Too Hard for Box Blade?

[RobS]

<font color="blue"> Would running over the vegetation with a tiller before using the box blade work even better and easier?
</font>

Gary, I have to believe it would... trouble is I don't have a tiller. The local rental place that has a tph tiller no longer rents it without their tractor which pushes the rental price up quite a bit. I came close to running over to TSC and picking one up but that's a bit more money than I care to spend spontaneously /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Clemson]

Bill, The box xcraper does have two blades. I assume that the rear blade is fixed. I don't see a way to move it, but I haven't taken the cutting edge off. It seems to be reversible for wear. I have attached a picture of the blade for info purposes.

 

[WVBill]

On mine - an old Gannon - the rear blade is hinged at the top and there is a pin on each side that engages a hole in the side plate. Pull the pins and the rear blade just flaps up when pulling forward. Leave the pins in and the box "rides" on the rear blade when pulling forward if you extend the top link to where the rear blade is lower than the front blade. In the fixed position the rear blade acts kind of like a guage wheel would - but it also limits the "bite" that the front blade can take.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> I don't have a tiller </font>

I don't either. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I guess I was looking for some justification for getting one myself. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Like you, it's hard for me to run out and drop four figures on a tiller for something like this. I tried to justify a post hole digger but could only come up with a need for half a dozen holes and that even included one for the mailbox post. Hard to justify $75 a hole, even for me. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cacinok]

Clemson,

If you have access to a disc use it to break up the sod. If no disc, only lower two of the scarifiers, this will concentrate the weight of the box on only two contact points and help them penetrate better. Also, as has been mentioned, add more weight. With any kind of blade, heavier is better.

Clint

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well I will have to say that I have 4 years of using a box blade and leveled several acres and have used it extensivly. It stays on my tractor all the time. Its a 7 foot wide on a 45 horse tractor. The weight is an issue even though i dont have any on mine and never have, but it would definatly help. The more practise and experience the better you will get. I have broke sod ground plenty of times without first digging it up. The key is starting the sod. If you stay in one area about 3 or 4 feet and keep working at it until you get it started and the the rest will come easier because your lifting from under the sod and it should come alot easier. The teeth should not be all the way down because it will just look like plowing because the box cant reach the ground. I would start with the teeth just below the box maybe 2 inches and work it a few times and then pull them up and just use box. I now do everything with just the box and my teeth stay off. That will really level the ground and look better versus the plow looking effect. I also back up with mine to start the sod. If yours has a blade on the back then if its tilted right then backing up will dig in a lot more then pulling and you can start the sod that way and then pull everything. It takes time and practise and weight would also help. the bigger and heavier the better i think. The problem is once you pull a bunch of sod in a pile its a mess to deal with. Very hard to work with because it rolls on you and bunches. Box scraper much better on dirt with no sod. All comments on this from the others are very good.

roto

 

[bgott]

I cheat when I have to fill ruts. The county is always cleaning out the ditches around here and they will dump the dirt at your place for the asking. I just fill the ruts and then go back and pick the trash out. You get a full load, though, but all of my rent properties are in the general area so I can drive around the hood and plug ruts a bucket full at a time. Also,a lot of times people will see the dirt and the tractor and you can sell some of the dirt and some tractor work at the same time. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif