speed when using a box blade

AlabamaFarmer · Jul 7, 2005

I have a MF 15' box blade. I'm new to this tractor thing so I do most of the stuff real slow. I watched a friend working his blade the other day and I think he was in hi 3rd. It looked like it was working well, pulling up stumps and stuff but is that because he knew what he was doing or because he was going faster?

steveinmo · Jul 7, 2005

MFer,

Your post had me a little confused. You said you had a MF 15' box blade! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I've never heard of a box blade that big but I'm not familiar with the MF line so I thought......well.....maybe there is such a thing. Then you said you saw your neighbor pulling up stumps with this box blade! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Never heard of doing this either, but I suppose you could with a 15' BB. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I went to the MF website to learn about your MF tractor and found that it's a 33 HP CUT so I assume you meant a 5' BB. What size stumps was your neighbor pulling??

I'm afraid I can't offer any advice as to speed / gears to use since I'm not quite sure what you're trying to do. But I think you're better off going a little slower until you get the hang of it.

Steve

JerryG · Jul 7, 2005

Your speed will need to vary, depending on the soil conditions. If it is really dry and hard and there are rocks involved, a box works better going slow. If you are finishing up a level job and filling the small dips, a faster speed works better with the blade at slightly above the soil..

have_blue · Jul 7, 2005

Hi MFer,

A BB works differently at different speeds, just like a broom for example. You can run at higher speeds and use the inertia of the dirt to the best advantage. The best way to learn is to try at different speeds. It won't take but 30 minutes to figure out when to go fast and when to go slower. Generally speaking, higher speeds are better for the final smoothing and feathering of dryer soil.

If a BB is too big for the tractor, it can take away some of the capabilities of the BB you gain by going fast. You need to cut that BB in half and send me half of it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif