordered a different version (bigger) of the one that I had problems with and sold. So, in the end, they make good stuff with some features that others don't. I think my experience was a one off, made on a Friday before a holiday or something probably.

 

[bazman82]

having a hyd top link would be icing on the cake for the anticipated blade

I have 4-5 months to make this happen and it was something I was thinking about.

I know I will be putting those rippers to the test with some of the ground I'll be going through. I do have some areas of gravel near the fields that are quite a ways away from the barn. The junkyard must had made those spots back in the 50's or 60's but I will be using the blades ripper teeth to loosen that up and move that stone somewhere else.

 

[big bubba]

I have 4-5 months to make this happen and it was something I was thinking about.

I know I will be putting those rippers to the test with some of the ground I'll be going through. I do have some areas of gravel near the fields that are quite a ways away from the barn. The junkyard must had made those spots back in the 50's or 60's but I will be using the blades ripper teeth to loosen that up and move that stone somewhere else.

ok good luck w/the order & adj the ripper teeth. maybe a pic of the teeth setup for adj comments? highly recommend the hyd top link to compliment your setup. feathering the adjustment for grading to me is far easier (& maybe safer) than having to dismount every time you adjust the working depth, etc. best of luck

 

[bazman82]

Any recommendations for a hydraulic top link that would work well with this size box blade?

 

[big bubba]

Any recommendations for a hydraulic top link that would work well with this size box blade?

i'm sure others can recommend specific name brands, etc better than me. got mine from my K dealer (aftermarket) who chose the correct travel, etc for my model. so just find the correct specs choosing the HTL for all your implements. this doesn't really answer your question, but a start. sounds like you have an extra rear valve already in place that will accomodate the link. hyd top links & box blades fit hand in glove...

 

[ctgoldwing]

Any recommendations for a hydraulic top link that would work well with this size box blade?

I've been very happy with my Top n Tilt from Brian at Fitrite. I also purchased a 3 valve rear remote kit from him. He was most gracious in helping this hydraulic newbie when I did the install. Just an fyi, his lead times are looong but I have yet to find anyone say a negative thing about his products.
I have several implements from EA and am sure you will be pleased with yours.

 

[Vigo327]

Any recommendations for a hydraulic top link that would work well with this size box blade?

It's not really specific to the box blade. You just want a cylinder that can attain both shorter and longer lengths than whatever your existing top link is with the implement level, so you can have some tilt in both directions.

Other than that it just needs to be the right category (cat1, cat2 etc) for the 3point so it has the right size holes at the ends. It's possible if one was to make a top link out of some other type of cylinder (like i did) that you could have a rod size a little too thin and end up bending it, but anything sold as a 'top link' will be appropriately sized in that regard. Bore size is not critical unless you're getting into really heavy implements, because even a 1.5" cylinder bore at typical pressure can tilt up most implements and i think most hydraulic top links ive seen are 2.0" bore or larger. Anything sold as a top link will be fine there too, so all you really need to do is measure how long your current top link is when it's holding an implement level, and then find something that is somewhere near the center of its travel at that length. Some implements won't care about one of the directions but a box blade has benefits of tilting both ways.

One caveat to the 'strength' of the top link is that if have an implement in the air and are trying to lift the rear of it, the top link is having to lift most of the weight of that implement. If you put the implement on the ground and leave the 3pt in float, the top link only has to deal with part of that weight. Hydraulic cylinders are much stronger in 'holding' than in 'moving' so once it's at the correct angle, lifting the 3pt and holding it there is no issue. That 96" box blade is heavy, but its not very long, so i doubt there would be any issue there.

 

[bazman82]

Just got the call that the box blade will be delivered on Friday between 1 and 4pm!! Timing is perfect since I already have other things being delivered on Friday as well at 1pm so I'll be home. Also, just ordered the hydraulic top link (https://www.agristoreusa.com/collec...s/category-2-hydraulic-top-link-22-3-8-33-1-2 ). I was tempted to pay the extra for shipping to have it here by Friday but figured I'd save the few bucks and use the free shipping.

 

[scaredychicken]

he's definitely giving it a workout in the video

 

[bazman82]

Got it home today but it won't let me attach any photos from my phone.

I had to go pick it up at the terminal since they never showed up at time they scheduled. Told me they overbooked the day and could deliver it anytime next week.....so I told them I'd come pick it up.

 

[bazman82]

Figured it out. Here it is.

 

[amarsh64]

Looks really rugged . Enjoy!