Buying the Right Size Box Blade

[murphy1244]

You may also want to look into a Land Plane if you just want to grade

 

[jeff9366]

Jeff,

The width from outside wheel to outside wheel is slightly less than 48 inches. So a 4 ft box blade seems to be what I'm going to need.

I will also use the box blade to dig some trenches if I have power to do that with my 2 WD tractor.

You mentioning the weight I need of about 500 lbs will help me shop for one, however I am not sure I will be able to find a 4ft box blade that weighs 500 lbs, but I might be wrong on that. Hopefully I am.

Yes, 48" is what you need.

With 2-WD you will have to wait for moist soil conditions to successfully trench.

Usually 48" Box Blades are much lighter than 500 pounds. With 2-WD you will probably will have to be satisfied with 350-400 pounds, which, with 2-WD, will not be too bad. If you loose traction it does no good to have a heavy Box Blade.....traction, horsepower, and BB weight have to balance.

 

[ctryan5733]

I am looking at a 4 1/2 foot box blade for sale on Craig's List. Is that too big? 4 ft BBs are harder to find than 5ft or 6ft, as you probably know.

Here is the link if you want to tell me your opinion: John Deere 4 1/2 ft Box Blade

Thanks!

 

[94BULLITT]

I am looking at a 4 1/2 foot box blade for sale on Craig's List. Is that too big? 4 ft BBs are harder to find than 5ft or 6ft, as you probably know.

Here is the link if you want to tell me your opinion: John Deere 4 1/2 ft Box Blade

Thanks!

I'd settle for that one. You can probably get it for less. A little paint and it will be as good as new. If it does not work out you could easily get your money back.

Do you have weights or a loader on the front?

 

[94BULLITT]

I am looking at a 4 1/2 foot box blade for sale on Craig's List. Is that too big? 4 ft BBs are harder to find than 5ft or 6ft, as you probably know.

Here is the link if you want to tell me your opinion: John Deere 4 1/2 ft Box Blade

Thanks!

I just looked at it again. The top link connection looks to be bent. It is fixable though.

 

[jeff9366]

There is no absolutely right answer. The BB looks fine, except for the slightly twisted frame where your Top Link will attach. You can probably pull a long, sacrificial, top link pin in, put a long "cheater" pipe over the sacrificial pin, and pull it mostly straight.

If you need us, 94BULLIT and I will visit and help you tug on the pipe.

I always like to see double clevis on the implement, through which draw pins fit but your tractor will not have enough power to bend the draw pins, so that is immaterial.

If you are ready, go for it.

 

[ctryan5733]

I have three 50 lb weights on the front and room for one more weight if found another matching one.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have three 50 lb weights on the front and room for one more weight if found another matching one.

If it holds the tractor down with the rotary cutter you should be fine.

Sent from my Samsung SPH-L710 using TractorByNet

 

[s219]

I have a Howse 4' Box blade (actually measures 50" or so) and it weighs about 475 lbs according to the freight ticket (maybe 25 lb of that was a pallet, but I don't know). I debated going 4' or 5', but the salesman convinced me to go 4' and I can't say I have any complaints so far. In a few cases, I may not have been able to fit in some spaces with the 5'.

I'd be concerned about 2WD, especially if grading a driveway. For normal maintenance with a slight angle of attack on the cutter, I can pull in 2WD. But if moving a lot of material to the point of filling the whole box, I absolutely need 4WD and LOW gear. When a box blade fills up with material, that is a lot of weight to pull. Even my 4' box probably carries 1/3 yard of material when filled up, and that's on the order of 800 lbs or so.

 

[94BULLITT]

I looked at that box blade again and it looks like the left lift arm attachment it bent. I would not go $350 on it. It is all fixable but someone has had it on too big of a tractor and pushed hard in reverse and bent it. I think it has even had some welding done to it at the lift arm pin. That is why it has been repainted.