Box scraper technique

[Bird]

<font color=blue>I've also heard that a hydraulic Top Link can be used to apply down force to a 3PT implement. I can't see how that would work though, unless there is something for the Hydraulic Top Link to push against. </font color=blue>

That's a tough one to describe, but could be demonstrated pretty easily. If you have a box blade tilted forward and on the ground, and you lengthen the top link hydraulically, you do, in effect, push down and forward on the bottom of the blade. Since the 3-point arms are somewhat free to rise (the weight of the blade works to hold them down), you can't get the full downward force (or even close to it) with the hydraulics, but you do exert some downward force. The same applies to the side link. Theoretically, you can't really put all the downward force on one side because the other side link should be free to float up; however, if I set my box blade flat on the ground (sitting still) and then push the right side down with the hydraulic side link, it will actually pick up the right rear wheel.

Bird

 

[GlueGuy]

Bird,

So let me get this straight: All the way forward is the same as float?

Does this mean the center position (for the 3ph) is NOT float? In other words the center position is "hold", but forward releases hydraulic pressure?

It would seem (to an amateur) that tipping the box foward (with the top link shorrtened) that it would move the front blade to a more vertical position and would be more likely to drag than dig. As I tip it backward (lengthen top link), that it would angle the front blade into a position to dig more (like a chisel). That is until the back blade rotates around enough to hold the front blade up, at which point it will do the smoothing action that I understand.



The GlueGuy

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Does this mean the center position (for the 3ph) is NOT float? In other words the center position is "hold", but forward releases hydraulic pressure?</font color=blue>

That's the way it worked on my B7100. The center position would "hold" it from going lower, but it could always float UP.

As far as the angle on the box blade, one of the things most of us fail to mention in talking about box blades is the fact that the angle the blade is mounted on the box varies with different brands. And that makes the use of it a little different, but not a lot. I understand your theory, and nothing wrong with it, but for the reality of using the blade, I still think my original answer was right. Of course, I've occasionally been proven wrong./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


Bird