more middle buster questions

[Mosey]

I've been looking at middle busters and they seem to run about $100 for Wallace, King Kutter, Howse, and other similar brands. They all seem to have the same sized width of 14". That's too wide for what I need. I want one to use to bury 4" drain tile about a foot deep, so about 8" wide would be plenty. I also looked at a King Kutter sub soiler, but that's too narrow. It also cost more, $140, which seems odd. Has anyone seen a middle buster that has a narrower width?

 

[theboman]

You can get other sized spades/hoes (whatever they are called), and they are pretty cheap too.

 

[Mosey]

Thanks. I found what you're talking about:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://tractorsupply9.crossmediaservices.com/tractorsupplycatalog/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098776149&storeid=2315513&offerid=>field cultivator sweep</A>

 

[BrettW]

Hey guys, I'm a complete novice on this middle buster subject. Would you mind explaining this cultivator sweep link I just clicked on. I'll need a middle buster to run a bunch of water 2" water pipe eventually and maybe bury some ele. cable. thanks, brett w

 

[Mosey]

This is a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://tractorsupply9.crossmediaservices.com/tractorsupplycatalog/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098777930&storeid=2315513&offerid=>middle buster</A>

This is a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://tractorsupply9.crossmediaservices.com/tractorsupplycatalog/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098777929&storeid=2315513&offerid=>sub soiler</A>

Here's a couple of threads that discuss what they do:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=203379&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=>Middle Busters and 3PT Spreaders</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=203708&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=>howse middle busters?</A>

 

[OkieG]

While shopping at TSC I also thought it odd that the subsoiler was more expensive than the middlebuster. You would think the tooth on the subsoiler would, if anything, cost less than the blade on the middlebuster.

The only other difference I noticed was that the vertical steel bar on the subsoiler is a few inches longer than on the middlebuster. At manufacturers cost, that couldn't be more than a few cents extra. So, why the extra $30-40 retail??

OkieG

 

[JimMc]

Simple. Subsoiler runs deeper, finds more hidden objects. More warranty.

 

[frank_f15]

danny: i found tha 14" is not that wide. if u are burying 4" tile that gives u approx. 5" on each side. if u need to use stone under /on the pipe it makes it easier to work with. if not , it don't take much to fill it back in. rather have a trench too big than one to small, it fill in easy with the bucket/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[kyoders]

I bought one of the TSC sweeps to put on my middle buster (also from TSC). It looked ideal for what I was doing, burying 1-1/2" PVC. First, there is a problem getting the holes lined up. This can be overcome. The biggest problem is that the angle of the sweep makes it pretty useless. The idea behind the middle buster is that the shovel is angled into the ground as you go, pulling it deeper. As it goes deeper, the angle lessens and it will eventually reach an "equilibrium" point where it is not being pulled deeper, but runs at roughly the same depth. Within the limits of your 3pt hitch, you can adjust how deep it goes by the length of the top link. Shorter top link, deeper penetration.

At least on my BX, the smaller sweep's angle means that I have to shorten my top link more than is possible to get it to dig in at all. With it as short as it goes, the sweep is already parallel to the ground with it raised as high as it will go. I'm thinking about building an angled spacer block to put between the middle buster foot and the sweep to get a more favorable angle of attack. I just haven't done it yet. Depending on the geometry of your hitch, you may need to do something similar.

Kevin