What is your method of crowning a road with a scraper grader?

[jwmorris]

I built mine for adjustable height but haven't played with it much, set 3/4" down on both sides.

My mind tells me that setting one side to zero and making alternating passes down either side will do it but before I burn fuel I figured I would ask folks that have already done it.

This is pretty much what I built

And it has done a great job making trails that were very rough smooth again but I don't want the main roads flat rather smooth and crowned.

Pretty sure I could smooth with it then crown with the regular grading blade with a shoe on the back but it would be nice to do it all without having to swap implements.

 

[davrow]

Not to be mean, but that is why I got hydraulic top and tilt.

Just move the lever while you are sitting in your seat to the crown degree you want and grade away.

 

[jwmorris]

I can tilt/cant in all directions no problem but at that point the skids are no longer in contact with the surface so "smooth" is subject to wheelbase and tire diameter.

If I have to smooth first then crown, I can move more material with a single rear blade at a much greater angle towards the center of the road.

Any more information on how you achieve both at the same time?

 

[Gordon Gould]

I can tilt/cant in all directions no problem but at that point the skids are no longer in contact with the surface so "smooth" is subject to wheelbase and tire diameter.

If I have to smooth first then crown, I can move more material with a single rear blade at a much greater angle towards the center of the road.

Any more information on how you achieve both at the same time?

I crown with a blade first. Just taking a little on one side here.



Then I use the LPGS to finish grade. The LPGS will not remove your crown unless you straddle the middle of the road.

 

[jenkinsph]

I crown with a blade first. Just taking a little on one side here.

View attachment 476140

Then I use the LPGS to finish grade. The LPGS will not remove your crown unless you straddle the middle of the road.

View attachment 476141

I agree with Gordon on this ^^^^

 

[JerryK]

I set up my LP so that the rear blade is doing as much work as the front blade with the top link, then lower the right side about an inch below the left side using the right lower link height adjust. Use this setup to smooth the drive, driving on the right side of the road each way. It will also create your crown without using the rear blade. Normally, the drive is hard as a rock, and each pass will loosen/level more. Take your time, eventually you will end up with what you want... I normally work the drive after a rain, that way the fines stay mixed up with the stone on top. If you work it dry, the rock all comes to the top and the fines fall down to the base. If you want a lot of loose rock on top, do it dry. If not, wet. Sometimes when it is wet you will get a wavy deposit of the stone falling off the back of the LP, so make a final pass with the LP in reverse to smooth this out. Remember, it's play time, so take your time and enjoy the process....

 

[countrybumpkin]

So how well does a lpgs work on drives that have a bunch of different size rock, I have everything from 2" down to fines, so was curious.

 

[JerryK]

My LP brings all the big rocks to the surface. My main top 6" or so is Afton stone ... crushed limestone up to about 3/4-1". I pickup the larger stones and use them elsewhere. But I don't have lots of them, like you do....

 

[jenkinsph]

If the drive is wet and you have some larger stones sticking up you can back drag with the fel and press them into the fines enough to help with this. If the rocks are too big I pick them out of the drive or cover them with smaller gravel and fines.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I agree with Gordon on this ^^^^

I agree with Gordon and Steve on this. It has been my experience that actually building a crown in the road is a futile experience using my LPGS. The material travels side ways less than 1" with each pass with my unit. Yes you can tilt the unit, but with my blades being 1" below the runners, again many many passes to get anything accomplished. For me, I use my rear blade to crown, just easier, for me anyway.

I would say with your LPGS, adjust the cutting edges all the way down on one side and then flush on the opposite side and see how well that works for you. But to have the cutting edges equally set side to side will get you next to nothing for creating a crown.

Honestly, I don't think that even what I have suggested is going to get you what you are looking for. The material just does not move side ways very much. You are going to end up with a bunch of loose material at the sides and less in the center. But then you could use your rear blade to move it over to the center. But then you are back to using a second implement, which at times is just what works out best IMO.

YMMV. Good luck.