Gannon 88 HSD Box Scraper , Work Saver CAT 2 quick hitch, and Hydraulic Top Link

[TripleR]

Definitely hard to justify a second one when you already have one that works especially as you say have wants that exceed your $$$,$$$,$$$ My want list is quite large as well .

How well does your M8540 pull the 10' drag scraper my buddy down the road has talked about getting one to help maintain the 3/4 of a mile or so of private road he lives at the end of.

It does a really good job and it's great for road maintenance. We bought it twenty years ago when we built out house to prep our yard after the dozers left then used it on a couple more houses, moto-cross track, firing range etc. with three different tractors, Case CX80, Massey Ferguson 375 and the M8540.

We don't use it all that often, but when needed it works great and is really easy to use.

 

[xring100]

Well yesterday was the big day it only took 4 weeks for the box scraper to show up as it was built to order with a build date of March 2014. It took a week to get the the 2nd Remote and Quick Hitch.

This was another instance where having longer forks is better I Have 48" and wish i had 60" i was able to lift the 1400 lb (1297 lbs box scraper and 100 lb pallet) pallet off the truck it was questionable with the 8ft pallet balanced precariously on the end of my forks. I used a Strap to band the pallet and scrapper to the fork frame so it could not tip forward. Shortly after unloading is when the plans derailed and the cursing began. See next post

2nd Valve = easy to install <30 minutes. The cable and lever going into the console = different story this was designed to be installed by someone with much smaller hands than I. You will require a Shorty wrench or Crows foot

 

[Green Power]

Good looking box blade!

 

[xring100]

The fun begins
after unloading i spun the tractor around all excited to use my new quick hitch and try out the hydraulic top link. I get the two lower hooks lined up start lifting and then all of a sudden the lower hooks. Oh and the hydraulic ports were completely covered by the cross bar on the QH. At this point i was furious at woods for making and inaccurate statement on their website. I looked through the PDF of the owners manual and was not surprised to find no mention of QH compatibility. I drove back to the barn to make sure it was not the hitch and hooked up to my Cat2/3 bush hog with no issues.

I called woods tech support and suggested at the very least they take this statement off or bring more clarification to the ASAE compatibility I almost think it might fit a CAT 3 Narrow hitch as they have a much taller height but maintain pretty close to Cat 2 Width

I tested it out on the road today It worked wonderful didn't take too long to get situated using it. But as many have mentioned the Hydraulic Top Link should almost be required i would have gotten off the tractor 15 times to dial it in or just gotten frustrated with it. I experimented changing the angle and found it very usefull to control the bite. for Back grading its necessary to lengthen the top link on this model since it does not have a Hinged Tailgate

 

[xring100]

Good looking box blade!

Thanks I really like it definitely a well built piece of equipment. I see why they are so highly regarded

 

[94BULLITT]

That is definitely a nice box blade. What is Woods going to do about it not being QH compatible? I know that is one of the main reasons you chose this box blade.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I'm pretty sure you can turn the hydraulic cylinder around so the ports are on the back side (i.e., facing the back of the box blade instead of facing the tractor) and route the hoses around and back to the tractor. That's the way mine was on my old used one I bought, which looks similar to yours even though mine is decades older than yours.

If you do that, however, you have to be careful to make sure the scarifier assembly doesn't hit a hose connection when the scarifier assembly is being raised or lowered.

Wish I had better pics. You can kind of see it here. This is when I had hoses that were way too long. I've since turned the cylinder around so the ports are facing towards the tractor and I've installed much shorter hoses.

 

[jenkinsph]

I really like the Gannon box blades but converting the old style hitch to a quick hitch poses lots of problems as you have shown. Everything else I own is quick hitch compatible with the exception of the box blade. For the last eight years this has been my only use or need for the telescopic links on my tractors. I put up with it because I like everything else about the box blade and didn't want to cut or butcher the thing.

Presently I am converting the box blade to use with my laser leveling business and I am building a tow type tongue which will fold up so that I can use it with the quick attach for 3ph use. Since I am welding on wheels assemblies and masts for the receivers I guess a few more modifications is a mute point. I will post a thread on this in the next month.

I would consider returning the new box blade for one that is compatible while you can. I was under the impression that Gannon has a quick hitch model that works and would check this out further first.

 

[TripleR]

Very nice box scraper.:thumbsup:

 

[xring100]

I'm pretty sure you can turn the hydraulic cylinder around so the ports are on the back side (i.e., facing the back of the box blade instead of facing the tractor) and route the hoses around and back to the tractor. That's the way mine was on my old used one I bought, which looks similar to yours even though mine is decades older than yours.

If you do that, however, you have to be careful to make sure the scarifier assembly doesn't hit a hose connection when the scarifier assembly is being raised or lowered.

Wish I had better pics. You can kind of see it here. This is when I had hoses that were way too long. I've since turned the cylinder around so the ports are facing towards the tractor and I've installed much shorter hoses.

Thanks i thought about turning the cylinder around as well the problem i see is that if i move the top link brackets to be where i need i will block access to being able to service the cylinder. I might look at it a little closer but i think i might deal with it at least its a clevis style so all i have to do is back up to it and use the telescopic links. I don't have to adjust the stabilizers

That is definitely a nice box blade. What is Woods going to do about it not being QH compatible? I know that is one of the main reasons you chose this box blade.

Hey Roger Thanks At this point i'm going to deal with it. I don't feel like hacking up a new piece of equipment. Definitely would have been nice if it had worked.

I really like the Gannon box blades but converting the old style hitch to a quick hitch poses lots of problems as you have shown. Everything else I own is quick hitch compatible with the exception of the box blade. For the last eight years this has been my only use or need for the telescopic links on my tractors. I put up with it because I like everything else about the box blade and didn't want to cut or butcher the thing.


Presently I am converting the box blade to use with my laser leveling business and I am building a tow type tongue which will fold up so that I can use it with the quick attach for 3ph use. Since I am welding on wheels assemblies and masts for the receivers I guess a few more modifications is a mute point. I will post a thread on this in the next month.

I would consider returning the new box blade for one that is compatible while you can. I was under the impression that Gannon has a quick hitch model that works and would check this out further first.

I agree this was my favorite box scrapper I don't want to modify it. Definitely not going to return it as this one made the top of my list for the other reasons as well. Not a single other brand list their models as being QH compatible. FFC, Cammond, Monroe Tuffline , Land Pride at least not that i uncovered while doing my research.