What size box scraper for BX23

Ken_CT · Sep 3, 2004

I'm intersested in buying a box scraper for my BX23, but I'm not sure what is the best size. The manual says max. size is 42" and 375 lbs, but 42" seems small. Does anyone have experience with a 48" or 60" box scraper on a BX? King Kutter makes a 48" weighing 350 lbs, and a 60" weighing 415 lbs. I want to clear out a small amount of land and extend the lawn (more to mow!). Where I live is pretty rocky, but I don't need to go very deep. I will also be spreading gravel on, and maintaining a 450" driveway. I spread about 150' using the FEL, worked OK, but took a lot of time and not as smooth as I would like. Next project is to spread topsoil to level off the establish lawn. Would a 60" york rake be better suited for these projects? I can only afford one or the other. The Kubota & I are going to be busy for a long time!

SCB · Sep 3, 2004

I have a 48 inch box on my BX23. It pulls it just fine. Mosy guys with the bx go with the 48. I don't think you will be happy with the 60 in. one though. I think it would be to much drag when you are filling the box. My 23 will spin the tires now and then if I am full with rippers down. My box is made by Rankin and it weighs in at about 300 pounds.

Junkman · Sep 3, 2004

If you are going to spread top soil to level an existing lawn, are you planning on top dressing or are you going to reseed after putting down the top soil? I have a landscape rake and it isn't very good on grass. It will tear it out by the roots. Some things are still best done by hand tools. Where in CT are you. I am in the Putnam area and if you are close, you can use my rake for a week or so when I am not using it.... Junk...

Mackinaw · Sep 3, 2004

I have a BX2200 with a 48" box scraper from Midwest. It's about 320 pounds and works great. The 48" just covers the tracks and seems to be perfect fit.

jim_wilson · Sep 4, 2004

I bought a Woods GBC48 Estate series 48" box scraper for my BX23 and it works well. If I fill the box up that will bog tractor down but other than that it works fine. Not sure what the weight is on it but my guess is that it is up around 300-350 pounds. The Woods site lists their regular duty 48" box as being 12.4 Cu ft. capacity and the GBC48 as being 9 Cu. ft capacity. I don't think the BX23 would handle a 60" scraper very well - the 48" seems about right for the tractor from my experience with it.

BRIGUY · Sep 4, 2004

I have a Bush Hog brand SBX 480 (48") box scraper. Weighing in at 430 lbs its quite a but heavier than some others I have seen. I have bar tires (not filled) and even with the box full at 1/2 throttle or less the tractor never bogs. The tires always spin first.
I thought I was going to need to buy a rake for a land clearing project, but I have found the box to work great. Spreads and levels soil well, I have alot of round rocks. It rips through areas I'm clearing really well removing roots and even small trees. I don't know if the lighter boxes work as well or not.
I thought it might be a little on the heavy side when I bought it, but the dealer talked me in to it. I'm glad he did. The weight is also a big plus when doing alot of loader work. Last week I moved 40 tons of gravel from the end of my drive way about 1000 feet, and up a steep hill behind my house. With 600+ pounds in the bucked the back end never got light. I thought I was going to have to put the back hoe on for counter weight but I didn't.

www.bushhog.com/turftoc.html

RonR · Sep 4, 2004

I'm currently using a KK 60" BB on my BX2200, turf tires. It is TOO BIG to dig with. I'm not sure if I could dig much better with my 2200 with a 48" as the clay is so heavy here. Bars and filled tires might help, but I don't want to go that route yet.

Smoothing and leveling is fine with it, but it lacks the power to do major digging with it. One tip I use is to fill the FEL when using the BB--it gives the 4WD some traction!

I've not used the scarifiers yet, so can't speak to that.

Hope this helps.
ron

BRIGUY · Sep 4, 2004

RONR,
I also fill the fel bucket with soil when using the box blade. It does help with front traction, but the real reason I fill it is so I can back drag between passes with the box blade with the fel in float position. This method packs and smooths out soil like glass
I have not seen much difference in the performance of the box blade with the scarifiers down. but I haven't used on sod yet.

RonR · Sep 4, 2004

I agree on the back dragging. I can see what's going on easier using the FEL also.

I'm not flexible enough to check out situation easily the BB on my BX...........

ron

BRIGUY · Sep 4, 2004

KEN CT,
When you get your blade do a search for the threads on using a box blade. The information I learned from more experienced guys made my initial setup a snap. I would not have had very good luck operating the blade without the knowledge I learned here. If you have any trouble let me know and I'll describe in detail how I adjust mine.