Does a boxblade / bucket make for decent excavator?

[sandman2234]

I was acused of being able to tear up a steel ball bearing with a rubber mallet. With that in mind, realize that the only problem I have had with my box blade is bending the pins and the part where they mount. The second picture of the Woods XB72 has the lift arms centered between two brackets, instead of a pin extending from one side. That is what I intend to do with my box blade, to prevent bending the pins and their mounting bracket. The pin going thru two brackets is superior to the pin coming out of a single side.
However, you have to make sure the boxblade fits, as you can't turn the pins around to the inside when it is the other way.
Buy the heaviest, strongest one you can find. You may regret spending the money on it later, simply because you won't know better. If you buy less, you will soon find out why you should have bought the more expensive one, and why they are more expensive.
David from jax

 

[Spiveyman]

Great point about the hitch points! Bush Hog uses a "triple lug" that you can see in this picture. There are three lugs with holes, the outside is Cat II, the two inside are Cat I. The pin is both Cat I & II, which is nice because you don't have to use bushings for Cat II, and you get the strength of the Cat II pin rather than just a Cat I with a bushing. I have a heavy duty boom pole like this as well.




I think I've just gone from inquiring, to selling.

 

[jbrumberg]

Captured lower link pins are easier to attach and appear to provide additonal support. At least with my GB60. Jay

 

[firemanpat2910]

I agree with the last few posters. My united HD box blade has the same type of mounts. and I have never had a problem. I have several buddies with lighter duty versions and have welded, hammered and hot knifed on all of them. The box blade leads a terrible life, all you ever do is abuse it, drag it through the dirt, slam into stuff with it and see how much dirt it will pull until the tractor tires spin. Find the strongest one you can.

 

[MacLawn]

I too, seem to have the ability to tear up an iron locomotive with me bare hands - at least my Dad used to tell me that!

Okay, what size box blade would my John Deere 2210 handle? That is the next attachment I need, and been looking. Totally new to tractors. My land is GA red clay, some small rocks - and I have about 150' of gravel driveway to maintain. Plus, all the other neat things I can find to do, such as make a trail through the woods on my place, etc...

 

[3RRL]

...snip...The 400#'s looks about right for the TSC version, not a very strong top link section as 3RRL found out.

Hi Spivey,
I don't have the TSC version, I have the hydraulic geared 84" Cat II 3RRL brand boxblade. It weighs just shy of 1,000lbs now.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I talked to the guy who's putting the FEL on and he has a couple of options for me in the industrial range, 84", weighs about 710#'s for about $700 and change.

FWIW - an 84" box weighing 710lbs is still two steps away from being an industrial box scraper. That's enough weight to be reasonably solid, but definitely not for industrial type usage. Look at the Woods or Cammond industrial scrapers for comparison.

Also, I strongly support the comments about the benefits of a clevis style hitch, at least for strength. I have a scarifier (alone, not as part of a BB) with the other style that's only supported at one end of each pin, and I am constantly bending pins. In one case I also bent the 3/4" steel plate that the pin bolts into. I don't think this would be happening if the implement had a clevis hitch. Curiously, the other brand's version of the same implement does have a clevis attachment. Go figure! Wish I had bought brand Y...

 

[jbrumberg]

I too, seem to have the ability to tear up an iron locomotive with me bare hands - at least my Dad used to tell me that!

Okay, what size box blade would my John Deere 2210 handle? That is the next attachment I need, and been looking. Totally new to tractors. My land is GA red clay, some small rocks - and I have about 150' of gravel driveway to maintain. Plus, all the other neat things I can find to do, such as make a trail through the woods on my place, etc...

MacLawn:

The general "Rule" is 1 foot per 5 HP, but it also depends on soil type, primary box blade use (light grading or heavy dirt moving), obstructions (ie roots and immovable objects), tractor weight, 4WD/MFWD, and tire type (traction). There are many, many posts here in TBN related to box blades. The numerous posts do make for interesting reading. I would recommend that you do get a box blade that is wider than your tire width. Based on what you have stated you could probably handle a 60" if your 3PH can handle the weight of the box blade. Jay

 

[Spiveyman]

I don't have the TSC version, I have the hydraulic geared 84" Cat II 3RRL brand boxblade. It weighs just shy of 1,000lbs now.

Ha! Well, I didn't mean that you had the exact TSC model, but remembered your stories about making your original top link section into a pretzel and having to rig up your own beefy A-frame. My comment was a compliment in disguise. You do have the coolest BB I've ever seen, but until you start selling those things on Ebay, I figure I'm stuck with whatever I can find locally.

an 84" box weighing 710lbs is still two steps away from being an industrial box scraper. That's enough weight to be reasonably solid, but definitely not for industrial type usage. Look at the Woods or Cammond industrial scrapers for comparison.

I stand corrected. The Bush Hog version 84" is about 710 lbs, but yes, the Woods Extreme-duty 84" is 1005 lbs! Wow.

Well, I stopped by to pay for the FEL and look at the BB this guy sells. I didn't get to bring the tractor home today as there was a leak in one of my remotes and I wanted to them to check it out, but I did check out their BB's. They are made by someone in TN, American Metals, or something like that. From what I could tell it was extremely well made, very thick metal compared to the others I've seen. It also had an A-frame similar to 3RRL's and it had very strong braces in the corners that I haven't seen on these other units. When I bring it home I'll take some pictures of it.

 

[john_bud]

Spivey, sounds like you picked your winner! It's amazing that "saving" money on a cheap 400# box can wind up being more $$$ as you spend money trying to fix it, then beef it up then finally sell it for scrap and buy one appropriate for the tasks and tractor. You are smart to spend a bit more up front and just go for one that works now and in the future.

By the way, my 66" wide Gannon Landscaper (by woods) is 970#.
If you want to see the real industrial boxes go to the Woods Industrial side and look at the High Back hydraulic scrapers. IIRC, 84" is 1600# or so. Cammond is making a close replica of those boxed and they look good.


jb