Not sure how to level a large area

[RobJ]

As you approach a high spot, the front wheels of the tractor go up first, making the box blade dig in deeper and scoop up a box full of dirt. Then when the back wheels track over the high spot and the front wheels are heading down hill, the box blade goes up in the air and empties its load at the top of the hill. In no time at all, I took a relatively flat arena and turned it into a motocross track!!!!

A little technique is involved. If the high spots are that high then you need to go over them with the BB up, then set it down and take off the top. Takes a few trips depending on the size. In the pic below(bummer no before images), on the left side where the clay is darker, there was a hump there about 1' or better high. Like someone dumped a FEL load of dirt there 10 years ago. I had to get on top of it, drop the BB down to get a bit on it. Took several passes with the scrapers down to bust it up. But once I got the rought spots down it was going over and over to get it pretty good. My first real BB effort besides just dragging an ATV trail. In thepic to the right of the T-post going up the hill there was a ditch cut there. Just in behihd the T-post was a washed out hole about 18" deep, couldn't mow across that.

Rob

 

[JerryG]

Since you have a rear blade, set it just barely off the ground and start going in circles. If you have large ditches in the plot, go across them at a 45* angle. Don't adjust the blade for that setting. As you go around and around you will knock off the high spots into the low places. It will take a while, but it works well.

 

[HomeBrew2]

At least I'm not the only one with this problem! ....

Nope, everybody has/had the prob. It only took me one session with each of the box blade, rear blade and rake to see that I didn't have the time, patience, skill or desire to mess with it. I made a set of gauge wheels that will interchange with all 3 implements. Now I just sit back, drink beer and day dream while I baby sit the machine while IT works. Life is REAL good now

 

[N80]

It took me a while but it works just the way Soundguy describes. You may even have to spend some time setting the speed at which the 3pt raises and get used to that speed. It takes some anticipation. It is now second nature and I've gotten pretty good at driving forward while looking behind me.

However, I have not ever tried to get anything as level as a riding ring. Most of the work I do is just general leveling (dirt roads, trails, small fields and clearings).

 

[hazmat]

The guage wheels help a bunch. I got much better results with a rake & wheels on my pool removal project than with the rear blade & no wheels.

However, I was in a rush & I was really only getting the area "flat" but not "level". By "flat" I mean locally smooth. By "not level" I mean I still had an area that was high & one that was low. I couldn't see the difference unless I stood back a bit. The ability of the tool w/ guage wheels to level is in proportion to it's wheelbase (why road graders are so looooong). Anyway, If I weren't rushed, I would have stood back to guage generally high & low spots & then marked them with spray paint to add/subtract dirt as necessary.

I did the rough grade w/ the rented hoe & 4 in 1 bucket. Scraped off the high spots with the "clam", spread it rough with the "dozer". Smothed it out by backdragging. Then I used my tractor for the finish grade - filled the low spot with the "spoils" from the rake - It's still a little low, but better

You can see the low spot up & to the right from the hoe (straight under the apple tree)

 

[Egon]

Levelling is no fun and is not easy. It also takes time with the type of equipment we use.

In your case I would suggest tilling, the going over the area with a long drag from many different directions and the repeating this senario.

After the second time as above use your backblade with GAUGE WHEELS to run a windrow of material back and forth across the area to be leveled. Make sure the windrow can be easily handled by the tractor. You will be able to start seeing the level process as the blade will make shiny spots and other spots will have loose dirt. [ It's cutting and filling as it carries the windrow.] Doing this repeatedly will distribute the dirt and also pack it evenly.

All this takes time and may require what seems to be usless repetion. It's the way a Grader operator finshes a road to grade but he has the advantage of much greater wheel base, many more blade contols and a packer to help.

 

[circlelake]

Could a person run a level string across one end and follow that by lowering and lifting the box blade? Or possibly a laser light of some type one that spins like brick layers use. Just throwing out some thoughts as I've got to tackle the problem in the next couple years.

 

[Birdhunter1]

You could use a string but most likely you'll end up running over it so many times it will e sagging in the middle or you'll rip it out.
As far as the lasers, they make a laser setup specifically for this type of work, there is a mast that goes on the back of the scraper and there is a monitor and control unit inside the tractor, but you're talking big bucks. You'll see these on big 4wd tractors pulling multiple scrapers.

For what you may be wanting a transit would work well. As for the laser, if you were talking about possibly putting a pole on your tractor and watching the laser line it would be hard to see during daylight hours.

 

[3RRL]

Biggest thing is anticipating the bumps and valleys while dragging a box blade. Even slowing down to match the adjustment of the box blade to what the tractor is doing. Practice and experience with it makes a big difference. If you've got noticeable humps, concentrate on knocking them down instead of just driving over them.

Same with the valleys. Drag some dirt into them to fill them up. By attacking the terrain that way, spot by spot, you've prepared it well enough to now drag the box blade over longer sections. Soon you will have it all pretty level and smooth. I get great results knocking down the humps by dozing in reverse. Then I drag that dirt into the valleys.

 

[DCS]

Nope, everybody has/had the prob. It only took me one session with each of the box blade, rear blade and rake to see that I didn't have the time, patience, skill or desire to mess with it. I made a set of gauge wheels that will interchange with all 3 implements. Now I just sit back, drink beer and day dream while I baby sit the machine while IT works. Life is REAL good now

Are there any plans for the guage wheels, I may try that.