JimGnitecki
New member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2006
- Messages
- 16
I imagine many of you know that a Grademaster
(Grademaster Blade Tractor 3 Point Hitch Scraper)
does a much better job of repairing and grooming driveway than a regular box blade.
When I bought mine recently, the JD dealer was surprised to see that alhtough it works fine with the 3 point hitch, it would not attach to the imatch. Thus quick on/off was not possible. Apparently, SOME Grademaster models line right up with an iMatch, but others do not. I think it depends on the size of the Grademaster.
I really wanted that quick change feature, as I anticipate using the Grademaster often (we have slope on our property, that often makes driveway re-grooming necessary when we get our Texas gully washers).
The dealership driver who delivered it and helped me get oit mounted noted that it was only the top mount that did not quite align (similar really to the OLD style JD ballast boxes not aligning with an iMatch at the top mount). He said I should simply ask the dealership to modify it.
I did.
The shop cut off the "factory" Grademaster top mount "ears", welded new ones at a slightly different height, drilled them using an in-stock iMatch as a precision guide, and then repainted the area with JD Green paint, for an almost perfect match (you really have to be looking to note the difference).
Total cost was about $144.
The Grademaster now slips on and off just like any other rear-mounted attachment!
By the way, the Grademaster makes GREAT ballast, as it weighs about 550 pounds, and is much more compact than say a rotary cutter. I've had good success using it, along with fluid filled tires, with my 300CX loader.
Jim G
(Grademaster Blade Tractor 3 Point Hitch Scraper)
does a much better job of repairing and grooming driveway than a regular box blade.
When I bought mine recently, the JD dealer was surprised to see that alhtough it works fine with the 3 point hitch, it would not attach to the imatch. Thus quick on/off was not possible. Apparently, SOME Grademaster models line right up with an iMatch, but others do not. I think it depends on the size of the Grademaster.
I really wanted that quick change feature, as I anticipate using the Grademaster often (we have slope on our property, that often makes driveway re-grooming necessary when we get our Texas gully washers).
The dealership driver who delivered it and helped me get oit mounted noted that it was only the top mount that did not quite align (similar really to the OLD style JD ballast boxes not aligning with an iMatch at the top mount). He said I should simply ask the dealership to modify it.
I did.
The shop cut off the "factory" Grademaster top mount "ears", welded new ones at a slightly different height, drilled them using an in-stock iMatch as a precision guide, and then repainted the area with JD Green paint, for an almost perfect match (you really have to be looking to note the difference).
Total cost was about $144.
The Grademaster now slips on and off just like any other rear-mounted attachment!
By the way, the Grademaster makes GREAT ballast, as it weighs about 550 pounds, and is much more compact than say a rotary cutter. I've had good success using it, along with fluid filled tires, with my 300CX loader.
Jim G
