Got the driveway done Earthcavator

S10Vette

Member
10- 12 foot wide driveway down to my equipment shed needs a little work once or twice a year. Mostly well packed shale with some adobe clay and gravel, but does tend to wash a bit and develop small ruts.

I have the original (1951) Earthcavator 5.5' rollover box blade that came with the 8N when new.

Although it will spin the tires if I get too big a bite, I find that with one hand on the hydraulic touch control lever I can sense when it is about to slip and keep it smooth. Advantage of a 6' would be that you could cover your tracks better and get closer to the edge of a driveway.


43832.jpg
 

Thanks for the pic. It looks exactly like my Gannon Rollover box blade. Yes it does work great.

When I got it, the forward scraping blade was pretty worn down. The edge of the blade was just about even with the frame. I purchased a new blade from Steel Ray Blades which is unfortunately no longer in business. They had the right double edged blade stock and they just asked you where you wanted the holes and the spacing. The blade they sent me fit mine perfectly.

I don't think I'll ever need another one in my time. If the new blade eventually wears down, I'll just take it off and turn it around to use the new edge. But I did search for another place like Steel Ray Blades that made blades to fit, but to no avail.

tractor.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 20:15:51 01/03/17) So, you have to back that thing up the hill ?

It's a roll over blade. You can reverse push (doze) with it or turn the blade over and go forward to scrape with it. There is a blade on the top and bottom.

Look at the pic of mine. Mine is set for scraping forward. If he turns his over it will look just like my picture.

That big lever sticking up on mine and his unlocks the blade so you can turn it over for scraping or back pushing. Sometimes to get a nice surface I'll use the other blade while scraping forward. The way his is in his picture. That way the blade is angled reverse of the regular scraping blade. That way it doesn't tend to dig itself in and leaves a nice smooth surface without disturbing a lot of dirt.
 

Yes, my forward cutting blade was also very worn by the time I flipped it over, should be good for another few decades though at the rate I use it.

I almost always finish up by backdragging with the blade as shown in my photo, but of course to cut or move material. it is flipped over. I never had much luck backing up using it like a dozer blade, but there are youtube videos showing that procedure.

Here is a parts list for it, but not necessarily in stock (they also have pl for the other widths) http://www.messicks.com/wo/1114
 
(quoted from post at 08:30:32 01/04/17)
Yes, my forward cutting blade was also very worn by the time I flipped it over, should be good for another few decades though at the rate I use it.

I almost always finish up by backdragging with the blade as shown in my photo, but of course to cut or move material. it is flipped over. I never had much luck backing up using it like a dozer blade, but there are youtube videos showing that procedure.

Here is a parts list for it, but not necessarily in stock (they also have pl for the other widths) http://www.messicks.com/wo/1114

Yeah, I agree, the "Ns" are not made for dozing in reverse. Way too fast.

I purchased a stump jumper for my Woods M5 mower from Messicks.
 

One more thing...

Can you reach the blade release handle while sitting in the drivers seat on yours? I can't reach mine but yours looks to be more forward than mine is.

I do however, keep a short piece of rope in the tool box. With this, I can tie it onto the handle and use it for pulling the handle from the drivers seat. With a little practice once you get it figured out, you can set the blade on the ground, pull the handle and drive forward slowly until it turns over to the other blade and catches in the stop lugs.
 
(quoted from post at 11:13:59 01/04/17)
One more thing...

Can you reach the blade release handle while sitting in the drivers seat on yours? I can't reach mine but yours looks to be more forward than mine is.

Your top link is adjusted much longer than mine, which tilts it back so the handle is further away. I have always had mine so that the side plates are parallel to the ground. Not saying mine is more correct, but that is why the handle is easy to reach I believe.
 
(quoted from post at 16:14:37 01/04/17)
(quoted from post at 11:13:59 01/04/17)
One more thing...

Can you reach the blade release handle while sitting in the drivers seat on yours? I can't reach mine but yours looks to be more forward than mine is.

Your top link is adjusted much longer than mine, which tilts it back so the handle is further away. I have always had mine so that the side plates are parallel to the ground. Not saying mine is more correct, but that is why the handle is easy to reach I believe.

You are correct. That pic is from when I first got the tractor. I don't know why I had it at that angle. When scraping my dirt roads, I run with the side plates about even with the ground. Raising the front of those side plates as you see in the picture puts the blade at too aggressive and angle where it wants to dig itself right into the ground.

I found that out when I got the new blade. It sticks down past those side plates somewhere between an inch and a half and maybe two inches. Even with it set right there's no way I can reach the handle. If you look again you'll see that my handle is different than yours and slants way towards the back too much.
 
(quoted from post at 16:28:44 01/04/17)

...... Even with it set right there's no way I can reach the handle. If you look again you'll see that my handle is different than yours and slants way towards the back too much.[/quote]ttps://forumphotos.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/43867.jpg[/img]
 
(quoted from post at 18:15:50 01/04/17)
So, can you reach the handle from your seat?

Yes, with left hand on steering wheel. To be more precise it is 52" from the lower OD (closest point to the steering wheel) to the handle. Hope that clarifies it.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top