Driveway grader/ farm and feed bunks

buffdawg69 · Aug 12, 2013

Hi all,

I have been looking at a lot of threads on how to build a 3 point driveway grader. I have found a lot of good home projects. I also like the tractor dual edge land grader, and want to build something along that line. I go back and help my dad farm when he needs help. I am a welder now, but when I go home there are times where I hit my head on the cab. With a air ride seat its not all that bad, but not all of his tractors have that lol, esp the one that pulls the feed wagon. I don't really know how to lay it out so I can build it, but more important I want to make the 3 point hook up more on the curb side so when I hook it up, more of the grader is on the driver side ( going along feed bunks). I am not a draftsmen or eng. Will it still function the way it should if I were to off set the 3 point hook to the curb side? What is the best width and length to use? What angle should I have the 2 blades at? I was also thinking about dropping the curb side blades down 1/8th so water would drain away from feed bunks and drive way. I don't know if that's a good idea or not, and if that's to much or not enough. So basically I have the welding down, just not the rest lol! I will weld it with 100% Co2( short arc) good penetration

. Or just spray with C10. Any tips I would appreciate! thank you. I will post pics if I get something figured out and built.

Wagtail · Aug 12, 2013

Best of luck on your endeavour Mate. Welcome to TBN from Downunder.

(Sorry, I can't help you with anything else. Truth be told, I breath a wee sigh of relief everytime my tractor or Ute starts when I turn the key! :laughing

john40981 · Aug 12, 2013

Hi Mate, I asked a similar question about making a land plain for my driveway and tracks on my farm. Some info and pictures on that posting may help.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/287452-land-plain-blade-height-help.html

John

hddnis · Aug 13, 2013

You can offset or make it wide enough to stick out past the tractor on both sides. If the blades are angled to move material towards the feed bunk that will tend to slope the road away all by itself. Adding in an angle feature for more slope can be done, it adds another linkage to the works which is more complicated, but if you need that ability it is well worth the trouble to make it that way.

Mr. HE

buffdawg69 · Aug 15, 2013

Thanks guys for the help. I will send some pics when i am finished. I am thinking about taking apart an old field drag and using them in front of the grader. I think right now I am going to stay away from sloping it. That will limit it to only grade one way and not being able to do a u-turn. I have a friend who has a bunch of old snowplow blades that i think should work just fine. I am going to make it wider than the tires. As soon as I started a thread ( which i have never done). It was the first thing that came to mind. DUH! I am thinking about sitting blades at an 45 degree angel

buffdawg69 · Aug 15, 2013

angle ooppss

buffdawg69 · Aug 15, 2013

I guess I should word it a little better. I am going to set the blades to cut at 45 degrees. And the depth is another one I am unsure of. I was thinking 1/4 inch because its hard gravel packed with JD 8640, Big combine, silage cutting etc. But after reading your threads seems anywhere to 1" to 3/4.

buffdawg69 · Dec 27, 2013

I will be posting some pictures soon. I went with a 9' X 7" land grader. I went 9 so it stuck past the tires. I am using old snow plow blades. I should have pics up in the next few weeks

hddnis · Dec 29, 2013

Looking forward to pics.

Mr. HE

Willie B · Dec 30, 2013

To me at least, it seems that forming potholes does raise the rest of the road only a little bit. If you cut 99% of the surface just a little bit, you have enough material to fill potholes. Three point hitches are adjustable side to side. Don't worry about that. Besides if the road is already contoured, one side of the tractor is lower anyway. My concern is that when you grade a road, you fill the low spots with soft material. It soon pounds out again. To eliminate a low spot you need to rip up the hard areas too, then create a homogenous surface.
I drove the gravel roads in a nearby town, I was amazed at how smooth they were. Later I met the road commisioner, and asked about it. He said it takes all year to get roads hard, grading them takes you back to square one. Instead, he fills holes with "pack mix". "I can fill every pothole in town before noon. If I grade, I'll have to fill them again next week.