Grading Box Scraper (Blade) on a B7500

Gunnahafta · Nov 13, 2003

I'm building a house and am looking at purchasing a box scraper for when I get to landscaping time. (I've heard them called Box Blades, too--or are Box Blades and a Box Scrapers two different things?)

Anyway....my question is: Should I get a 5-foot or a 4-foot box scraper for a B7500?

My dealer says a 5-foot may be stretching the limits a bit and a 4-foot would probably be better. I do have very rocky soil. Anyone have any advice?

thanks

equipman · Nov 13, 2003

Gunnahafta
The 5' would be too big. Your loader bucket is probably going to be 48" wide, so a 4' would match that. Many companys build a 54" which is popular with a lot of our B7500 customers. It would be wider than the rear tires and cover your tire tracks. Manual ripper teeth, replacable cutting edges and thicker side plates are features to look for in the better box blades.
Lewis

Bird · Nov 13, 2003

( are Box Blades and a Box Scrapers two different things? )

Nope, same thing. I think the correct terminology is "blade" according to most manufacturers.

( Should I get a 5-foot or a 4-foot box scraper for a B7500? )

I used a cheap TSC 5' box blade very briefly on a B7100, and would have kept it if it hadn't broken. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif So then I bought a much stronger 4' Monroe Tufline. Of course you can use a 5' box blade, but you likely will not be able to pull it with all the ripper teeth (or do you prefer "scarifiers"?) in the ground at the same time, and you may not be able to pull it if you let it get completely full.

So, in my opinion, if you're only going to use it for smoothing and leveling, the 5' blade has the advantage, but if you're going to also use it for digging and moving dirt, the 4' is probably preferable.

Another thing that I might consider is the width of the bucket on the front end loader (assuming you have one). I think it can be helpful if the box blade and the bucket are the same width since I sometimes scraped up dirt, then picked it up with the FEL.

Bird · Nov 13, 2003

Did you type faster than me, or did you just start earlier, Lewis? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Your response wasn't there when I started typing.

TresCrows · Nov 13, 2003

I use a 48 inch Kubota boxblade on my 2410. Works good. I suspect that the 5 foot would be too much unless you intend to use it for road grading only. I would get a heavy duty or med duty 4 foot for your tractor. If you can find a 54 inch that would probably work as well in a mediu duty unit. The 4 footer just covers the tracks on my 2410 with the wheels set at their standard position. J

8561 · Nov 13, 2003

Like Trescrows, I too have a B2410. Like you, I bought my boxblade primarily to assist in landscaping my new home. I bought a 5' HD Midwest boxblade (541lbs). I did so thinking that if it was too wide, I would just take smaller passes and if it was still too much to be useful, I'd just sell it and take my medicine. I can tell you that a 2410 will pull a 90% full 5' boxblade containing either loam or clay. If the material is lighter, it will pull a full box. It will rip out turf and grade a crushed bank run gravel driveway. There may be other cases where the 4' box would be more useful, I'm not sure. I have never wished I had gone smaller and have found the extra weight of the 5' boxblade to be an advantage. I should also say I have loaded R4 tires as your tire choice and weighting will also likely have some impact. My guess is that my tractor my have slightly more ability due to the slight increase in horsepower. If you're looking for a good deal on a very good unit, call Corriher in NC. They are sponsors on this site and will sell you one delivered for less than you will pay for comparable quality in Maine. One last thing, it takes some learning time to get good at using one, and adjusting the length of the top link for various jobs is a big key to success. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

B2400 · Nov 13, 2003

Late this summer I purchased a King Kutter 5ft blade for my B2400. I've found that it is absolutely at the 2400's limit working with this as low range and 4wd are a necessity. For basic scraping duties I can fill the box and move it with no problem, but with scarifiers dropped all the way down it struggles and gets hung up on tree roots pretty easily. Even so, the 2400 never ceases to amaze me with it's power and ability for a small unit. Love them Kubota's !!!

Gunnahafta · Nov 14, 2003

Sounds like the 4-footer would be my safest bet. I do have a 4-ft FEL , so a 4-ft box blade would make sense. I will be doing some digging, but mostly smoothing and leveling. Thanks for the advice.

garbageman · Nov 17, 2003

I went to TSC looking at a KK 4' Box Blade for my 7500. They don't keep them in stock. I'll try for a special order.

B2400 · Nov 17, 2003

It may be out of season for that particuliar implement in your area but if they're anything like our local TSC in Galesburg Ill, they will try to order one for you. The galesburg TSC even started carrying the"BX" series King Kutter box blades late this fall. They even come painted Kubota Orange!!