boxblade flaw

[chambers1517]

I recently borrowed a boxblade from a friend. It was an old one he never used. It had a swing on the rear blade so it would pivot out while going forward. The sides were rounded so you could shorten the upper link until the sides rode on the ground. I would shorten the upper link until the blade barely touched and it would do a wonderful job on my driveway. If you extended the upper link the blade would really cut because it was the only thing touching the ground. Well he needed it back so I went to the tractor dealership and bought a new one. It has a rigid mounted rear blade. If I extend the upper link very much the rear blade hits, so it wont cut like the other one. And the sides hit when I shorten the upper link. There is a very narrow range this box works at. Also at the bottom of hills going down the rear blade hits and the sides hit going up. Compared to the old no name blade the new one stinks. Is this a typical design?

 

[HomeBrew2]

Mine's that way too. I took off my rear blade and took the torch and cut a taper on the sides from 1" at the front to 0" at the blade.
Cheers!

 

[Jimbrown]

You just bought the wrong one. Some do come with the hinged rear. Look here
web page

 

[Highbeam]

I use the rear blade quite a bit as a kind of bulldozer. I also use the back of the rear blade to smear out the ground so a hinged rear blade would not be good.

 

[john_bud]

Chambers1517,

Most BB's with a rear blade have it bolted down. Is that the case with yours? If not, you just bought a cheapo box. You do get what you paid for when it comes to box blades. Looks like you may have to modify the one you bought or else swap it for a better one.

If you swap, Gannon Landscaper is my favorite. Others will be able to chime in with other favorites, or you can read the long thread on box blades with pictures of each. Very informative.

jb

 

[drm]

chambers1517,

I have the Woods HB60 referred to in the post by Jimbrown. I like the hinged back blade and use the box like you have described. Even though Woods recommend a 40 hp tractor I have pulled a full box of gravel and dirt with a NH TC33DA (27 PTO hp) with very good results. You just need to shave a little at a time or drop the rippers and loosen up the material first. As far as the side being tapered, I think so but it is too cold to go look.

Admittedly, I only have limited experience with this design and have not used one with the fixed back blade. But it has worked very well for me.

…Derek

 

[Cottonhawk]

It sounds like that your friend has a WOODS HB series BB. I have a WOODS HB72....the back blade has a floating gate like you described and the sides are rounded.

 

[dieselmotorhead]

I have the HB 84, it has the swing out rear blade. The lower end ones ( cheaper, lighter) have a rear blade that is fixed. It would probably work better to just not have it. The sides are tapered on the woods, not by much but enough to get a good enough clearance to spread out the box of dirt. It is not light, it is the 750# box blade on that data sheet. When it is that heavy the hyd top link helps a lot- keeping me in the seat and not between the tires and the box adjusting.