#40 Box Blade Reproduction - Opinions
 

Hey, All! I need some honest feedback on a little project...

I am working with a company to have a replica made of my #40 Box Blade. My biggest interest in doing this was the fact that there is not a decent (good quality) sleeve hitch box blade available on the market today.

I have seen the Brinly box blade, and IMHO, it is nothing more that a rear blade with some flimsy metal end pieces. I like the looks of the IH #40, and the design is far more functional than any half-baked modern design. But, for obvious reasons, I really do not have any desire to drag my original #40 through rocks and dirt and end up damaging it.

Here is where I am now; The "replica" #40 box blade will pretty much look identical to the original IH version. However, I have requested that the manufacturer use a heavier gauge steel for the overall construction. The original model utilized 13 gauge sheet metal, and I spec'd 10 gauge. My interest in beefing up the body is to further prevent the side panels from bending under load. Additionally, I think the added weight will help with keeping cutting edge onto the ground.

While the attachment points at the tractor will remain the same, they have suggested some improvements to some of the other weld areas of the box to make it much stronger. We are also looking into upgrading the support piece behind the front and rear cutting blades.

The bottom line is that from an aesthetic point of view this will be as close to a #40 as they can make. Plus, a few upgrades to make it stronger for everyday use.

All of the steel used in the construction will be first rate. The sheet metal frame will be nitrogen laser cut to the original shape, then bent into the box form on a press brake . All welding will be first rate and professional. The finished box blade will then be powder coated the appropriate IH yellow. I will do the decals myself.

I would really like to get feedback regarding any other possible suggestions on how to possibly improve the design.

Also, I am looking at a target price point of around $325 for the finished product. Is that too much for something like this?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

:American Flag 1:

I think original ones tend to go for that much, so I'd say that's pretty fair. Steel is going up, so I hope you can get them made for that.

Sounds awesome,$325 sound like its not to bad,and as the IH 40 box blades are kinda hard to come by,i think it wouldbe great to have something like this available.:beerchug:

i payed $100 for my restored #40 box blade :biggrin2:

Nash,

The work I do around my place lives and dies by my box blade - go heavy, go stout . . . you won't go wrong.

That being said, mine is on the back of a larger tractor with a cat-2 3pt so I'm not sure what your cub can handle. But since the one you're having made is for working, I think being "close" visually to an original #40 should take a back seat to functionality.

$325.00 for a good blade is a good deal.

Please post pics when you're done

Here's a pic of the last hole I dug . . . 30' x 30' x 8 ft deep.
I skinned the side of a hill for my new barn. It was all done by eye with a box blade and FEL.

:ThumbsUp: Sounds like a great laid out plan to me.....if you can keep it aroud that price range too - you have it made! I think the biggest thing with ANYTHING bought any more is the lack of quality. You build it thicker, heavier, stronger than the IH blade you have now.....you will certainly enjoy using it. It will certainly be a work horse, and that's exactly what you want as well as many of us too. Nothing more frustrating than planning to do a job and the equipment won't stand up or you need some fat a$$ friend to stand on the back of it make it cut into the ground because it was too light weight to begin with. Nothing more frustrating than having to pay someone with a bigger piece of equipment to come do the job when you could have done it with a Cub had the attachment just been made the way it should have been.

??? Just my opion....but I think your on the right path! :bigthink:

I gotta agree with the other guys (and you know how that makes me crazy). I have a Craftsman box blade that I got with a bunch of stuff that I bought some time ago and even with down pressure straps, you have to make several passes before it stops "chattering".

If you can build one that is tougher than, and works just as well as an original one, for about the same price as what you would pay for an original one, then you have the bull by the horns.

Your box blade will not mean anything to a "collector" but to those of us who really use our stuff functionality is way more important than originality.

I say go for it! I would be interested in one! Made in U.S.A!

Steve your on the right path! I'm looking forward to your pics! If I didn't have a repo box blade I'd get one of them.

[QUOTE= or you need some fat a$$ friend to stand on the back of it make it cut into the ground because it was too light weight to begin with. :[/QUOTE]

haha i do that with my brinly back blade, but instead of having someone stand on the back i do and still run the tractor. another beauty about having a hand hydro. :beerchug:

I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that :biggrin2:

First of all, I would like to thank you all for your feedback!

