Rake BX-23 3 point Rake vs Box Blade

[willjack]

I am a new BX-23 owner and have not purchased any attacmnets yet. I have mastered the basics and am ready to start improving my yard / woods. I have an area about 1 acre in size that I would like to "smooth out" enough to plant grass. It doesn't have to be perfect, just smooth enough that my 46" landscape mower wont scalp the soil. I plan on keeping a lot of trees as well so I need to be careful of the roots. I live in Connecticut so the soil is soft and often muddy in the Spring and Fall. I plan on using the backhoe to dig up or burry the rocks and the FEL to rough level the area. I was going to purchase a box blade to do the finish leveling but am finding prices in the $600-$800 range for basic models (LandPride 48" 300lb model- Kubota 48"). I can get a 4' Howse rake for about $500 and am wondering if it will do the job. Do the tines tend to dig in to the soil or will they just hop over it? What do the tines do when they hit a softball sized rock? Will I damage the rake?

 

[Code54]

I know nothing about the rake issue but I can say it seems your Box blade price is high. I bought a Wood 48" HD version for $500 new here in WV. To be honest I could have got a lighter version, this thing is going to outlast me and the tractor. Hope it helps and good luck on your project!

 

[HomeBrew2]

Congrats on the BX ... awesome machine! I'm a diehard box blade fan but, after using a rake for a while, I'm a big fan of them too. As long as you're going to do the rough work with the FEL, and you probably only want to buy one implement now, I'd say the rake would be best. One thing a rake can do that a box can't is [minor] cultivation which you'll probably need for planting.

The tines do dig in well in moist soil or soil with vegitation. If the soil is dry, it will tend to hop but will do a little chiseling too. But, You can take of every other (or 2) tines to get it to dig more. Note: You will curse my recommendation if you don't buy (expensive) or make (cheap) gauge wheels for the rake.

The tines are strong and will take quite a bit of punishment. The rake can throw rocks at the tractor in the right circumstances.

Cheers!

 

[willjack]

Based on your posting and others, I got the impression a 4' box blade would be around $500 and was surprised when I got the prices from the 2 tractor dealers close to my house. I paid more for the BX-23 than most and really fought for the price I got. I did a lot of back and forth between dealers trying to get a better deal but for some reason, the dealers here in CT are not willing to lower their prices much. It is much cheaper to "mail order" implements and pay $100 + for truck ship rather than going through the local dealers!

 

[willjack]

Thanks for the advice on the rake! It sounds like it will do what I need it to. The wheel kit did seem expensive ($150) for 2 swivel wheels. I figured I might just buy some wheels and then weld together some arms that I could attach to the rake. I weld as a hobby and am always looking for a reason to make something rather than buy it.

The other reason I was leaning more towards the rake was that the local dealers said they sold a lot of rakes and only sold a box blade every few years. That made me think that the soil here may be different than in other parts of the country.

 

[ttowne66]

willjack

Where are you located? Take a look at Midwest Box blades. Very stout for the price.

http://www.midwestequipment.net/

http://www.tarheeltractor.com/boxblades.php

 

[jbrumberg]

Willjack:
I had the same experience with two local dealers in western MA when gathering information about box blades. Their response "too many rocks". I find a new rock crop every mud season. New England soil is unique: it's glaciated deposit- glacial drift and till overlying crystalline rock and paired with our wet season tends to create 3 seasons- Winter, Mud, and Summer. I use a FEL and bought a rake. Jay

 

[KentT]

I ran into similar pricing in Central Mass last year...

However, you can get Keen Kutter 48" XB boxblades at Tractor Supply (TSC) for around $400. I bought one from the store in Enfield, CT last May at $399.95 .... Basically, it was the same price as Northern Tool, without paying shipping:
Here is one, at Northern Tool, at $419.95

For that price difference, and given the amount of expected use, I bought the less expensive product and pocketed the difference to spend differently...

 

[willjack]

I'm located in Connecticut so the midwestern dealers are too far. I order a lot of stuff from Northern Tool and had planned on buying a Howse 48" box blade from them. They had it on sale and are now no longer going to carry it. I called and they said it was "obsolete" whatever that means. How can a box blade be obsolete? Norther Tool also sells the King Kutter but my catalog says it is a Category 0 hitch so I ruled it out. I checked the web site for Tractor Supply and they only listed 5' and 6' box blades at the store in Enfield, CT. I suppose maybe they could order one. It sounds like one of you in Mass got a Box Blade and the other got a rake (Jay). I am guessing you both were able to landscape with them so maybe either would work. I guess with all the rocks in New England, neither will work until all of the rocks are dug up with the backhoe anyway.

 

[KentT]

The 48" XB series boxblade, shown, is Cat 1 pins set on Cat 0 spaciing. The whole XB series of attachments from Keen Kutter are designed specifically for the BX line of Kubotas -- including the matching orange paint...

I called the Enfield store and confirmed that they stocked the XB, and then I went and picked it up....