PTO pump

[txgal]

First let me preface my question with I have very limited knowledge about tractors, pto's and the like. I want to build a drag for my arena much like the dragmaster made by Kiser. Here is the link for the kind souls that will take the extra time to answer my questions:
http://www.abiequine.com/products/arena_drags/kiser_dragmaster.php
I don't have an extra $14,000 dollars laying around so my husband is going to attempt to build it for me.
The drag has a water tank on top that is PTO driven. Does anyone know where I could get such a pump and the accessories that have been used on the dragmaster? Thanks in advance for all of the help!!

 

[John D]

Welcome TXgal. Try this.

Tractor Supply Company - Sprayer Roller Pumps

 

[txgal]

Thanks for the help John D. Does that hook up directly to the PTO or are there other parts that are needed in-between? The dragmaster lets you control all of the water while you are pulling the drag. Do you know how that might be possible?

 

[kthompson]

For a pump, some come ready to connect directly to the pto shaft, others don't. A roller pump should be a good one for this. You need to buy for the water to be pumped. No need to buy much more capacity than needed. IF ALL you will be pumping is clean water you should be fine with lowest quality pump. I still like using quick disconnects for the water lines to remove pump when not being used and I normally just drop mine in a bucket of oil to prevent it rusting. If it is being used often you may not need to do such but letting water sit in it is not good. The quick disconnects allow for quick drainage. Also they allow you to use a pump on more than you sprayer. You probably are going to need pressure regulator and cut off valve also. (THere are many styles of quick disconnets. The ones for water lines are plastic or nylon and all I have seen are black. The do not cost but a few dollars. The ones for hydraulic lines are made of metal and cost a good bit more. Look in the sprayer section of store.)

Guess I should have started off with, that is one nice looking rig. Did you notice the Horse power requirement for it?

Tractor Supply or such type of store should have a lot if not all of what you need that can be bought pre made. No doubt your husband already realize there will be much he must make from scratch.

No horse person, have a nephew who shows in western competition but not any type of running. He uses a much lower price area rake that is round like a rim of wagon wheel with large steel teeth that rotates as you pull it. I would sure know the cost difference was worth it.

 

[txgal]

Thank you kthompson, you filled in some blanks for me. We are going to make a scaled down version for my 20hp yanmar tractor. I hope my husband knows what he is getting in to!
I ride reining horses which is a type of western type riding. Reining requires the horses to slide in the dirt on their hind feet. The dragmaster is used in all major reining competitions and most of the really successful trainers have them. It keeps the base level while keeping the loose footing on top nice and soft.
I used to have one like you described. The problem I had with it is it acts a lot like a box blade does when it hits a high or low area. You end up making holes bigger and high spots higher because of the rigidity of the attachment to the back of the tractor. The great thing about the dragmaster is it has a beveled cutting edge on the front that will knock down the high spots.
Well, since you're not a horse person I'm sure I'm boring you with all the dirt talk and I pretty much just typed up a commericial about dragmaster!
Thanks again!

 

[teg]

If this is a scaled down model, the pto pumps are pretty strong and you might be able to get away with a 12 volt pump (that can be controlled with an on/off switch). Is the water for keeping down the dust? so you really only need a mist spray?

 

[bobodu]

You will need to find a pump that matches you PTO speed (eg. 540 or 1000) and just get a coupler like this. You might be able to find what you need at TSC or Rural King or whatever you have where you live.
Rittenhouse | Hypro Roller Pump Adapters - Quick Coupler

 

[Conservation]

I second the idea of the 12V pump. Much simplier and cheaper if that is enough. I have a roller pto pump used for my 3 pt boom sprayer. Those are pretty simple too. Nothing else needed to hook up. Just valves for the water control. They use a chain to limit the pump from spinning with the pto. I wasn't so sure about that until I used it. Works fine.

 

[CrazyCanadian]

A real simple setup could be to put a container in the bucket and run the hose past the operator with a strategically placed valve. Cheap and easy.
I have used a landscape rake with every other tine removed as a leveling tool and it worked great.

