6' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
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Stef
Platinum Member
Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
That's an excellent question. I plan to buy exactly the same width. IMO it's a good combination. I have a B3030 so you have exactly the same capacities.
I think 72" used in low range would do a great job. Rear tires width is 54" (approx.), logically you can choose from 54" and up. IMO 54" is not large enough because if you have spacers for your rear wheels you're around 57". At this point, we're talking about 60". Does 6" more on each side (to go to 72") would make a big difference with 30HP? I don't think so.
That's an excellent question. I plan to buy exactly the same width. IMO it's a good combination. I have a B3030 so you have exactly the same capacities.
I think 72" used in low range would do a great job. Rear tires width is 54" (approx.), logically you can choose from 54" and up. IMO 54" is not large enough because if you have spacers for your rear wheels you're around 57". At this point, we're talking about 60". Does 6" more on each side (to go to 72") would make a big difference with 30HP? I don't think so.
aloha
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Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
The problem you may have with a 72" box scraper is that the B7800 (as well as B3030) is relatively light for its horsepower, so tends to lose traction. You may need to be careful not to scrape too deeply or you'll be spinning the tires. 60" would probably be a better size.
The problem you may have with a 72" box scraper is that the B7800 (as well as B3030) is relatively light for its horsepower, so tends to lose traction. You may need to be careful not to scrape too deeply or you'll be spinning the tires. 60" would probably be a better size.
Bob_Skurka
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Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
I have a B2910 which is essentially the same tractor as the B7800 but with a few deluxe features. I use a 60" box blade on mine and find it to be a good fit for the tractor. As aloha pointed out, the B7800, along with the B2910 & B3030, are small ultra-light 30hp tractors; probably the lightest weight 30hp machine on the market, consequently they do have less traction than heavier tractors. A box blade is one of the implements that will test the traction abilities of any tractor, it probably requires more traction that any other common implement used by small land owners. I would stick with a 60" box blade on the B7800.
Now all that said, it really depends on your soil conditions. Sandy soil is a lighter pull than loam, loam is a lighter pull than clay. Smoothing loose gravel on a driveway is a light pull, but ripping a packed & compacted driveway is going to test the limits of the light tractor's traction with a 6' box blade.
I have a B2910 which is essentially the same tractor as the B7800 but with a few deluxe features. I use a 60" box blade on mine and find it to be a good fit for the tractor. As aloha pointed out, the B7800, along with the B2910 & B3030, are small ultra-light 30hp tractors; probably the lightest weight 30hp machine on the market, consequently they do have less traction than heavier tractors. A box blade is one of the implements that will test the traction abilities of any tractor, it probably requires more traction that any other common implement used by small land owners. I would stick with a 60" box blade on the B7800.
Now all that said, it really depends on your soil conditions. Sandy soil is a lighter pull than loam, loam is a lighter pull than clay. Smoothing loose gravel on a driveway is a light pull, but ripping a packed & compacted driveway is going to test the limits of the light tractor's traction with a 6' box blade.
Henro
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Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
I have a 60" KK Box blade and that is about max I would want for actual digging work, in hard ground.
For just smoothing dirt, if it were already loose then the lanscape rake may be better. And if it just high spots you want to scrape off, perhaps a rear blade would be better...
My gut is telling me a 60 inch is a better match for the B7800 (or in my case the B2910) than a 72".
If someone offered to trade me a new 72" Box blade for my used 60" I would decline (unless a new larger tractor was part of the deal! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
Anyone actually have experience with a 72" box on a B7800/B2910/B3030 or similar sized machine?
I have a 60" KK Box blade and that is about max I would want for actual digging work, in hard ground.
For just smoothing dirt, if it were already loose then the lanscape rake may be better. And if it just high spots you want to scrape off, perhaps a rear blade would be better...
My gut is telling me a 60 inch is a better match for the B7800 (or in my case the B2910) than a 72".
If someone offered to trade me a new 72" Box blade for my used 60" I would decline (unless a new larger tractor was part of the deal! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )
Anyone actually have experience with a 72" box on a B7800/B2910/B3030 or similar sized machine?
Stef
Platinum Member
Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
The reason why I said that 72" could be OK is that I used a 60" rear blade with my BX23 and it did an amazing job. So I thought that with 30HP instead of 22HP would make the difference. But I tend to forget that a B3030 is the lighest tractor in its category. I looked at a Case and it was 700 pounds heavier than a B3030 (same HP, same size, same implements), DX29 or DX33. I think that I'm wrong, B3030 might not be heavy enough to use a 72" box blade. Enough HP but not enough weight to get all the traction necessary. I realize that now... Thanks everyone. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The reason why I said that 72" could be OK is that I used a 60" rear blade with my BX23 and it did an amazing job. So I thought that with 30HP instead of 22HP would make the difference. But I tend to forget that a B3030 is the lighest tractor in its category. I looked at a Case and it was 700 pounds heavier than a B3030 (same HP, same size, same implements), DX29 or DX33. I think that I'm wrong, B3030 might not be heavy enough to use a 72" box blade. Enough HP but not enough weight to get all the traction necessary. I realize that now... Thanks everyone. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bob_Skurka
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Re: 6\' Box blade on a B7800 - is it too big?
Stef, it all boils down to what you are planning on doing with the implements. I tend to stick to conservative sizing because of differences with soil, grasses, and other conditions. In some areas a tractor with 20pto hp will choke with a 60" mower deck when the grass gets just a little bit high, in other areas the climate is arrid and the same tractor can easily use a 72" mower deck. Box blades kind of work the same way. I have clay soil, someone else may have sand. On TBN I am going to suggest the size blade for clay soil for everyone simply because I don't know how the person is going to use the implement, and under what conditions. But you are correct in your use, for your needs, you might be able to easily use the larger blade if it is typically used for spreading and rarely used for ripping.
Stef, it all boils down to what you are planning on doing with the implements. I tend to stick to conservative sizing because of differences with soil, grasses, and other conditions. In some areas a tractor with 20pto hp will choke with a 60" mower deck when the grass gets just a little bit high, in other areas the climate is arrid and the same tractor can easily use a 72" mower deck. Box blades kind of work the same way. I have clay soil, someone else may have sand. On TBN I am going to suggest the size blade for clay soil for everyone simply because I don't know how the person is going to use the implement, and under what conditions. But you are correct in your use, for your needs, you might be able to easily use the larger blade if it is typically used for spreading and rarely used for ripping.