Finally built a laser grading rig using my box blade.

[jenkinsph]

I ran across this design also, if I was going to use it both ways much I’d do it this way, simply raise it and you have your 3 pt. View attachment 545683View attachment 545684

I am doing mine very similar to your pictures. I will have a 2 5/16 coupler which will be used for highway use too. Tilting with a ball hitch is less strain on the pins and having a ball on my tractor drawbar is okay as I never use it.

I will have the swivel tongue jack and hydraulic cylinder for pitch front to rear. Plan on using the top link cylinder here.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Yes, I used a top link to support my tongue , so i could adjust the angle, but I would use a hydraulic cylinder for doing what you are. The ball hitch should work out good, I use different stuff on my draw bar so I just built a swivel clevis. You’ve done a very nice job on your build.

 

[jenkinsph]

Very impressive Steve. Thank you for all the detailed answers to all the questions. You have made quite a commitment but if you are expecting +/- 1/2" that would seem to make it all worthwhile with the irrigation requirements you are dealing with. Thanks for sharing.

gg

Gordon,
My thinking is that tolerance is the sweet spot, good enough to get good results watering the fields. Tighter tolerance can be reached but would take more time and passes including rolling. The jobs in most cases won't cover the cost of Tighter tolerances. Diminishing returns ...

Thanks for the responses too.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Do you rough grade the area first with other equipment or is the natural area flat enough that you can start out with the laser system. How big of an area do you cover with one tripod set-up ?

gg

 

[jenkinsph]

Do you rough grade the area first with other equipment or is the natural area flat enough that you can start out with the laser system. How big of an area do you cover with one tripod set-up ?

gg

It all depends on the field some are closer to grade than others. The field that I am testing out the grader has about 1100 yards to move. I have already moved about 600 yards in the first day. Another day should do it. Right now I have about 20 acres to complete with a total of 3400 yards of dirt to move. Key here is to move the dirt the shortest distance possible.

On some jobs I call in a large dozer for bulk moving and long trenching jobs I call in a 40 ton excavator. I also have magnetic mount receivers with magnetic mount cab display for these excavators. That helps the operators dig the ditches on grade without guessing. Mount the receivers on the dipper stick and adjust the height to match the laser and away we go. Works with my backhoe too.

The laser can work about an 1800 ft. radius but usually most jobs are much shorter. I am in the mountains with lots of grade changes.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Steve, how do you figure the amount of cubic yards to be moved?

 

[jenkinsph]

Steve, how do you figure the amount of cubic yards to be moved?

Survey the field on a 50 foot grid and you can determine the volumes of cut and fill. Some areas that are below grade have to be filled. Other areas above grade need to be cut. You need to balance the cuts and fills so that you can grade the field to the proper slope while moving the least amount of dirt.

 

[Ortimber]

Wow, very impressive! That would've come in handy so many times over the years. I'm drooling...

 

[Piston]

Steve, you are going to wonder how you ever got by without this in the past!

 

[Piston]

I ran across this design also, if I was going to use it both ways much I’d do it this way, simply raise it and you have your 3 pt. View attachment 545683View attachment 545684

This is an excellent idea, and would be a great way to make the BB1284 quick hitch compatible, by mounting the 3 point mounts on the tongue in the correct location to line up with the quick hitch. I may use this.