Box Blading in Reverse

[slowrev]

Tractors are not even intended for pushing backwards very much, ignoring the 3 point hitch. They are designed to pull forward, else R1 tires would not be standard equipment on almost all tractors.
They don't grip worth a darn going backwards.
And yes you can break any lift arm out there if you abuse it enough. I have broken a category 2 ball end off trying to push a piece of equipment backwards through a mudhole. The worst thing was it was not my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[_RaT_]

"Nope, 3-point systems are designed for pulling implements and the implements for 3-point systems are designed to be pulled. Your tires are directional and your seat faces the front. No engineering data is required. "

Don't tell that to the folks who make reversible/angled grader blades or rear mount snow blowers. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. some manufactuers even make seats now that swivel to allow the operator to easily see whats going on behind you. My L48 had one.

 

[slowrev]

Rear mount snowblowers are designed by chiropractors to increase their business /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Good Answer /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jim, your hoses look a bit rotted. )</font>

Not rotted, but definitely exposed to 3+ years of Texas sun with SPF-0 sunblocker. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif If I replaced everything that was old and cracked, I'd have been gone a long time ago. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Actually the outside rubber has no function except to protect the woven wire on my hoses. The hoses are two-wire, so when the outer wire starts to fray, I'll get new hoses. These are far too big anyway. 1/4" hoses are plenty big for a toplink.

Did you mean to show a picture of your links on the tractor end? I saw your boxblade, but not your tractor's attach points.

 

[Ozarker]

Well a snow blower doesn;t really push alot. It mostly bites into the load and throws it away.

Again, whatever someone can make something do doesn't mean it was designed to do that.

As for your "captured: pins, it there wasn't any unusual outward force there would be no need to "capture" the pin so that it can't come off. The very fact that the plates of steel are there to trap the pin is evidence that someone decided to try and overcome the limits of the 3-point setup and force it to do something it wasn't originally designed to do. There is no need to trap the pins when pulling.

 

[_RaT_]

Now Jim, do you have pictures of each componet of your tractor. I wish I could dig up the ones of my L48 BULL DOZING backwards the approximately 2000 yards of material I had to cut. Don't mention to Slowrev just how well my L48 worked in reverse albeit with R4's, he would be surprised. I had several mounds at any given time that dwarfed our mobile home. It was surely was fun to do. I was backing down about a 35 degree slope the whole time doing it. My reversible rear mounted cutting blade did get flipped as my soil (decomposed granite) is very rough on steel. Admittedly, the two outter 5/8" brackets did bend ever so slightly form the pressure. I can only imagine what a couple of snap pins would have done.

 

[_RaT_]

The pin does not get captured, the lower link does. There is no reason to trap the pin pushing or pulling. The pin simply connects the implment to the the lower links as does the top link. If you push a loose pile of dirt with your boxblade and rely on the snap pin to contain the lower link, it is just a matter of time before you bend or shear that snap pin. My mower works the same so that when backing the mower up, the snap pin does not take the load, the lower link and yoke do.

You mention "someone" which I now believe is just about every boxblade manufactuer is now using the "steel plates" or a yoke to attach the lower links isn't something exclusive to "someone", it's pretty standard. It at the very least ensures longevity. My old 1973 International boxblade uses a attached pin and spring clip, it is not designed for rear boxblading. It's also for sale along with the International 454D that pulls it.

Anyway Ozarker, I think were in one of those circular debates one in which we can agree to disagree. It's been fun and something that has been a little needed around here, it's been a bit slow.

 

[OkieG]

I can't speak to the "designed for" or "not designed for" issue, and I will keep my opinion to my self.

Rather than push/pull, I tend to think of the forces as compression or tension (stretching) forces. Whether a support arm is on front mounted implement or a rear mounted implement, it seems to me it will more likely bend under compression, and is very unlikely to bend under tension forces. Take a yard stick, for example. Place a hand on each end. Bring your hands together and the yard stick bends. If you can make it bend by stretching it you're a lot stronger than I am.

In fact, I would venture to say that a 3PH lift arm could never be bent with tension force. However, I don't know if that is necessarily a convincing argument for the "not designed for" group re: pushing with a boxblade. One would suppose that support arms for front mount implements are "designed for" compression forces, but does that mean 3PH arms are not??

OkieG

 

[_RaT_]

Well George, while I'm here, I might as well address what I think of your post. Your exactly right in each aspect. I trust the engineers have considered the push/pull loads and have sized the lower links appropriately. The loader is mostly in compression in forward use and some tension (industrials with no knee have a bit more tension I would guess) in reverse but we don't just use it in reverse as much. I would say that is because those compressive loads have been considered and the adequate steel installed. Considering how relatively short the lower links are and just how thick mine are, I have no concern over their durability. In fact, if I bent one which has yet to happen with any of the 3 Kubotas I have used quite hard with a 72" boxblade, I would consider it a mixed blessing. I'd rather bend back or replace a lower link then the rear end of the tractor if you know what I mean. That could happen pulling or pushing as one fella with a JD 4310 showed awhile back while pulling with his tractor. (iamgott was his user name) Ed Brown You will have to dig through his posts to find it.