Wasting your tractor Dollars...

Laminarman · Oct 4, 2004

Biggest piece of useless dung I've got is a TSC landscape rake. I posted here about raking dead grass after cutting, and collecting some stones. But all it does is roll them and bounce over them.

How about the most frustrating implement? Mine is my two piece chain harrow. Great implement, terribly hard to maneuver and handle. I should have spent the $350 for the rake on the harrow frame carrier as I know that rakes better than the rake does.

Soundguy · Oct 5, 2004

I didn't say it was impossible.. just not it's primary purpose. A box blade is made to dig and drag. An angling grader blad is made to grade.. Grading may entail removing some material. As you have stated.. it did not penetrate as well without the extra large amount of ballast you added. This is what the original poster observed.. that the grader blade skipped along and didn't bite well.. etc.

Lots of differences in quality of back blades too.. most of the thin economy ones wouldn't hold up to extended digging.. even if you added the weight

Soundguy

( Hmmm,thats a new one to me, I have a JD 45 back blade with about 400 to 500lbs in a custom made( ballast) box on my blade and I have cut a lot of roads,landscaped banks etc,in red clay that had not been loosened in anyway prior to my using the back blade. )

Soundguy · Oct 5, 2004

( How about the most frustrating implement? Mine is my two piece chain harrow )

I have a 1-piece 6x8 heavy chain harrow/mat.. but havn't seen a 2-piece one. How does it differ from a 1-piece?

I like my 1-piece one. Hook it to the drawbar and go.. it tracks the tractor like any other drag implement.. say.. like a drag mower.

Is the 2-piece real wide?

Soundguy

eee · Oct 5, 2004

( that the grader blade skipped along and didn't bite well.. etc.

 )

I could cut dirt with out the ballast,its just that it will cut deeper with it,a box blade is great but my back blade I can turn it and roll the dirt over the hill or to the side and I can adjust the height of the blade from one side to the other and ditch or cut a ditch,once I get through the sod I can keep the blade full of dirt.I can build road banks with the dirt I cut etc.
As far as longevity there are cheap made box blades as well.

Soundguy · Oct 6, 2004

( my back blade I can turn it and roll the dirt over the hill or to the side and )

That's the whole point of a back blade.. you can grade with it.. and windrow.. box blades don't windrow.

( I can adjust the height of the blade from one side to the other )

I can adjust my box blade height side to side using my adjustable link arm.. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif But I know you are refeing to the angle / til function that most ( not all ) back blades have. I once saw an older back blade that even had offset capabilities.. could be offset right or left of center a couple feet... neat setup.

( As far as longevity there are cheap made box blades as well )

Due to side bracing.. I get the feeling that a cheap box blade may last longer than a cheap back blade, if both were used to dig..

Soundguy

eee · Oct 7, 2004

( That's the whole point of a back blade.. you can grade with it.. and windrow.. box blades don't windrow )

Nothing new there.

( I can adjust my box blade height side to side using my adjustable link arm.. But I know you are refeing to the angle / til function that most ( not all ) back blades have. I once saw an older back blade that even had offset capabilities.. could be offset right or left of center a couple feet... neat setup. )

Yes...you summed it up nicely.

( Due to side bracing.. I get the feeling that a cheap box blade may last longer than a cheap back blade, if both were used to dig.. )

You are probably right on this one,but I would not buy anything cheap. I would rather spend the xtra dollars up front and buy the heaviest one I could put behind my tractor,whether it is a box blade or a back blade and not have to worry about it breaking or bending. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Moon · Oct 7, 2004

I wasted my money on a shovel. Since I got my FEL I just don't use it anymore. : ) I'm one happy camper!
moon of ohio

rockyridgefarm · Oct 8, 2004

I wasted my money on a second key... It doen't do much good when she's sitting on "my" tractor a half mile away in the back yard... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

(seriously, theough, we have a whole lotta fun together with this thing, I am glad she likes it!, now don't go tellin' her!)