Anybody know about box blades, tractors, grading, and being in over your head? What have I done?

[kingdaddy3247]

So, long story short, I have about 1000 feet of driveway and most of it is gravel. I’ve had a bunch of slate delivered from right here in rockmart (yes, I have a locally sourced driveway) and had a guy who was grading it for me as needed. He is selling his tractor and all his equipment and getting out of grading. So, me being the brilliant Einstein that I am decided, I’ll just do all my own grading my self. I’m not what’s you would call a “rich man” as far as money goes so I got to trading. I made two separate trades I’m now the owner of a 1954 John Deere model 40 tractor and a 5.5 foot gill box scraper that based on my initial estimation weighs approximately a zillion pounds. I don’t know he actual weight and cannot find any info on the box online. I’m worried I may have picked up more box than my tractor (~25hp) can handle. Any body know anything about gill box blades? What have I done?

 

[kingdaddy3247]

 

[davis211]

My guess is that the box is about 425 lbs based in newer items- tractor should handle that.

 

[jeep78]

Would not want a bigger box scraper for that size tractor, but it should work fine

 

[Plinker66]

go slow and take small cuts and you should be fine.

 

[Tomthumb]

If you got the tractor and blade from same seller should be good to go. That blade is not built to be weighted. Down pressure is controlled by your setting of hydraulics of the 3 point hitch. Don't try to do the job all in one pass. I like after a rain. Holes fill in a little easier.

 

[jeep78]

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1097&context=tractormuseumlit

More like 20 to 21 horses pulling that scraper.

 

[kingdaddy3247]

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1097&context=tractormuseumlit

More like 20 to 21 horses pulling that scraper.

That’s about a 40s “all fuel”. Mine is a 40t with a wide front end and gas only engine. But I appreciate the link I had not seen that one before. Thanks

 

[kingdaddy3247]

If you got the tractor and blade from same seller should be good to go. That blade is not built to be weighted. Down pressure is controlled by your setting of hydraulics of the 3 point hitch. Don't try to do the job all in one pass. I like after a rain. Holes fill in a little easier.

The tractor and box were obtained in 2 different trades from 2 different people. So these 2 have never been paired before. I’m going to hook it up later today and do some light testing.

 

[kingdaddy3247]

My guess is that the box is about 425 lbs based in newer items- tractor should handle that.

If that’s right, I’ll feel pretty good about it, but I cannot find much on these gill boxes. They seems to have been made by “woods” and the few I have found weigh almost twice that. This is one heavy pig.