Questions about Grading Scraper Operation

[s219]

s219, 3-pt all the way down...how does that stop the box blade from continuing to dig deeper & deeper; rather than just grading? At least for me, that's what always happens unless I am working the T-N-T constantly? I am always eager to learn better techniques. thanks, Greg

Sounds like you have your box angle set too aggressively. You need to adjust the top link to reduce the amount of bite and then the box will not submarine on you. On a box blade with dual cutting edges (i.e., forward and reverse), shortening the top link will make the forward cutting edge bite more. Lengthening the top link will make it bite less. When you lengthen it a lot, the forward cutting edge stops biting all together (i.e., it comes off the ground) and the rear cutting edge feathers. That is great for a final touch when grading/smoothing.

With trial and error, I can find the whole range of bite for a box blade, and then I set the lock nut on my toplink as a reference. From there, I can adjust the toplink by eyeballing the threads and nut, and know how it's going to behave. Fine adjustments (3-4 turns) are enough to really fine tune how the box blade behaves.

When doing my driveway, I normally start with mild bite, enough to knock off the high spots and carry some material in the box (to redistribute to low spots). Then adjust from there as needed. For a final pass, I normally set the angle to feather the back edge and smooth the gravel.

The only time I've had a box really dig in and submarine was when I set the angle very aggressively to strip off some topsoil. It worked well for that. But that angle is way way more aggressive than I use for grading my driveway.

 

[Gregster613]

Thanks for the advice s219, it makes much sense and I'll just have to practice more and more and more! I have used the back blade for my final grading and it worked quite well, but getting that first cut off "level" has been (and continues) a real challenge. Of course, that gives more seat time - good thing -- but it's aggravating seat time when I need to re-do/re-do/re-do the same patch of ground -bad thing! I'll get the hang of it eventually and now that I'm thinking properly about the effects, maybe even sooner than later. Ha! Thanks, Greg