Box Scraper Box scraper for hard pack dirt/gravel road
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Egon
Epic Contributor
In a misspent youth I spent many a day/years watching Yellow Iron move and rearrange dirt, rock & crushed gravel. Got to watch the biggest made by Caterpillar in fact. (#16, D9H tandem, 631's, 641's, 988's etc. ) Of course the dirt of fifty years ago might have been different from that of today?? I did notice operator compentcy could vary considerably. And no; I cannot operate a road grader.
One example of of washboarding? Will that be the complete comparison?
Originally there seemed to be a comparison between LPGS & Backblades. Motor graders were introduced to show a the use of a windrow when maintaining a road. The back blade is able to produce a windrow.
Egon
Epic Contributor
You should see it's big brother work!
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I agree with this.^^^
If I had my choice and unlimited budget I would have a motor grader with machine control. Since I don't have much money I use what I have and can afford. A LPGS is something I can afford and I can get by with it.
Two things I don't ever wish for is an old dump truck or an old motor grader. I am satisfied to hire dump trucks and motor graders with good operators, some things I don't need to own.
fried1765
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YOU will have to WAIT a LONG time!
NO ONE EVER SAID I had a motor grader!
Time for yet another re-read!
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
So, all these LPGS implements that are only about 4-5 feet long must be really worthless for grading a drive or road.?
Bruce
Must be, I read it on the internet myself. I guess I need to cut mine up before anyone see's me using them. This is totally embarrassing. :ashamed:
Or I could recognize that the detractors have never used a LPGS and don't have any experience with them.
CADplans
Elite Member
I checked with the local CAT dealer,,, they will take your LPGS in on trade towards a motor grader,,,
It seems that they sell a LOT more LPGS than they sell motor graders,,,
so that old thing is worth something!! :thumbsup:
:laughing:
MtnViewRanch
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jenkinsph
Super Star Member
My understanding of your earlier post was that you are using a rear blade with offset. That is a good tool to have, great for shaping the ditches and building a crown. With enough time and passes you can get nice results. A LPGS is also a good tool for maintaining a properly shaped road and is definitely worthwhile.
You mentioned the issues and advantages of having a long wheel base and that is a valid point. But if motor graders at their high cost is one of the solutions then automatic machine control should also be considered. Even gps automated machine control systems are cheaper than a motor grader. I can only afford the laser automatic machine control and that is good for flat or planar work.
I should also mention that most of us using the LPGS are running them with the 3pt in the fully lowered position. Having the front wheels drop in a dip does not make the implement rise up. You can for practical purposes slide over a dip that is about half the span of the LPGS skids length and maintain grade. A LPGS is a great tool for averaging and making the surface flat. When used properly it will maintain a crowned road with a quick pass up and down each side of the center line.
If you use a rear blade, LPGS and a heavy roller these tools will go a long way to building a nice driveway that will last.
Egon
Epic Contributor
May not have operated but used more than one at the same time.
Now you can use a grader but that doesn't mean you can operate one. There is a difference.
Catman8
Gold Member
Stick with the known brands that have been around for many years and save yourself a ton of grief and aggravation, I personally bought a box blade from a small company and trust me it's not worth it, there is a reason the bigger name brand companies have been around for years because they know what they are doing and they know how to build implements straight and correct, and they don't cut corners or try to hide things. The extra money you spend will be well worth it. Who wants a crooked box blade or crooked land plane.
fried1765
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Regarding a LPGS' tendency to drop the fines first and only leave larger stuff on top, the last time I ran mine, it did exactly the opposite. Maybe just because I did it when the surface had too much moisture in it.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
Best I can tell from my experience is that whole argument is a box of crap. The fines do need to come all the way to the top surface with the surface gravel about one rock high. Having too much loose rock on a road surface causes the tires to plow through it. It is important to have the correct mix of fines and gravel in order to pack the gravel and lock it in place. Rolling it with a heavy roller at the outset helps a lot.
Egon
Epic Contributor
That is what moving a windrow back and forth does. Mixes real well. Well graded mix of materials at hand.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
Motor graders take a lot more experience to run than most other equipment. A long time operator that is very good will still be learning new techniques on his last day of work.
I have said before that I can show anyone how to drive a dozer in 10 minutes or less. You can then spend the rest of your life learning how to control the blade. Same with a motor grader.
I have said before that I can show anyone how to drive a dozer in 10 minutes or less. You can then spend the rest of your life learning how to control the blade. Same with a motor grader.
olPete
Gold Member
So pleased the guy who told me off for hijacking the OP's thread back around post #10 deleted his post! Or I wouldn't have learnt half as much 
For my uses (driveway, farm track, rocked farmyard maintenance) your discussion has been really informative.
I have had a play with my angle blade now. Pro's it's very versatile and got my crown back, and I will be able to dig out water tables etc to reform my farm track. Con's it would be very easy to make a huge sow's ear of things. Could put a wheel out the back, but then it will increase the overall length but increase my ability to smooth out whoop sections.. so I think I will leave the tailwheel on the to-do list and build up a big long leveller/landplane style sled. Longer than it is wide, and possibly 4 or more crosspieces to maximise mixing.
The ag. guys use them around here a lot, their ones usually have the crossmembers made of heavy angle iron, first one an inch above the skids, next one 3/4, next 1/2, next 1/4, which means there is a flow of material over each one. I might try to copy that and then I can use it in the field as well.
I think you all have very valid points, my thanks for sharing them with us
For my uses (driveway, farm track, rocked farmyard maintenance) your discussion has been really informative.
I have had a play with my angle blade now. Pro's it's very versatile and got my crown back, and I will be able to dig out water tables etc to reform my farm track. Con's it would be very easy to make a huge sow's ear of things. Could put a wheel out the back, but then it will increase the overall length but increase my ability to smooth out whoop sections.. so I think I will leave the tailwheel on the to-do list and build up a big long leveller/landplane style sled. Longer than it is wide, and possibly 4 or more crosspieces to maximise mixing.
The ag. guys use them around here a lot, their ones usually have the crossmembers made of heavy angle iron, first one an inch above the skids, next one 3/4, next 1/2, next 1/4, which means there is a flow of material over each one. I might try to copy that and then I can use it in the field as well.
I think you all have very valid points, my thanks for sharing them with us
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
So pleased the guy who told me off for hijacking the OP's thread back around post #10 deleted his post! Or I wouldn't have learnt half as much
For my uses (driveway, farm track, rocked farmyard maintenance) your discussion has been really informative.
I have had a play with my angle blade now. Pro's it's very versatile and got my crown back, and I will be able to dig out water tables etc to reform my farm track. Con's it would be very easy to make a huge sow's ear of things. Could put a wheel out the back, but then it will increase the overall length but increase my ability to smooth out whoop sections.. so I think I will leave the tailwheel on the to-do list and build up a big long leveller/landplane style sled. Longer than it is wide, and possibly 4 or more crosspieces to maximise mixing.
The ag. guys use them around here a lot, their ones usually have the crossmembers made of heavy angle iron, first one an inch above the skids, next one 3/4, next 1/2, next 1/4, which means there is a flow of material over each one. I might try to copy that and then I can use it in the field as well.
I think you all have very valid points, my thanks for sharing them with us
Depending on how much work you have to do and how high your expectations are you may get by with one implement. You may find that having a wide variety of implements to cover the bases is the way to go. Over time you may find having a box blade, lpgs, rear blade, roller and landscape rake are all useful. I have small and larger of each of these implements and find that the larger box blade and lpgs get the majority of use.
