Hinged Box Blade vs. Fixed edge Box Blade

[CTMassey]

Just thought i'd get some thoughts on this. if I have the opportunity to find a used one theyre usually a fixed cutting edge. I'll mostly be doing medium duty repairs to driveway and access to woods for firewood....

 

[TripleR]

I have both and both work well, the ones with hinged blades are usually heavier duty and more expensive. I got by many, many years with a standard box blade without hinged plate and manually adjusted scarifiers. I prefer the hinged blade, but a good heavy scraper properly sized to your tractor should fit you needs quite well with or without the hinged blade.

A search will bring up a lot of useful old threads on this subject.

I find a hydraulic top link helps a lot with a box scraper.

 

[Ken45101]

I prefer the fixed back blade, not the hinged. That way, I can tilt the bb up enough in front to ride on the rear blade for "only hitting the high spots".

 

[TripleR]

I prefer the fixed back blade, not the hinged. That way, I can tilt the bb up enough in front to ride on the rear blade for "only hitting the high spots".

The thing I like about mine is that I can bolt the rear blade in place so I can use it either way.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep Larry, mine's like yours. If I'm doing rough work I like it hinged. Allows the front cutter to take a bigger bite. If I'm doing delicate finish work like leveling gravel I like the rear blade bolted solid, lots better control. Also as Ken states, having the ability to tilt the BB with a hydraulic top link makes a world of difference as well.

Larry and I are grossly spoiled, our BBs also have hydraulic operated scarifiers. With Top n Tilt added you can do almost anything with it without getting off the tractor.

 

[TripleR]

Yep Larry, mine's like yours. If I'm doing rough work I like it hinged. Allows the front cutter to take a bigger bite. If I'm doing delicate finish work like leveling gravel I like the rear blade bolted solid, lots better control. Also as Ken states, having the ability to tilt the BB with a hydraulic top link makes a world of difference as well.

Larry and I are grossly spoiled, our BBs also have hydraulic operated scarifiers. With Top n Tilt added you can do almost anything with it without getting off the tractor.

Expensive, but one the very best investments I ever made as we do quite a bit of dirt work.

 

[bcp]

A fixed rear blade makes it hard to cut on on a ground transition where the blade is in an "upward" position in relation to the tractor, like going down the bottom part of a hillside. No matter how short the top link is, the front blade won't cut.

Bruce

 

[KYDan]

I prefer a rollover blade to either of the standard boxes and I have used all three over the years. You can flip it backwards for dragging out the high spots on the drive and the increased weight helps as well. Plus, you can use the scarifiers independently of the scraper which allows digger digging and smoothing without the hassle of removing them. More money, but over time it is insignificant.

 

[TripleR]

I prefer a rollover blade to either of the standard boxes and I have used all three over the years. You can flip it backwards for dragging out the high spots on the drive and the increased weight helps as well. Plus, you can use the scarifiers independently of the scraper which allows digger digging and smoothing without the hassle of removing them. More money, but over time it is insignificant.

Yeah that is a whole different thing and there are lots of threads on them, for those not familiar here is just one. I knew little about them before other members were kind enough to explain them. I really like my HR3584 for use with a cab tractor, but can see where some people like the rollover.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/98520-gannon-rollover-box-blade-scraper.html

 

[Piston]

Like Larry and Richard, I also have a heavy duty box blade with hinged rear blade, that can be bolted into place when needed/wanted. The hydraulic scarifiers and Top N Tilit cylinders are my favorite aspects to the box blade, moreso than the hinged blade, it definitely spoils you. :thumbsup:

I've never bolted my hinged blade in the fixed position, I've never felt the need, but I will try it someday just to see the difference. Personally I like having the option.

 

[CTMassey]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[coldfingers]

What brand of hinged box blades do you have that can be pinned shut? That sounds like the way to go.

 

[TripleR]

What brand of hinged box blades do you have that can be pinned shut? That sounds like the way to go.

Probably have to check websites, my LP can and I am sure there are others, I just know the model numbers.

 

[Piston]

Like Triple R, mine is also a Landpride, the HRL 3578 (L) means it's the lowback design and (H) means hydraulic. I felt that the hinged blade type, that could be bolted into the fixed position, would be idea as well. However, I've never gotten around to fix the rear blade so it doesn't hinge, I've never felt the need. One of these days when I do some fine grading I'll probably try it.

 

[BukitCase]

I have the older Gannon before Woods took it over - basically identical to mine, except the newer ones have replaceable front wear sections on the sides - mine, ya drag out the welder :=)

http://www.woodsequipment.com/productDetails.aspx?id=300

My rear blade is hinged and boltable, but like Piston I've yet to try it locked down. Right now I have hydraulic rippers and toplink, by next year I hope to expand rear remotes so I can also have hydraulic tilt.

It's really handy to be able to make a pass or two with rippers, then raise 'em and take a few clean up passes without ever leaving the seat (Lazy??!? Who said that??!? I prefer to think of it as just being efficient ... Steve

 

[Piston]

It's really handy to be able to make a pass or two with rippers, then raise 'em and take a few clean up passes without ever leaving the seat (Lazy??!? Who said that??!? ;) I prefer to think of it as just being efficient ... Steve

I couldn't agree more :thumbsup:

 

[parkgt]

With a hydraulic top link you can get much of the same effect a without hydraulic rippers. I can rotate my BB back to get the teeth off the ground or rotate forward to sink them in. While not the full effect of true hydraulic rippers it gets the job done without having to run a third remote.

Hinged rear blades are very nice for grading finer material. Had it and now don't; and miss it.

 

[Ken45101]

With a hydraulic top link you can get much of the same effect a without hydraulic rippers. I can rotate my BB back to get the teeth off the ground or rotate forward to sink them in.

Likewise. Seems to work fine.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

You guys realize that while rotating your BB to get the rippers out and rotating them forward to get them in, you loose the angle that they were designed to do the best ripping at. While this may work, and I'm all for having things work, it is not the optimum use of the implements design IMO.

Just my :2cents:

 

[Ken45101]

It's not that much of an angle change.

Besides for the $1000+ difference, I'm willing to live with a little less than optimum angle.