My version of SkunkWerx's gauge wheels

[bjcsc]

Instead of adding a receiver hitch, you could just use a piece of steel tube with a 2" inside measurement. The 2" tube would just slide right in.

Sometimes yes, most times no. Most often, the seam for larger tubing runs down the center of one side. It would have to be ground out with a long reach rotary file ($$) and die grinder (not fun). Some tubing has the seam in a corner, but most does not, esp. larger sizes. You can get seamless, but it's $$, hard to find, and usually 1/4" wall. With 2"x2"x6" receiver tube ready to weld on at $12.99 you can't beat it...

 

[excelagator]

the seam for larger tubing runs down the center of one side. It would have to be ground out with a long reach rotary file ($$) and die grinder (not fun). Some tubing has the seam in a corner, but most does not, esp. larger sizes. You can get seamless, but it's $$, hard to find, and usually 1/4" wall. With 2"x2"x6" receiver tube ready to weld on at $12.99 you can't beat it...

Smart man!!

Dan

 

[lhfarm]

Just a quick update - Last weekend, I welded two more of the 6" tubes to the sides of my old box blade. It worked like a charm. I really needed the box blade to clean up some pot holes that the rake wasn't cutting. Changing from the rake to the box blade is a snap.

My old back blade is next, but it won't be so simple. I'm going to have to build a frame, something like SkunkWerx used.

Thanks to all who started and built this design. It is a great idea.

 

[SkunkWerX]

LH,

Nicely rigged on the BB!
They probably work very well being out there at the edge of the implement.

Let us know how they perform.

 

[lhfarm]

LH,

Nicely rigged on the BB!
They probably work very well being out there at the edge of the implement.

Let us know how they perform.

I've never been happy with this box blade. I purchased it at a sale a few years ago and have only used it a few times without good results. I have been thinking of trading/selling it. I thought I'd give the wheels a shot. I couldn't believe the difference. It was like a different implement.

My drive is about 1400', going up a couple hundred feet in that distance. It goes up, makes a sharp 90 degree turn, up some more, then another slightly greater than 90 degree, then up some more. The first 90 degree turn frightens the whatever out of drivers, who slow, then spin their wheels trying to make the curve. So I get good size pot holes at that point.

The rake works great, but I needed more to shave the tops off the pot holes and the box blade worked perfectly for that - without being too aggressive. The wheels let me set just the right level. Trying to use it in the past had resulted in a less than perfect fix. I'm sure I might have learned to just use the 3pt, but the wheels just made it simple.

Thanks again for that first post.

 

[sbailey]

Thank you for all of the great information that is on this site. I have a question about the gauge wheel fabrication. I started this project and I don't have the square tubing on hand so I started making it out of materials that I do have. I made the receiver out of 2" channel welded together to make a square and was going to use 1 1/2" angle for the extensions to hold the trailer jacks. This slides in and out very easy and has very little play, but after looking at others I am starting to worry about it bending when I use it. I have not welding it to the rake yet so I would like to know if I should change my materials before I weld it to the rake. I am new to welding so this is all a learning experience and good welding practice.

 

[2manyrocks]

by itself, I also wonder if 1 1/2 angle won't bend on you. But if it just slides in and out of your channel and is only welded to the trailer jack, then at least you only have to cut it off the trailer jack when it bends. Then the question is whether you can then use something heavier with your channel or if you'll end up cutting it off, too if you try to use something heavier later?

I can't visualize your materials very well. If you weld the 1 1/2 angle into a tube as well, would it still slide in and out of your welded channel? I wouldn't do one long welded seam or it could warp on you.

I tend to think the better investment of time and money is to just buy tubing and save your present material for a project where you know it's suitable.

Will you be mig or stick welding?

 

[SkunkWerX]

I agree with Toomanyrocks, I would get the tubing.
I don't think the angle steel has the kind of strength you get from tubing.

The gauge wheel arms not only get the down force, but they also get side to side stresses. I would be very leary that the angle steel would twist eventually.

 

[sbailey]

Thanks for the response. I will wait and get the tubing so that I don't do this twice. I will be stick welding. Next is the pulverizer?????

 

[2manyrocks]

Haven't actually used it yet, but here is a hybrid somewhere between SkunkwerX and MadReferee's designs. I used the stock blade once and immediately decided to give the gauge wheels a try.