Leveling Dirt

[KubotaTerry]

I bought a Kubota L3400 w/ FEL and a box blade. The main job I use it for is grading up the arena that the daughter uses for practicing barrel racing. The box blade works pretty well. I set the tines to go in nice and deep and break up the ground and the box does a good job of leaving it smooth.

The problem I have is that in a couple of places the ground is not flat and level. There are a few small high spots. I find as I go over the high spots with the box blade, that as the front wheels start up the incline, the box digs in more. Then as the front wheels start down the high spot, the box raises and dumps the dirt. This has the effect of making the hills bigger and bigger with each pass. Definitely NOT what I want.

I also tried using the FEL with the blade tipped all the way forward to try to scrape the tops off the high spots and fill in the low spots, but again, as the tractor starts up the hill, the loader raises and misses most of the dirt, and as the tractor starts down the other side, the loader digs in and deepens the low side.

What's the trick to getting it level and keeping it level?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Terry

 

[KubotaTerry]

I bought a Kubota L3400 w/ FEL and a box blade. The main job I use it for is grading up the arena that the daughter uses for practicing barrel racing. The box blade works pretty well. I set the tines to go in nice and deep and break up the ground and the box does a good job of leaving it smooth.

The problem I have is that in a couple of places the ground is not flat and level. There are a few small high spots. I find as I go over the high spots with the box blade, that as the front wheels start up the incline, the box digs in more. Then as the front wheels start down the high spot, the box raises and dumps the dirt. This has the effect of making the hills bigger and bigger with each pass. Definitely NOT what I want.

I also tried using the FEL with the blade tipped all the way forward to try to scrape the tops off the high spots and fill in the low spots, but again, as the tractor starts up the hill, the loader raises and misses most of the dirt, and as the tractor starts down the other side, the loader digs in and deepens the low side.

What's the trick to getting it level and keeping it level?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Terry

 

[Highbeam]

The trick is to go from different directions. If the mound is too big for that then you could use the 3ph lever to raise the box to avoid digging a hole and lower it back down to knock down the high spot. When the ground isn't pretty smooth, the BB is not an autopilot machine. I have actually worn the paint off right beside my 3ph height lever where my hand rests since I find that the BB needs a steady hand and lots of attention until the ripples are small and then it can be left alone.

 

[Highbeam]

The trick is to go from different directions. If the mound is too big for that then you could use the 3ph lever to raise the box to avoid digging a hole and lower it back down to knock down the high spot. When the ground isn't pretty smooth, the BB is not an autopilot machine. I have actually worn the paint off right beside my 3ph height lever where my hand rests since I find that the BB needs a steady hand and lots of attention until the ripples are small and then it can be left alone.

 

[KubotaTerry]

Thanks for the reply. I tried a bit of attacking it from different directions, but a couple of spots are up next to the fence so I can't come in from the "side". I can probably use the 3-pt level control to get things straightened out with a little practice. Hopefully once i get it level, it will tend to stay that way. At least it gives me an excuse to go play with my new tractor a bit more.....

 

[KubotaTerry]

Thanks for the reply. I tried a bit of attacking it from different directions, but a couple of spots are up next to the fence so I can't come in from the "side". I can probably use the 3-pt level control to get things straightened out with a little practice. Hopefully once i get it level, it will tend to stay that way. At least it gives me an excuse to go play with my new tractor a bit more.....

 

[DCS]

Make sure the BB is in the float position. This will allow the box blade to stay level while the front end moves up and down. (up to a point anyway)

Another thing I do is too attack the problem area in reverse. Start off on a flat surface with the box blade just barely above the ground level. When you back up to the hump, the box blade will make contact before the tractor. Like bull dozing.

 

[DCS]

Make sure the BB is in the float position. This will allow the box blade to stay level while the front end moves up and down. (up to a point anyway)

Another thing I do is too attack the problem area in reverse. Start off on a flat surface with the box blade just barely above the ground level. When you back up to the hump, the box blade will make contact before the tractor. Like bull dozing.

 

[cisco]

Yeah, we all have that problem. As per other posts, you need an active hand on the 3ph lever, or you can just bulldoze with the box blade by driving your tractor in reverse (that gets real tiring, especially on your neck and back).

 

[cisco]

Yeah, we all have that problem. As per other posts, you need an active hand on the 3ph lever, or you can just bulldoze with the box blade by driving your tractor in reverse (that gets real tiring, especially on your neck and back).