Using a Box Blade

[JDNineNinety]

I need a box blade for my JD990. How much like a small
bulldozer is a box blade. I need to clear out some trails
on my place. What size box do I need. I will back into
the trails and push the debris to the side. Tell me your
experiences with your box blades.

 

[Inspector507]

If you're backing into the trails, the scarifiers will be of no use and may be a hinderance. Be careful trying to use it as a "dozer", you could possibly snap a top link or bend a lift arm if you hit something solid.

 

[KiotiJohn]

There is a 4 page thread about using a boxblade in reverse, Boxblading in reverse .
I must say though, that bull dozer and CUT should not be used in the same context. The tractors are not designed to take the forces one would give a bulldozer. Most of the injuries to tractors that I've seen have been caused by the operator treating it as a bull dozer.
I do, however, use my BB in reverse, but I go slowly, and NEVER band into a pile. The hitch arms are better designed for pulling, and too much pressure to quickly "could" cause them to bend / break. So far, I've not had any problem since I'm careful not to over do it. John

 

[brad_oatley]

I'd put a 5 footer on a 990 but I think you should get a hydraulic top link at the same time. If you can't swing both at once, wait 'til you can.

 

[Taylortractornut]

The box blade in reverse is designed for a more aggressive cut, and Cornering out larger piles. By cornering it means to take a little off the edge of the piles til you can get the tractor ontop of it. In reverst the blade is usually more agressive on the cutting edge. Blading in reverse must be done carefully or dammage to the tractor can occur. I had a neighbor using a rented tractor in revers pushing a log on its side and the the scarifiers were down. The toplink broke and when it flipped under it ran a scarifier through the tire. When I have to blade alot in reverse I usually remove the scarifiers that are nearest the wheels. Another thing that would hel you in cleaning up trails is a brush gaurd on the back of your box blade. I m making one for the tractor ar work now, it helps in pushing bursh piles backwards by not letting the brush roll overonto the blade or tractor and it keeps the brush rolled tighter. I make them out of 1x2 inch cat walk materials about 1 to 2 feet tall the width of the blade. I mount them on a 10 to 15 degree angle.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I will back into
the trails and push the debris to the side. Tell me your
experiences with your box blades.
</font>

WHY??? was the first thing that popped into my mind...

Myself, I would rather go forward than backwards...eaiser on the neck!

Personally, on my tractor, which is not a very big one, a Kubota B2910, there is no comparison to what I can do forward VS reverse, with the box blade.

If you are expecting to cut paths in mountain sides like a bull dozer would for logging purposes, by using the box in reverse, I doubt you will be satisfied with the result.

Also, the box gets full and you can drag it somewhere and pick it up and drop the load if you are going forward. Going backwards all you can do is push a bit.

On top of that, you cannot generally angle a box blade, like you could a rear blade...

For trails, what I would probably do is first brush hog, then box blade, then finally run my landscape rake over them.

But that is just me.

Aside from pushing loose dirt a bit, I can't really say I have had too much luck running my box blade in reverse. Again, that is just me... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[bam]

Wouldn't a FEL be better for this? I don't have a box blade, though I use my loader on my BX to clear out/scape the earth. I would also think this would put less stress on the tractor. Now if you don't have the FEL, that's another story.

 

[MMM]

Mr. Whitten, you'd probably be better off using your cutter to shred what's on the trails then use a box blade as a root rake in forward.

 

[JDNineNinety]

I don't have a FEL and don't plan to get one. I have 41 acres
that has been cut over about three years. I had a dozer come
in and clear six small food plots. I had him cut some trails
out but have not had him back since. The trails have since
grown back up. Thanks, MMM, your idea makes sense. I will
hog the trails first and then go forward with the box.