Second of all... I LMAO at Hilltop's response to IHNick!!! I have to agree that I'd like to see that too!!! :biggrin2:

According to the mfg, I'm going to have to buy material to build six to ten of the box blades. Four have been spoken for. The prototype will be ready in about ten business days. We will make any design adjustments at that point.

I intend to keep the appearance of the box blade as close to the original #40 as possible. But it will definitely be a heavier/beefier version. I'm ready to put it to work and see what the Cubs are capable of doing! I truly hope that it performs 10x better than what is available today.

Will post pics of the process soon!

Will they have the backfill blade as well?

Dang it, Cub123!!! You guys are certainly demanding! -lol

Yes, depending on cost, I do plan on including the back blade and wings on the reproduction. My original #40 has it, and they wanted to do the whole ball of wax.

Best thing is... MADE IN :American Flag 1:

Hey Steven i hope more than 10 will be made-lol, but sign me up for one as well! Will they have serial numbers stamped in them? or on repo IH serial number plates? That way even though its a reproduction you can still track the prototypes, series models (if they happen to change drasticly later), and numbers made per year.

Thats all I have as far as ideas. Sounds like it will perform top notch when tested with its added strength and improvements!

Cant wait to see it!

Dan,

That is a great question.

During the review of the #40, replicating it to the TEE was brought up. Including the bend in the main attachment bracket and the individual spacer brackets on the rear blade. What they are looking at is my 'loaded' #40.

I just wanted a beefed up #40 that I would not be afraid to work. And that would work up to the limits of a 'real' Cub Cadet. Garden Tractors only...the real ones... Like ours...


:American Flag 1:

# 40 copy
 

Well after hearing all the input on the box blades. I am holding off getting anything till I see how this turns out. I think I want one too... LOL.

Sounds good to me and cant wait to see the end result! Just thought it would be cool to have a heavy duty box blade and it also happen to be a prototye :biggrin2:, keep my order on reserve for now anyway. :beerchug:

it would be nice to see it with a cat 0 3 point for our supers and diesels just my 2 cents worth

When you get these done, I will be very interested in one.

Well, I met with the fabricators today to go over some details.

First of all, I must say that I was very pleased with the attention to detail and the lengths they went to keep it true to the original design. They are even replicating the rear blade support brackets, which totally amazed me! I guess you would have to have actually seen the underside of a #40 up close to understand what I am referring to. Bottom line is that I was thoroughly impressed.

Now for the bad news... :bigthink:

To keep the cost of each box blade at an affordable price point, it does not look like I will be able to have them powder coated as I had hoped. The raw finished blade is already at that mark, and due to set-up costs, it would just be cost prohibitive to have it done.

The few of you guys that want one of these will have the option of receiving the box blade in raw steel form, or with a coat of primer that I can apply myself.

The one thing that I am not completely sold on is the gauge of plate steel that is currently spec'd. The original IH #40 box was constructed of 13 ga. steel. The unit that I am having made is 11 ga., which is a 25% improvement in thickness. When compared side be side on thickness, the 11 ga. is quite obviously much heavier. However, I am still wondering if it will be heavy enough to accomplish what I wanted to with this reproduction.

I requested a quote on some heavier gauge plate. However, much to my disappointment, I do know that 1/4" plate is probably out of the question due to cost. Not saying that it cannot be done if you want one like that. I just think it is too expensive.

Anyway, we are down to brass tacks at this point. There is still time to make adjustments, but I intend to have the box blades into production at the end of next week. Several of the box blades that will be produced have been spoken for. There will be four or five extras available. Should anyone be seriously interested in having one, please PM me, or email me at nashcub1@yahoo.com

I'm open to any questions, comments, and/or suggestions.

Thanks!
Steven

:American Flag 1: :IH Logo:

Steven,

I'm with Wild Bill - you've improved on an established design, no worries on whether you should have gone heavier - If I was going to use my 104 for moving dirt, I'd buy one from you in a heartbeat!

We're still going to get to see pics of the final product right? :Pray:

Thanks, Guys!

That's the type of feedback that I need. I just want to do this right for myself, and the other guys that want one. I'm really looking forward to seeing the first completed box blade. Also hoping to be able to take pics of the process! Might be another week before they make the production run, but I will post them as quickly as possible.

The facility where these are being made is quite impressive. I can assure you that I am not their 'typical' customer by a long shot. I'm very fortunate that the owners of the fabrication company took the time to listen to me. The resources and technical support that they have provided to me has been incredible, and there is no doubt in my mind that they will produce a high quality product.

