Ideas for a big lawn roller

[Arc weld]

Propane boils at -47 deg's, or something close to that, and that's what creates the pressure in the tank. If the valve and fittings have been removed, there won't be any propane left. However, you never know what else may have been in the tank so rinsing with hot water or steaming it out is a good idea.

 

[the old grind]

Diameter isn't the only way to get the weight 'up there'. A smaller diameter roller can have a weight rack on its frame, handle more easily when not in use and blocks etc are removed. (not a year-round gadget for all of us) Square the rack's back to roller diameter and stand it up like a jog cart when parking it. (secure hitch end from toppling onto grandkids)

To 'concrete' a large drum, center a round 'cage' of re-mesh inside. Add rocks or rip-rap inside that as you fill & save on mix. (May be better balanced by using the latter. YMMV)

 

[6011Artist]

I have a big plastic tank roller I bought at an auction on the cheap but an old friend gave me one that is 30" wide and about 14" across the end of the roller that was built from air conditioner galvanized duct pipe. They took two end caps, drilled holes in the centers for a piece of 3/4 inch pump pipe to stick through extending about 5 inches beyond the ends of the roller. Stood it up on one end with 1 cap installed, stood the pipe up in the center but had it blocked up off the ground the proper height, started filling the duct pipe with concrete and took a rubber hammer to beat on the sides to move the rocks away from the outside somewhat, just like when forming with wood, filled it full and installed the other end cap. He says it's 30 yrs old and is still holding up well. If the sheet metal rusts away the concrete will still work without the outer skin.

Duct pipe it somewhat cheap, easy to work with and is basically to hold the concrete in place til it dries but after 30 yrs mine is still in good shape with the duct pipe still attached. After it dries, build up a towing frame...cheap n easy build.

 

[tessiers]

We have an old carding roll from a woolen mill, 7' long and 3' in diameter 1 1/4" thick steel, weighs 4000 lbs empty, never had to fill it with anything. It will work the snot out of my 50hp tractor 2wd. I pull it with my crawler on soft ground and it will leave the area smooth as glass.

 

[muddstopper]

Using a large heavy roller to smooth out a lawn isnt a real good solution. The roller does it smoothing by compacting the high spots in the lawn. Compaction leads to poor water infiltration into the soil and increases runoff on slopes. If I wanted to use a roller to smooth out a lawn, I would use a spiker type drum areator. The spiker areator will at least cut slits into the soil as it compacts it. The areator would also probably do a better job of leveling out the soil as well since it will break up the soil somewhat as it is towed over the area

 

[davel8257]

Using a large heavy roller to smooth out a lawn isnt a real good solution...

That is a topic for a whole 'nother discussion. I've heard that point of view and wondered about it. I bought a PTO-driven rototiller and tilled up a large area for a volleyball court on our church's property. We raked and dragged smooth, planted grass seed and waited for rain (2+ yrs ago). The report came back to me later that the area was rough to mow over. ouch!

I'd like to figure out the best way to smooth out the yard (and keep it smooth).

 

[jenkinsph]

That is a topic for a whole 'nother discussion. I've heard that point of view and wondered about it. I bought a PTO-driven rototiller and tilled up a large area for a volleyball court on our church's property. We raked and dragged smooth, planted grass seed and waited for rain (2+ yrs ago). The report came back to me later that the area was rough to mow over. ouch!

I'd like to figure out the best way to smooth out the yard (and keep it smooth).

I use a landplane grader scraper to smooth out lawn areas, gets it flat without leaving it overly compacted. Then run a smaller 18" towable plastic roller filled with water to improve seed contact. Best if the ground is slightly damp too. Here's some pics showing the ground after rolling and some where the grass is up later.

 

[GManBart]

I saw this the other day....500gal tank (give or take), so full of water, it would be pretty heavy....4,000lbs+.

 

[MBTRAC]

Rollers are reasonably easy to make - pipes, cylinders, tyres all can be used - below is a few we use around the farms:
- c.40" smooth steel pipe roller filled with concrete & capped
- c. 12' ribbed steel drum roller water ballasted @ c.9T/empty c.4T
- c. 6' tyre roller, tyre are low pressure filled with water, rims welded to centre tube & end capped welded to old plough discs/bearing carriers (& fitted with seed box)

For levelling lawns we built the small carry drag scraper pictured (works much like a small landplane) to take out high spots/fill hollows pulled by c 18hp Kubota/Iseki or in lighter applications a JD415 - The 120" long drawbar assists maintaining levels (& makes for easier reversing), the single hyd ram acting on the rear wheels pivots the assembly for cutting,controls dumping, spreading of material & lifts the assembly for easy unhindered transport/ there's also a old screw adjust 3pl toplink which pivots the RH wheel so the unit can easily be tilted (ideally I'd have fitted another hyd ram but my JD415 doesn't have another remote nor did I have a suitable valve laying around).
With then follow up with the tyre roller which suitable "flex's/bags" with the water filled tyres so no ridges are left by the implement.

 

[sam5570]

this one we made several years ago when 75% full of water it's all my jd can pull around.

 

[IC Smoke]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/204021-how-i-roll-lawn-roller.html

 

[jobguy]

I filled my garden tractor/mower tires with antifreeze which worked very well for the lawn and traction when blowing snow.

 

[Tig]

I like rollers for early spring when the ground is very soft. It doesn't take a lot of weight to pound the bumps down then.
For larger issues I scrape or fill.

 

[muddstopper]

I'll throw out another option that I have experience with and that is to use an areovator. Expensive to purchase, but easy enough to find for rent. I own a small towbehind one and it will smooth and loosen up the soil at the same time. A areovator works by vibrating tines that penetrate the soil as it is towed behind. The tines are about 6in long and mounted on a rotating shaft in a concentric manner. As the shaft spins the tines just sort of roll along, vibrating from side to side. This movement helps the tines penetrate deep into the soil, fractureing it in every direction, and the vibration will help knock down the high spots. I use mine for planting grass seed. I broadcast the seed before running over the area with the areovator. Best method I have ever found for overseeding a old lawn, and works pretty durn good for a new lawn as well.