Long story but after considering different implements to solve a problem with too much dirt one place and not enough in another a search on FBM led to buying the 84" Pequea blade below. It has height-adjustable scarifiers that flip up when not needed. The seller provided a very good description and the final price was $270. The seller said that the PO welded it so it wouldn't rotate left / right. It does tilt left / right OK.
I "unwelded" it spending a little time late yesterday and an hour today. with four 4-1/2" Harbor Freight death wheels and about 1/2 of a 4-1/2" grinding wheel. The blade was held by two very large nuts tightened against each other I don't know what size they are but my 15" Craftsman adjustable didn't open far enough to get on them. A pipe wrench and a cheater spun them without a lot of drama. I love DeWalt battery tools, but when the work went to leaning on a grinder for 1/2 hour at a time, I fired up the generator and grabbed the old B&D grinder.
The main tube of the frame looks like it filled with water and froze at some point because it expanded on the tractor end. Energetic whacks with a 3# hammer indicated it was still healthy. I do plan on uncapping anything that's sealed for a better look and a cleaning. I already drilled 4 drain holes in the bottom corners of the main tube.
With the exception of popping end plates off, disassembly is pretty much done. The next couple of sessions will be cleaning up and truing up any damaged holes. The scarifiers were attached with an assortment of nuts 'n bolts that I will replace with pins. It would be nice to add some clips to keep the scarifiers flipped up.
I have some preliminary thoughts on making a very robust axle for the rotation. It appears to have had welded-in bushings for the main and locking pins where they passed through the main beam. I'm considering modifying extra large hitch pins and pipe sleeves.
I "unwelded" it spending a little time late yesterday and an hour today. with four 4-1/2" Harbor Freight death wheels and about 1/2 of a 4-1/2" grinding wheel. The blade was held by two very large nuts tightened against each other I don't know what size they are but my 15" Craftsman adjustable didn't open far enough to get on them. A pipe wrench and a cheater spun them without a lot of drama. I love DeWalt battery tools, but when the work went to leaning on a grinder for 1/2 hour at a time, I fired up the generator and grabbed the old B&D grinder.
The main tube of the frame looks like it filled with water and froze at some point because it expanded on the tractor end. Energetic whacks with a 3# hammer indicated it was still healthy. I do plan on uncapping anything that's sealed for a better look and a cleaning. I already drilled 4 drain holes in the bottom corners of the main tube.
With the exception of popping end plates off, disassembly is pretty much done. The next couple of sessions will be cleaning up and truing up any damaged holes. The scarifiers were attached with an assortment of nuts 'n bolts that I will replace with pins. It would be nice to add some clips to keep the scarifiers flipped up.
I have some preliminary thoughts on making a very robust axle for the rotation. It appears to have had welded-in bushings for the main and locking pins where they passed through the main beam. I'm considering modifying extra large hitch pins and pipe sleeves.
Last edited:
