Do I really need scarfires on a Grading Scraper?

[GrumpyJoe]

I went to the Woods web site and found the Grading Scraper that I wanted. Or so I thought. GSS72 Grading Scraper. Went through my dealer (who is not a Woods dealer) and bought it. When it got here I noticed no scarfires. But on the Woods web site it says comes with 5 scarfires shanks. Product Details When I called Woods up they admitted the error on the web site and said I want the GSS72P. OH, OF COURSE, DUH! I should have know that. Why bother going off your web site? Nowhere does it say that. But thats my bad. When I did a search on their web for a GSS72P none to be found. Even did a search on the other pic GS72C. Nothing. Question is, Should I bother with shipping it back and waiting another 4+ weeks to get the Shanks or should I just go without. MY driveway is 1300 feet gravel and another 1/2 mile gravel road which I will probably take care of a few times a year.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

If your driveway packs in hard you might be pretty disappointed with the lack of progress. A land plane may work better for your driveway needs as well but I have never used one.

 

[PHPaul]

Once your driveway gets pot holes in it (and it will...) you'll want the scarifiers to tear up the top layer and re-grade.

I'd do the swap.

 

[Egon]

Get the scarifiers.

 

[orangeandgreen]

I added scarifiers to my Howse lpgs and it made a big difference. Ordered them from Agri Supply. They really help break up the hard pack.

 

[Deerherd]

I have a box blade with scarifiers so when I ordered my woods land plane I got it without. I hook up the box blade first if I have potholes or need to move much material first.

If you don't own something already with scarifiers I would return it and get the one with the scarifiers. Even though you won't have to use them every time, they do really help to make the potholes not so quick to return. Good luck!

 

[IXLR8]

I have 1/4 mile dirt road to maintain. It packs so hard that my BoxBlade just bounces over it and hardly cuts in unless it is damp after a good soaking rain. Yes, I should have bought a heavier BB, I wish I had. But with the BB I have, the only way to break the road up to level and remove pot holes in a reasonable amount of time is with the scarifiers. I spent about 4 hrs removing 80% of the potholes on our road this weekend, if I didn't have the scarifiers I suspect it would have easily taken 10-15 hrs. I did start out trying to do the job without the scarifiers. If you have the money and the time to wait for the new unit... I would return yours and get the unit with the scarifiers.

 

[oosik]

I have a Land Pride LPGS 2584 with scarifiers and a mile long "gravel" driveway. After things dry out in the early summer the driveway turns to concrete. I definitely need the scarifiers to tackle the potholes. I don't even use the LPGS every year - probably should - but when I do use it, the scarifiers make the "driveway job" possible. Wish the driveway was more gravel like, last estimate was $26K, but since I'm the only one using it, I like what I've got.

 

[Tompet]

I went to the Woods web site and found the Grading Scraper that I wanted. Or so I thought. GSS72 Grading Scraper. Went through my dealer (who is not a Woods dealer) and bought it. When it got here I noticed no scarfires. But on the Woods web site it says comes with 5 scarfires shanks. Product Details When I called Woods up they admitted the error on the web site and said I want the GSS72P. OH, OF COURSE, DUH! I should have know that. Why bother going off your web site? Nowhere does it say that. But thats my bad. When I did a search on their web for a GSS72P none to be found. Even did a search on the other pic GS72C. Nothing. Question is, Should I bother with shipping it back and waiting another 4+ weeks to get the Shanks or should I just go without. MY driveway is 1300 feet gravel and another 1/2 mile gravel road which I will probably take care of a few times a year.

I have the 5' version with the scarifiers. As others have stated....get the scarifier model. I thought all the Woods had them. Anyway, it will be worth the wait and hassle to do the exchange.

 

[BukitCase]

Their website is ALL messed up - even the GSS 54 page
Product Details

Shows a picture of a GSS72 (WITH SCARIFIERS) - Personally, I would call them up, tell them their incorrect site caused you to order the wrong thing and ask them to "make it good" - then, SHUT UP!!?!

If you keep quiet and let THEM talk, often they will talk themselves INTO being a "nice guy", which could either get you cheap or FREE scarifiers. At least, it won't cost you anything to try... Steve

 

[ovrszd]

I say it depends on your patience and diligence. If you stay on top of things you won't need the scarifiers. If your plan is to run the driveway a couple times a year, regardless of condition, you'll probably need them.

I run a JD770G road grader on 50 miles of gravel roads. Patience and diligence is your friend.

 

[redman135]

Get scarifiers. It is very frustrating other wise.

 

[ovrszd]

I borrow my friend's grader couple times a year. Notched blade at the front, smooth blade at the rear, no scarifiers. It works great. I'd have no use for scarifiers that had to be manually raised/lowered. Hydraulic,,,, okay,,, I'm in.

 

[crazyal]

Does your driveway and road have fabric underlayment? If so the rippers will sooner or later rip it up. I have fabric in some sections of my drive so I can't use the scarfiers without being real careful. On the other sections I don't have fabric I'm always ripping it up. I even shorten the top link to change the angle as well as allow them to dig as deep as possible. A couple passes to rip it up and then a pass or two with just the blades and the driveway looks great. All my neighbors love me (can't count the number of apple pies I've gotten over the years). If I get busy and the driveway starts to suffer the neighbors call to make sure I'm not sick.

 

[oosik]

If I used my LPGS on the driveway more often - I think hydraulic scarifiers would be nice. I poo-poo'ed a hydraulic top link, until I got one and used it - what an improvement.

A side note - having a few shallow potholes on a loooong driveway is not an all bad thing. It keeps visitors speed down to about 20 mph max. Otherwise, I've had folks brag, saying they hit 45-50 coming down the driveway. They don't have to live with the choking dust either.

 

[wcampbell47]

Wish mine had them. Thinking of trading for one that does. And oh yes a hydraulic top link with a grading scraper is marvelous.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use a box blade with rippers but haven't needed them on my driveway in the last 10 years. My lpgs work fine with out them for most road work. Depends a lot on the local conditions and weather you have.


As far as ripping up a drive way deep all the time I don't see the point in it. Means you start over each time you rework it. I think a roller to pack the road base is important an isn't mentioned enough in these threads, this helps reduce the chance of potholes in your drive which are really soft spots. Once you pack the driveway down why loosen it up again?

 

[troutsqueezer]

I've got scarifiers but when I'm too lazy to get off the tractor and manually lower them - which is just about all the time - I point the bucket with tooth bar down slightly and rip with the front and drag with the BB as I go along.

 

[Carhartt Cowboy]

Call me crazy but I had no idea any manufacturer would make a box blade without scarifiers. A box blade on a 3 point hitch only has its weight to do the work. To not have scarifiers to loosened the soil extremely limits the tools usefulness. The only thing you can do is work with already loose soil. If you have a hard packed situation you might as well go get another tool or machine. A box blade is only one step above a rake and without the ability to dig a little all you have is a rake.

 

[Garycw]

My county line 5' has them and have used a few times. Especially if using in virgin ground. I've found I've never needed on my gravel drive though. I'd much rather have them than not, because you DO need them sometimes.

Sent from the mountains