MODIFY BRUSH HOG SOME MORE

3RRL · Oct 25, 2007

Jake,
Thanks for the great input and subsoiler photo. I also appreciate the compliment on my box blade modification.
I have been looking into getting some kind of plow or subsoiler or something besides my boxblade rippers for my food plot anyway. That is a great idea for the Quick Hitch Gauge wheels.

Question about the boxblade gauge wheels.
How much travel should I need. In other words, how much below the cutting edge of the box should the wheels go? They are adjustable, don't forget, so they can go completely up out of the way when not in use. I've drawn them so they go 5" below right now when max down.... or another way to put it is the box is lifted up 5" by the gauge wheels. I presume that is more than enough, but I don't know for sure?
Thanks,

MJPetersen · Oct 26, 2007

Grrrr said:
Your Box Blade really is becoming the ultimate version of one
You should send a picture of it to the manufacturer. See what they think of it

The greater question would be if they even recognize their baby. They would not even know it as theirs!!

Mike

PS. I would think that 5 inches would be more than adequate. If you needed more than that just pick up the whole thing with the 3pt. (that is if the front of the tractor will stay on the ground then.

)

Grrrr · Oct 26, 2007

I had forgotten that you could lift it completely up out of the working postition wy hydraulics.

I think 5" would be fine too, can't think why you would need more than that with a BB.

SkunkWerX · Oct 26, 2007

Rob,

I gotta love the Quick Connect multi-purpose mod to your wheels!

With that improvement, all anyone would need to do would be install the receiver piece on their implement of choice. Chaninging from implement to implement should be child's play!

3 Thumbs UP!!! (anyone got a thumb I can borrow?)

3RRL · Oct 26, 2007

Great news then guys.
That's what I'll shoot for the boxblade then...5 inches. I had it originally designed for the rotary cutter. Therefore on that mount, I can get from zero to 12" cut height. It makes more sense to have a little more travel on the rotary cutter than the boxblade.
Thanks,

john_bud · Oct 27, 2007

Rob,

The height question is going to need input on the soil condition from you. The box will be (guessing?) 1250 pounds with all of your add ons. The pressure on the wheels will sink them into the ground. Much more if it is on a later pass, so your 5" design may only net you 1" or less on soft soils. On hard pack, it may net 4.5". Only your soil dresser knows for sure.

jb

3RRL · Oct 28, 2007

john_bud said:
Rob,

The height question is going to need input on the soil condition from you. The box will be (guessing?) 1250 pounds with all of your add ons. The pressure on the wheels will sink them into the ground. Much more if it is on a later pass, so your 5" design may only net you 1" or less on soft soils. On hard pack, it may net 4.5". Only your soil dresser knows for sure.

jb

Hmmm....
Dang, you are right. I didn't think of that at all! Thanks for bringing that up John, it would have been a bummer not taking that into consideration. For some reason I pictured myself using it on harder surfaces...duh. I'm sure the wheels will sink down into sand or soft soil with all that weight.

Well, I can mount them lower for a little more travel, since I have to do a "dog leg" (drop down) receiver base for the boxblade anyway. The top of the box is taller than the top of the rotary cutter. So the dog leg has to drop down 3 or 4 more inches than I figured.
Great input John,
Thanks.

MJPetersen · Oct 29, 2007

Maybe you could enlighten me, but I cannot think of a situation that you would need more clearance. If you need more clearance than can be gained by hyd lowering the wheels, just pick it up with the 3pt. (If your tractor can of course.

) Why would you run around with it even 3 inches off the ground? To knock the tops off the gopher mounds?

If you dogleg it lower, you will be putting it down in the way of your fine dozer blade, as the mount will remain even without the wheels themselves. I have seen pics when the dirt is boiling up to the top of the back side of the blade. I think that if mounted lower it will interfere with the work that you do.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Mike

patrick_g · Oct 29, 2007

3RRL said:
What do you think so far?

About the soft terrain considerations. Can't you change the wheels/tires to go for a larger footprint to compensate?

Pat

3RRL · Oct 29, 2007

Mike,
I have been worried about the very thing you brought up.
That is the receiver base mounted to the boxblade getting in the way if I make it welded on. In order for these gauge wheels to work on it, the have to be mounted with a dog leg hanging down the back of the boxblade or they will not touch the ground, if I need more down travel, I would make the dog leg longer. But I don't want anything permanent to interfere with back dozing, since I am the King of back dozing with the boxblade.

I done so much bull dozing in reverse I'm starting to look like a Halibut.

Anyway, my mount for it will have to be another pin on type. It pins onto the boxblade and also onto the Quick Attach Wheels. That way I can take it off when not using the gauge wheels. Problem is how to attach the receiver mount to the boxblade. I'm working on that.

Pat, yeah I could change over the wheels for a bigger print too, but then I'd need to get other wheels. I want to use the same Quick attach wheel system for everything... at least that's what I'm attempting to do.
I'll draw up a couple of ideas.