We have a small 100-acre farm and the spring/rainwater trenches and drainage ditches need to be cleaned out. Will a middle buster on a BX be a reasonable option for this project? I do not have any experience with a middle buster so any input would be appreciated.
Drainage ditch need cleaned -- Using a BX
- Thread starter bdh1966
- Start date
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
assuming the ditches are wide enough of the BX to drive in, it sounds 'good' though up here, the city crew use a 'giraffe'. Think 3' bucket on an extendable /rotating boom on a truck. 1 guy drives other scoops 'stuff' out of the ditches.
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Is this your only tractor option? Without seeing what you need to do you pose a difficult question. The BX is small light and has relatively low ground clearance. To use it to clean up ditches with a plow is asking a lot out of a small tractor.
The width of the ditch will make a difference. Are you trying to straddle the ditch? Or are you trying to run in the bottom of the ditch? Are the ditches dry enough to drive that small of a tractor into without being stuck in the mud? Are the ditches over grow with bushes and such that will be hard to plow through?
I think it would be doubtful that it will do you a good job unless the ditches have been maintained annually.
The width of the ditch will make a difference. Are you trying to straddle the ditch? Or are you trying to run in the bottom of the ditch? Are the ditches dry enough to drive that small of a tractor into without being stuck in the mud? Are the ditches over grow with bushes and such that will be hard to plow through?
I think it would be doubtful that it will do you a good job unless the ditches have been maintained annually.
BigG, thanks for the reply. We have other tractor options. The ditches have been poorly maintained and it is probable that the BX will get stuck. The thought with the smaller tractor is that it can easily be pulled out if stuck and it will be a better option for us to straddle the various areas. In some areas, the brush will need cut as that should have been done anyway. The end goal is to clean the ditches 1x/yr once they are cleaned up.
This farm is blessed with many springs, which in combination with the drainage ditches not being maintained, have resulted in a problem that needs to be addressed this year.
This farm is blessed with many springs, which in combination with the drainage ditches not being maintained, have resulted in a problem that needs to be addressed this year.
Do not forget that the BX has a plastic cooling fan exposed underneath, that without protection is soon stripped of its blades and is a real pain to replace, time- and effort-wise.
If you do use the BX where a stick or something similar may damage the fan, best to install some kind of skid plate, or you will regret it.
edit: this fan is for cooling the HST I believe. So it is important and must be addressed if damaged.
If you do use the BX where a stick or something similar may damage the fan, best to install some kind of skid plate, or you will regret it.
edit: this fan is for cooling the HST I believe. So it is important and must be addressed if damaged.
Hi everyone, I thought I'd do a quick update. The middle buster worked pretty well overall. Where the ground was pretty soft & muddy, the tractor walked some, but that was no fault of the implement. Once the ditches & trenches get cleaned up and the surrounding ground dries, this will be a good yearly maintenance tool for the farm.
Also, I totally agree with Henro's comments regarding the cooling fan. We invested in the full skid plates (front, middle & rear) from Bro-Tek. The peace of mind was worth every penny!
Be safe everyone!
Also, I totally agree with Henro's comments regarding the cooling fan. We invested in the full skid plates (front, middle & rear) from Bro-Tek. The peace of mind was worth every penny!
Be safe everyone!