:American Flag 1:

#40 Reproduction
 

Quick update; Still waiting an a firm date to begin production. There are a few more important items that will need to completed before it can be put into the rotation. Shooting for sometime next week.

Only other improvement that I could think of would be adding a piece of 1/4 plate steel to the inside lower and leading edges of the side panels. I would like to think that this would firm up that area and further prevent the leading edge from being bent or tweeked.

Current plan is to crank out a couple of them to make sure everything fits together properly. Any adjustments can be made at that time. I still plan to take some pics of the whole process. If possible, I will also try to make a vid to post. The guys at the fab company thought I'd be impressed with watching the nitrogen cutter at work.

Words cannot describe how anxious I am about seeing the completed product. It's almost like waiting for Christmas as a kid... I think I will name the box blade "Lever Action Red Rider BB Gun with a Compass in the Stock."

:American Flag 1:

any updates on this project? im anxious to see what you came up with.

Nick,

Hope to go into production very soon. Like next week. My fault that things are moving slower than expected. However, I'm back on point with this project!

I actually dropped off a lower bracket at the fabricators today so that they can make sure the lower mounting arms will clear when raised. The reason for this is that the cross bar and mounting arms are 1/2" taller than the original #40. We went from the original 1 1/2" square tube stock, to 2" and the clevis pins holes need to line up properly with the lower bracket hole. Might also need to radius the end of the mounting arm.

I'm as anxious as anyone to get this done. It should be really cool, but the proof will be in the pudding!

I also have another neat Cub implement in the works. Stay tuned...

Thanks!
Steven

Looking forward to hearing about the next implement, Steve! :ThumbsUp:

Looking forward to your progress and your next project details!:biggrin2:

Hey, all!

Sorry for the long delay. Just been super busy. Looks like we should have a working model box blade around the first week of June.

Once the first BB is completed, it will go through QC and some thorough testing. I will be posting some action photos, and hopefully a vid on youtube. Once everything passes muster we will make a few more with what material is left from the steel order.

A few have already been spoken for, but there should be four or five box blades still available if anyone is interested. Please contact me through OCC or at nashcub1@yahoo.com for details.

Steven C.

I have started developing and building catagory 0 hitch kits and cat 0 implements for cub cadet garden tractors. So far i have built and sold three hitches and three more are waiting manufacture and shipping, two cat 0 tool bars with cultivators, hillers and a cat 0 sub soiler. With the exception of the hitch I don't build cub cadet reproductions, my implements are scaled down versons of catagory 1 and 2 models. I build a prototype and abuse it to see where the weak points are and adress it accordingley. I have been working on building a catagory o box blade. The box is made of 3/16" sheet metal and I use 1/4x2x2 angle, 1/8x2x2 tubing and 1/4x2 flat bar to make the frame,structure and mast. The back of the box is starting to bend and peel up under the stress and its own weight ( about 90 lbs.) . I am waiting for the rippers to come in the mail and perhapse the addition of these will prevent any future bending issues. As one member said, the heaver you make it the more cumbersome it becomes but the hydrolic cat 0 hitch really makes it effortless. I am glad to see someone else developing garden tractor implements and look forward to seeing what wou come up with.

That's great news about someone making American made products to be used on our old Cubs. I say build it right the first time and make it last. Most new products are made disposable to save a buck. I wonder if companies know that some people like myself would even pay double for a product if it was made in the USA:American Flag 1: and made to last forever.

By the way I know what a box blade does but I have never found a use for one. What do you guys use a box blade for?

any updates?

Will be posting pics of production and the completed box blade real soon. I will probably start a new thread with the completed project pics. Will definitely try to get some action shots and a vid if at all possible.

I can tell you all now that the BB looks awesome. I am sure that we will have to do a little fine tuning, but I must say that I am very pleased!


:American Flag 1:

box blade
 

Can't wait to see your reproduction

Definitely, can't wait to see it! :beerchug:

I have started a new thread with pictures and updates on the #40 Box Blade. Please refer to the thread titled:

"#40 Box Blade Part 2"

Would like to thank everyone for their input and support. Especially want to thank those that have waited six months for this to become a reality. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated. Things have just been really busy and this project got put on the back burner...


:American Flag 1:

Completed pics are posted under the Part 2 heading. Thanks!

:American Flag 1:

Some new things coming out soon!!!