Box Blade 101

[PaulR]

Looking to get a box blade for my BX23S.
2 acre residence + 2 acre commercial property.
Will be used for general land / lawn grading, maybe try to level potholes in a really old bad half paved/gravel parking lot. Mostly small area grading, where the plow wasted my grass, etc.

What size do I want?
48"
54"
60"
doesn't matter?

I'm wondering if its like a mower deck? You get a nicer cut with a smaller 42", when you get 50+" it can get sloppy?

Thanks in advance.

 

[fried1765]

Looking to get a box blade for my BX23S.
2 acre residence + 2 acre commercial property.
Will be used for general land / lawn grading, maybe try to level potholes in a really old bad half paved/gravel parking lot. Mostly small area grading, where the plow wasted my grass, etc.

What size to I want?
48"
54"
60"
doesn't matter?

I'm wondering if its like a mower deck? You get a nicer cut with a smaller 42", when you get 50+" it can get sloppy?

Thanks in advance.

You need to get a blade width at least as wide as your wheel track.

If you are willing to wait, and to pay their price, the best/most versatile blade on the market is likely the Everything Attachments "6 Way Deluxe Scrape Blade" with "side plates".

You should check out the other EA blade types on their website as well.
EA makes excellent stuff, but because their products are so popular, there is often a substantial wait time.

 

[PaulR]

Yea, I assumed the wheel track thing. I'll have to measure, I'm at work right now.
That's the other thing, I know EA makes great stuff, but I want this thing last weekend, my brother
could have already used it to grade part of his lawn where he pulled up some trees.
I'll check those out all the same though, thanks.

 

[SteveBX23]

Using a 60" on mine has worked well

 

[GreensvilleJay]

54" as BX23S is kinda 48" wide.
You may not 'need' a box blade. A 'rear' blade WILL grade. Framers used them for decades before the 'box blade' was invented.
Given the choice of box blade, 9 week delivery vs rear blade, NOW..... I'd buy the rear blade.

 

[Henro]

If you are going to use the box blade aggressively, I would get the narrowest that just covered the width of the rear tires, plus an inch or two on each side.

A 60" on the back of my B2910 when used to do real work is about the max that tractor will handle. I never put the 60 inch box blade on my BX. Might if all I wanted to do was skim off some high points on the driveway, or run the box where it was tilted back and not digging in much. But having a larger tractor with top and tilt, that will never happen...

My son in law bought a BB for his BX23S, I am pretty sure it was either 42 or 48". Whichever it is works well for him, from what I hear.

 

[Henro]

54" as BX23S is kinda 48" wide.
You may not 'need' a box blade. A 'rear' blade WILL grade. Framers used them for decades before the 'box blade' was invented.
Given the choice of box blade, 9 week delivery vs rear blade, NOW..... I'd buy the rear blade.

My reality says the OP needs BOTH a BB and rear blade!

So I agree, and suggest if the funds are available buy both!

Also a landscape rake...maybe...been useful in my case...

Doubt I would go with a 54" myself for a BX though...Just me maybe...

 

[PaulR]

Great replies everyone thanks.
Consensus seems to be smaller is actually better, just past the tractor width.
Yes, in the end I'll be acquiring them all.
Good idea getting the back blade now and maybe waiting for a better Box blade.

 

[bbxlr8]

Great replies everyone thanks.
Consensus seems to be smaller is actually better, just past the tractor width.
Yes, in the end I'll be acquiring them all.
Good idea getting the back blade now and maybe waiting for a better Box blade.

You are there

A 5' BB was my first must-have after purchase. Since my K is set up as TLB, I first tried it on my smaller ford (why not right?). Per Henro above, Even though I knew it, I proved that matching size & smaller is better for that size tractor (I was born in the "show me" state and that can be an asset and a liability!)

It was fine for light-duty, but was way too much ground-pulling drag if you dig in. I ended up using it for mild leveling mid-project. My issues were compounded by turf tires as it is a glorified grass cutting machine and does that well.

 

[RalphVa]

I got a 5 ft Woods BB with the B2601. It works great. Thing is 518 #. Check weight of your BX re B2601. Limitation on the B is traction, not hp.

The Canadian guy on Youtube did a video on his 5 ft BB he got for his B2601. Might be a similar one on a BX.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

You can probably pull a wider BB IF the material ain't heavy, or digging deep. One of them 'physics things' we all slept through in highskool

 

[Dave Ogren]

I just got a 48" box blade. I feel that is max for a BX23. I am running industrial tires. Roots are what stops me. But overall very pleased.

 

[Dieseldonato]

My dad had a 6 foot BB. with all the rippers down(6 of them) in semi hard packed stone his L245dt has its hands full.... very full. Once the stone is loose it's biggest issue is traction when the box starts to get a decent amount of stone in it. I constantly think a 5 foot BB would have been a better option for his tractor weight and hp.

 

[OrangeKrush]

I purchased a used 60" bb for my bx2680 and have not used it in dirt yet. Works ok in my driveway ... full it was pulling it fine with the rippers down 2-3" but if I was buying new I would have gone with the width of tractor = 48".

 

[TheShadyKubota]

Just wondering if you ended up getting one or the other? I have a line on a gently used 54" BB and a 72" rear angled blade that I'm highly considering but wondering if the angled blade would be too much for the BX.. I guess worst case I torch off some length if it feels to be too much. If anyone has thoughts or comments that would be great!

 

[OrangeKrush]

I have a 60" rear blade that my 2680 pulls and pushes great .. dirt and gravel!
My 60" bb weighs 450-475lbs and that BX pulls it in gravel loaded pretty well.

72" is pretty wide.. if for a unbeatable price it would be worth modifying though!

 

[TheShadyKubota]

I have a 60" rear blade that my 2680 pulls and pushes great .. dirt and gravel!
My 60" bb weighs 450-475lbs and that BX pulls it in gravel loaded pretty well.

72" is pretty wide.. if for a unbeatable price it would be worth modifying though!

Great thanks for the feedback!