Boxblade Usefulness Survey

roysallis · Jan 22, 2002

"Also from the different talk, it seems no one actually knows when you would use a hinged versus stationary back. "
The hinged back blade is used to assist in leveling. As the blade moves forward and material is collected the hinged rear blade allows some material to be deposited. Therefore, leveling the surface. This is useful for landscaping, leveling roping arenas, etc. As with all uses of a box blade, this takes some experience to use it to its full potential.

MChalkley · Jan 22, 2002

Harv - Then what do I do?

I'd say it depends on how much more useful you think it would be if you could lock it down. If the answer is "a lot", then I'm sure there's a way to modify it so it will. If the answer is "not much", then I'd just leave it alone. Certainly, don't modify it on my account. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Of course, another thing to keep in mind is that one of the main reasons to have stuff is so you can modify it, and this sure looks like a good excuse to me. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Tell you what: You bring it with you to VA when you come out to paint my EF-5 pink, and I'll take care of modifying it for you. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2002

...We have to pin this down once and for all...

Harv... my feelings exactly.... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I mean... once you "pin" the hinged part to be stationary... you can go forward and be "normal" for your size tractor...

Guess what... then no more fiddling around trying to get it just right.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

{I'd raise the box blade off the ground... push the hinged gate all the way forward... use strong 'c clamps' to secure it... lower it to the ground and give it a test run... if all goes well, then back up in the air, drill a couple holes at bottom, insert some Grade 8 bolts to prevent it from swinging back...{you can pull the bolts later if you change your mind..} /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

RAllen · Jan 22, 2002

On some backblades, Landpride being one, you can also mount an adjustable scarifier in front of the blade. You can also add a gaugewheel (even hydraulic) behind the better blades. This combo would give scarifying, blade scraping, and dirt pulling capability like a boxblade--all with angling, tilt, offset, and gaugewheel capability that boxblades do not have, plus superior snow removal ability. And for all that, you never have to adjust your top link! (Happy toplinking, all you boxbladers.)

Another approach is a good rake. You can add a flipdown blade with endcaps, dual gauge wheels and, with Landpride, the scarifier. You would lose the tilt and offset feature of the straight blade, however -- except for Landpride, again, which lets you mount the rake on the tiltable blade frame

In reading this old thread, I found the above from Glenmac. Although this is not "on topic" at least for the newest part of this thread I wanted to chime in on the above.

When I first got my tractor, I tried to bypass the need to purchase a boxblade. I bought a Landpride Rock Rake with a drop down blade, end ears and gauge wheels. Needed it for road maint., I purchased the rippers Glenmac mentioned. The rippers can be used alone or used with the rock-rake. I promptly returned the rippers.

First, with my Kubota 2910, the rippers made everything too long after you put the rippers infront of the rock rake and blade. I could not adjust the three-point to get good angles. Used alone, the ripper was not as heavy as a box blade- my boxblade does a much better job tearing up soil because of the added weight.

For my size tractor, the combo does not work at all. My dealer came out and ending up agreeing with me. They took the rippers back and I purchased a Landpride Boxblade. The boxblade was less than $25 more than the rippers and more useful. Perhaps a bigger tractor could use the setup.

Rick

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2002

You have to have patience with the box blade, the top link and angling is the key, I maintain 2000 ft of driveway, and ditches on both sides. Also have a front blade, and regular angling backblade. They augment the backblade if I had to have only one the boxblade would be it.

Many times the job looks bad for the first first 3/4 with the boxblade as you loosen and start to shape the spoil, then it comes together in fine style. It could be called a finishing tool. I would compare it to sandpaper on a wood working project.

Used to level driveway, maintain the crown.
Repairs potholes.
Landscaping.
Cut small roads and paths through the woods. Pick up a hummok and drop it in a depression.
Maintain a horse paddock.
Great with snow and ice, tilted properly will peel off ice on pavment parking lot.
Drop hot ashfalt in and it will lay pavement.
Dig shape and landscape an inground swimming pool.
Level land for an aboveground swimming pool 20X40 ft. level within 1/4 inch.

Also have a mini excavator, use the boxblade to backfill faster and eaiser than the blade on the excavator.

Harv · Jan 22, 2002

Don't know if I'm getting any closer to pinning down the floppy rear blade issue, but ...

Less than 24 hours after I sent email to Howse, I actually got a reply, and not by email, but by telephone! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif All the way from Mississippi, too. So, now do I know the answer? Well, you be the judge --

Let me preface by saying that the connection was a little weak, and the fellow who was calling had a rather severe southern accent (sorry, but some of us Californians need a translator when communicating with the deep South). I was embarassed that I had to have the poor guy repeat almost everything he said. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Anyway, he told me that the hinged rear blade was designed to smooth over unintentional ruts caused by dragging debris (rock, root, beer can, etc.) with the front blade. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif I then asked about other models where the rear blade is fixed or lockable. All he said was that Howse makes 'em hinged or fixed, but not hinged and lockable. I got the distinct impression I was talking to a salesman, not a tractor operator.

I tried to ask more questions, but he told me that a manual was already in the mail, their compliments (pretty cool, since it's listed for $3.77 plus shipping on their website).

He assured me that the answers to all my questions were in the manual. Based on my Howse rotary cutter manual, I have my doubts about that.

Anybody got a half-inch power drill I can use for poking some bolt holes in my box blade?

Bird · Jan 22, 2002

Anybody got a half-inch power drill I can use

Sure, stop by and pick it up anytime./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif And I don't think I've ever even heard of a manual for a box blade.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2002

...I actually got a reply, and not by email, but by telephone! All the way from Mississippi, too...

I give them a Big A for effort... maybe just redo their quality control dept. a tinge... and perhaps... more success...?

I also had emailed them earlier this spring about pricing on PTO shield "plastic clips"... same thing, a return phone call and they shipped via mail... gratis...

I really felt bad, I had expressed my negative feelings toward their quality control problem... nevertheless... their quality was very inconsistent... /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Anyhow...back to where we're not...

I have this great feeling Harv... you are actually closer to resolving this perplexing hinged swinging blade... whether it's in the manual or not... I think you already know, you'll end up "pinning/bolting" it secure, to more or less suit your needs and get the most out of that implement...

Good luck...

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2002

...I don't think I've ever even heard of a manual for a box blade...

Here's a couple... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Box Blade Operator Manuals…(PDF format)
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.landpride.com/cgi-bin/byteserver/manuals/lp/pdf/303-082m.pdf>Model BB15/25 Manual</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.landpride.com/cgi-bin/byteserver/manuals/lp/pdf/304-041m.pdf>Rollover Box Scraper Manual</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.landpride.com/cgi-bin/byteserver/manuals/lp/pdf/305-054m.pdf>Retractable Box Scraper Manual</A>