Cultipacker Build

[Farmhand1]

Have been working on this project on and off for several months. The Plant Manager wants to plant buckwheat in our fallow garden plots and supported my effort to get it done and out of the garage, where it's been taking up far too much space.

Welding main frame complete, axle, pillow block and wheel assembly installed.
Fit up of the hitch structure commences:
View attachment 381093
Welding the hitch structure commences:
View attachment 381094
Assembled and inspected:
View attachment 381096
The Plant Manager approves after sea trials:
View attachment 381095

Can I ask where you got the packer wheels? And the cost? Thanks Eric

 

[Baby Grand]

Can I ask where you got the packer wheels? And the cost? Thanks Eric

The rollers were $8.49 a piece plus shipping from AgriSupply.

 

[Farmhand1]

The rollers were $8.49 a piece plus shipping from
BG,
After reading further,..I see you had already answered my question...sorry for asking a already answered question...you did a nice job on your packer.
Thanks for posting ..
Eric

 

[Baby Grand]

Buckwheat's doing well.

I was expecting about 150 to 200lbs/ft to get a firm compaction. I use light plastic water filled rollers that are 120lbs/ft and have a new build for a steel and concrete roller that is 375lbs/ft.

Wow - that's heavy! I did notice the germination started in the tire tracks, first, then where the packer had pressed the seed, the anywhere the packer had missed.
The soil here has a high clay content, so I'm going to try using just enough pressure to get the desired germination.
Apparently it works alright in it's present configuration ...
I estimate mine weighs 420", as-is, and is 64" outside wheel to outside wheel - so nearly 80lbs/ft.
I packed a day (a very hot day) after tiling and the top layer of soil was very dry and wouldn't hold together much.
Next time I use it I will make a point of packing right after tilling, while the top layer of soil's still moist.
Remaining work on this project - I need to add a lifting eye for moving it around and a kickstand for setting it down - then paint.

 

[TSO]

What did you use for an axle? I'd like to make one of these myself...

Is it a trailer axle, or is there a specific size used?

 

[Baby Grand]

It's a solid bar that is a just loose enough fit with the wheels that they can spin.
I found it at our local steel yard in the salvage racks. I'll check on the OD.

 

[TSO]

Ok thx... My phone doesn't want to load photos today so I can't see, but did you use any bearings, or just welded the "axle" rod to the frame, and the packers just rotate around the fixed bar?

Do you need to grease the wheels?

 

[Baby Grand]

The 1.75" axle runs on a pair of pillow block bearings - also from Agri-Supply.

I tried adding an 8 foot, 4" Lally column for an additional 100 to 110 pounds:

This seemed to help when I planted tillage radish in our little North field:

The column got the weight up to 420# + 105# = 525#, or about 100#/ft.
I'd still like to squash the soil down to the tire marks:

Next, I'm going to try laying 2 30 gal ballast tanks on their sides, one on each end, and fill them with water.
This should get me up to about 420# + 480 = 900#, or about 170#/ft.


Next week,