Grading How to use box blade??

[jimlk3045]

Thanks to all for the information that I've learned here.

I've got a 3054 with a boxblade that I just can't get to work to my satisfaction. It seems no matter how I set the angle of the blade I just can't get it to cut into the ground. I'm testing my memory here but I think when it was new it would do a much better job. So I'm guessing the blade needs to be sharpened. Is there maybe something else I should look at? Is this normal for a box blade? Any hints on sharpening?

thanks,
Jim

 

[carpenter383]

Do you have weight on the box? Do you have the teeth down? What type of ground conditions do you have?

 

[jimlk3045]

No extra weight. It definately digs more with the teeth down but still the blade doesn't seem to cut like I remember when I first got it. Clay and topsoil with no rocks. Also, the teeth don't dig in like they used to as they seem to have become rounded over too.

 

[Bird]

I suppose it's possible, but I've never known of anyone sharpening either the cutting edge or the scarifiers or teeth. The amount of digging in was always just dependent upon angle and/or weight.

 

[carpenter383]

2 more questions Are you sure the box is dropping all the way? Is the draft control lever all the way down? I know these are obvious and not likley, but sometimes it can be the most obvious things that get ya! I had my 3ph arm stabilizers in the wrong holes when I first got my tractor and it kept the impliment from lowering all the way

 

[jimlk3045]

Hmm, well my first thought was "of course it's going all the way down." But, now that I think about it I haven't really verified that it is going all the way down. It sure slams the ground like it's going all the way. If that ends up being the problem I'm glad I can stay anonymous here.

 

[unhappykioti]

Check your toplink setting as well I run mine so that it is slightly tilted back so it is sitting on the back of the box not the front.

 

[Lloyd_E]

If you want to finish grade with the blade - tilt the box away from the tractor. The outside blade will level material as you go forward. If you want to dig in while going forward tilt the box down towards tractor so the front blade is level or lower. As you move forward this will dig in and pull material. I just finished a 500' section of a 2400' +/- road and also completed a driveway and parking area.

The parking area required leveling rough shale rock before class A. I finished a rough part of drive to house today that will be covered with class A tomorrow.

The pic shows the rough drive to house. I used the bucket and box blade to move and level material. It was a tight squeeze to get path to house!

I will take more pics tomorrow.

lloyd

 

[Highbeam]

You don't sharpen the box blade or the rippers. You'll need to adjust the ripper depth and the top link until the box digs.

It is also possible that the clay soil has become harder than it was. There seems to be an ideal moisture level when clay can be worked.

When I am at the point that you seem to be, I drop the rippers all the way down and use them to break into the ground. It'll take some HP to sink the rippers AND pick up the soil with the box.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Also, I think extra weight may help.

In a few situations the box climbs up when pushing back - so I think extra weight may help.

Hard clay is a bugger to work regardless!!!

Lloyd