 

[kthompson]

txgal, by saying I was not a horse person should have said I don't have any horses. Like them but costly hobby in time and money. Have grandchildren instead! Grew up with most domestic animals but horses were for just fun. No competition at least no horse I had or my family. They are special animals. My brother had a English style horse that I could walk up to in our pasture and jump on with no rope or halter of any kind and ride back to barn. He never understood that as he would never have allowed him to done such. My brother had his hands full with the bridle and saddle.

As to the dragmaster, boy, it will have to be scaled back if their hp requirements are correct for your tractor. Before I began to build such, I would be sure I had done very careful option checking.

 

[txgal]

I appreciate all the helpful info. I will post some pics when we get it done.

 

[Stampeder]

I second kthompson's comment about the hp of your tractor. I am a horse person and so is my wife. We are down to three now (and our donkey). I've done tons of arena riding and my wife is an ex barrel racer, etc.
Anyway you will have to really scale this back to fit your 20hp tractor. If you compare their 8 foot unit to their 6 foot unit they only drop a 10 hp requirement. So you will be going from 35 hp (for the 6 foot) to 20 so scaling this you will be down to less than 4 feet in width, which would mean that your tires would be outside the arena conditioner's drag width. Also, they state that the 35 hp is in 4wd. Is your 20 a 4wd? Also, when spec'ing these the manufacturer is usually giving the absolute minimum hp requirement. Don't think it would work like you may want it too. There's a saying on this forum....the more hp the better....I have a 50 hp 4wd cab tractor and I'd like it to be 75 or 95.
Before getting into this build too much further you may want to look at alternatives with less hp requirements. Most of the arenas here in East Texas use perimeter watering systems rather than dragging it around in a container on the back.
Good luck with your project. We like pictures here so post many during you construction.

 

[Redneck in training]

I second kthompson's comment about the hp of your tractor. I am a horse person and so is my wife. We are down to three now (and our donkey). I've done tons of arena riding and my wife is an ex barrel racer, etc.
Anyway you will have to really scale this back to fit your 20hp tractor. If you compare their 8 foot unit to their 6 foot unit they only drop a 10 hp requirement. So you will be going from 35 hp (for the 6 foot) to 20 so scaling this you will be down to less than 4 feet in width, which would mean that your tires would be outside the arena conditioner's drag width. Also, they state that the 35 hp is in 4wd. Is your 20 a 4wd? Also, when spec'ing these the manufacturer is usually giving the absolute minimum hp requirement. Don't think it would work like you may want it too. There's a saying on this forum....the more hp the better....I have a 50 hp 4wd cab tractor and I'd like it to be 75 or 95.
Before getting into this build too much further you may want to look at alternatives with less hp requirements. Most of the arenas here in East Texas use perimeter watering systems rather than dragging it around in a container on the back.
Good luck with your project. We like pictures here so post many during you construction.

I would say go for it. Good reason to buy a bigger tractor. Seriously. I would try regular box blade (I am guessing you already have one) with added gauge wheels on the back and gravity flow of water from the tank first.

 

[rambler]

Well, since you're not a horse person I'm sure I'm boring you with all the dirt talk and I pretty much just typed up a commericial about dragmaster!
Thanks again!

As others mentioned, I'm not a horse person (farmer by trade), but very interested.

Since they don't sell to farmers, they don't do a good job of explaining what that implement does? I have worked, folded, ripped, & sweat over dirt all my life. The little videos are not helping me see what it actually does to the soil.....

I think I could buy all the pieces of that implement from a farm auction for under $400.

So, does it spray down some water, rip up the ground (2, 4, 6 inches deep????) and then smooth it out again real level & smooth. Is that the point? Do you want the fine dust on top, bigger pieces on the bottom, or the other way around?

Very interesting.

All of the water parts - tank, hose, pump, couplings, etc. can be found at any farm supply store - look in the chemical sprayer section. Tractor Supply, anything with the word 'Fleet' or 'Farm' in it. If you know what size of tank you are looking at, and how much water you need to spill out, and if it needs much of any pressure, we can size the pump real quick. The electric ones work well for lower needs, the pto ones will do anything you can imagine.

--->Paul