Modified Drainage Ditch Digger for gravel driveway

[cordak]

First post here (other than my "New to Forum" in the new members section). This was a concept I thought of after trying numerous ways to dig and keep good drainage ditches.

So I have 800 feet of driveway (200 feet are 26% grade on rocky terrain) that was never in any good shape since I bought the house/property 3 years ago. Over time I've accumulated a tractor and some attachments. I had this idea that using a middle buster would really dig my drainage ditches out and would solve half of my problem of having to monthly fix issues. Well, it worked and surprisingly well. The only issue is that the MB is in the center of the tractor and parts of my driveway have hillsides which meant that I couldn't dig it deeper in certain areas when I really needed to. I also have a Woods 5' box blade. I also have an old spade from a MB and an old bent lift arm. So I modified the spade and welded a chunk of the lift arm onto it. Now I can slide the MB spade into the box blade directly behind my tires and not only will it dig deeper, the box blade will assist in cleaning up the busted up dirt meaning less passes, less time, and better cut ditch.

First pass with it worked 1000 times better than anything I've tried yet. The only issue I can see so far is that the lift arm I used is a cheap Tractor Supply one and it does jump around a little when hitting the sandstone in the hill. But it could be a good thing too as it lets the spade somewhat jump around if it needs to, keeping it from becoming bent or twisted.

 

[cordak]

 

[s219]

I like it!

 

[mark02tj]

That's usin' the ol' noggin'! GREAT implementation of the idea!!

 

[k0ua]

You have made a new tool that others don't have. Good thinking and execution. :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing.

 

[cordak]

Thanks all! Maybe a patent is in order??? I am quite the troubleshooter (and trouble maker lol) but it took many trial and errors to come up with what I believe to be one of the best ideas I've had in awhile. Well, off to finish my lawn/driveway roller. I'll post that one in another thread when it's done.

 

[boggen]

have you adjusted the lower lift arms on the 3pt hitch? you can crank those turn buckles pretty good to get an angle on the box blade and/or rear blade. some rear blades, let you even angle them further due to some bolts on the frame work to help dig ditches. descent amount of youtube videos using box blade and/or rear blade in making ditches.

the turnbuckles you can replace with longer shorter versions of them. to extend some more angle.

TNT (top and tilt) replaces the top link turnbuckle and one of the side turnbuckles for the 3pt hitch with hydrualic cylinder. giving you "on the fly adjustment" from seat of tractor to help you adjust things (wider and/or deeper ditch) along with dealing with crowning the driveway.

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if you can run your shovel in the center of the box blade. so ya need beating the stuffing out of your 3pt hitch linkages.

generally folks have tossed concrete blocks, to a portion of a tree trunk they cut down. and tossed on top of the box blade. to help keep it held down. others tossed metal or what ever they might have on top of box blade for added weight.

make sure you have your "check chains" and sway bar/chains in place. so when something does happen. you do not end up with a box blade up inside of your rear tire, with bent 3pt hitch linkages.

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with above said *big thumbs up* nicely done!

 

[cordak]

have you adjusted the lower lift arms on the 3pt hitch? you can crank those turn buckles pretty good to get an angle on the box blade and/or rear blade. some rear blades, let you even angle them further due to some bolts on the frame work to help dig ditches. descent amount of youtube videos using box blade and/or rear blade in making ditches.

the turnbuckles you can replace with longer shorter versions of them. to extend some more angle.

TNT (top and tilt) replaces the top link turnbuckle and one of the side turnbuckles for the 3pt hitch with hydrualic cylinder. giving you "on the fly adjustment" from seat of tractor to help you adjust things (wider and/or deeper ditch) along with dealing with crowning the driveway.

===============
if you can run your shovel in the center of the box blade. so ya need beating the stuffing out of your 3pt hitch linkages.

generally folks have tossed concrete blocks, to a portion of a tree trunk they cut down. and tossed on top of the box blade. to help keep it held down. others tossed metal or what ever they might have on top of box blade for added weight.

make sure you have your "check chains" and sway bar/chains in place. so when something does happen. you do not end up with a box blade up inside of your rear tire, with bent 3pt hitch linkages.

===========
with above said *big thumbs up* nicely done!

Thanks Ryan!! I have def made numerous attempts at digging these different ways using box blade, neighbor's back blade, bucket... but every situation is different. I need straight down, good skinny ditches in certain parts as the driveway has sections in between banks. I keep the tractor in 1st and a foot over the clutch with an eye on the MB. If it starts to pull too much from rocks, I back her off. I'll be renting a jackhammer to bust up the sandstone I run into. Other than about 3 or 4 chunks, the rest is all clay so its working great.

 

[PILOON]

A 'tool' that I made works quite well for that sort of thing.
It is basically one big tooth made from a 4WD front axle that I had in the scrap box.
What I did is fashion a clamp on tooth similar to what you often see for a trailer hitch that clamps onto the FEL bucket.
It ends up looking like one big ugly tooth and really digs and loosens up the soil making forming a ditch a breeze.
Passes with the rear blade then makes forming a ditch an easy task.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Making something really useful out of junk - I like it. :thumbsup:

gg