Box Scraper Repair of a Damaged 3-point hitch on Box Blade

[stevewm]

I seem to have been able to to get the pic posted. First one shows the damaged hitch. At this point the broken brace from the top link to the top of the blade has been cut off. Second one is the worst of the damaged lift arm pin and mount. The 3x3x1/4 angle is split at vertex of the sides and the pin is bent. Both "lift arms" are twisted. The next two photos show the show the new lift arms, the two diagonal braces rather than the single, and the 3x20x1/2 bar that will be bolted to the structure where the lift arms attach by the lift pins. I have a magnetic drill I will use to make the 3/4" holes to bold this all together. As I mentioned it is essentially a copy of the King Kutter configuration. The last four photos are duplicates.

Correction: The center brace for the lift arms is still in place in the photos.

 

[fried1765]

I bought a 6' box blade, Agri- something brand 15 years ago and have been using it to maintain the rocky mile long private road to my house ever since. About a year ago while using the blade as a dozer with the tractor in reverse, the brace from the top of the blade to the top of the center link popped a weld and the blade rotated itself 180 degrees and ended up under the tractor, bending the center and the lower lift arm pin mounts. I got it pulled somewhat back into position with an engine hoist, come-alongs, and a 20 ton porta-power and rewelded. Happened a second time and I again rewelded it but with a more robust weld. Two weeks ago one of the lift arm pin mounts that I had gotten mostly straightened broke somewhat catastrophically. Needed sledge hammers and prybars to get it off the tractor. Was thinking I would go buy a new one as the road needed a lot of work even though the cost for a King Kutter at Tractor Supply was $900. I did notice the King Kutter was not a 100% welded up implement - parts of the hitch were bolted, especially the ones I had bent/broken on mine.
I saw a post on another board that a company called Broken Tractor.com actually carried implement parts and found they actually had King Kutter box blade parts. So I ordered the bent up top link parts. They came two days ago. Prior to that I had cut the old hitch completely off including the lift arm pin mounts. The old mounts/braces were 3"x3"x1/4" angles that were welded to the actual blade and to the cross arms that held the rippers and to the front cross brace. I cut them off at the front cross brace. I then found some 3"x24"x1/2" in the shop. I will bolt them to the existing angle and extend them out 5" so I can connect the top link braces and install the lift pins. I am essentially duplicating the design of the King Kutter. I also replaced the welded brace that goes from the blade to the top link with 2 ea 2"x30"x3/8" 3-pt hitch braces that bolt to the top of the blade and top link.
Everything is clamped together now waiting new bolt holes and maybe a tough of welding to stiffen things. Should be able to finish today. Tried to post photos but doesn't seem to work for me.

I still have an 84" King Kutter blade.
Used it twice!
Bought an EA 6 Way Deluxe Scrape Blade.
A MAJOR upgrade!

If you upgraded your (#7) braces to angle iron, instead of flat stock, you would have a much more robust implement.

 

[3gunr]

From the photos that looks like a very light duty box blade , With all that angle . I would beef the whole thing up. First time i pushed backward with mine i caught a root and stopped the tractor. Bent one of the lift arms , that was the last time i did that.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Yeah.. if I could've seen the pics first.
Just do away with all that angle and replace with square tubing... Much stronger and no worries.

But good work with what your dealing with there op.

 

[CoyPatton]

Keep trying with the photos... if it doesn't work, just ask for help here... I use this Icon to load photos...

View attachment 679533

Also, "...using the blade as a dozer with the tractor in reverse,..." is not how it's made to work. (You are lucky that the box blade failed vs. your 3ph arms). That rear blade is there to smooth dirt out while driving forward (extend the top link so only the rear blade connects with the ground). Now, have I used that blade to push light / loose material where I want, sure I have but have NOT used it as a bull dozer.

I have to totally agree. It is a tractor! NOT A DOZER!
My guess is with that description of abuse to the box blade and folding it under the tractor, if close attention is given to an inspection of the 3PH components damage will be found. Some things to look at are lower lift arms, stabilizers for lower lift arms, pins on tractor end of lower lift arms (including the mounting locations).

It is one thing to push loose material while going in reverse, but to try to use a tractor as a bulldozer is just abuse of the tractor and implement, and fails to get the job done. The 3PH is very strong in a forward direction where tension is placed on the various components and that force is distributed to at least 4 points of contact. But if you study the construction, it is a weak design when traveling in a reverse direction. Really intended to hold the implement in the air when reversing.
But yes mist of us have pushed material in reverse, but limit it to lose light materials.

 

[stevewm]

Good idea on the square tubing. The King Kutter I looked at also had square rather than angle except for the braces. Mine is manufactured locally and sold all over around here but I gather it is a cheaper one because of the thinner steel and welds rather than bolted sections. I appreciate your comments!