Steel spade wheels or wheel weights for ploughing/ridging

[texanjim]

Hello all,

I've recently purchased a single mouldboard plough and ridger (for ridging potatoes) for my Grillo G85D. I now have the issue of traction to deal with, as the land we have here is on the clay side.

I've been weighing up between cost and convenience whether to opt for a pair of Grillo steel wheels like these:
Grillo Implements :: Grillo G85D Steel Spade Wheels - Garden Landscaping Machinery & Equipment

Or to make some barbell weight hangers like the ones offered by Earthtools (I'm in the UK so can't purchase direct), and buy some cheap weights (prob. 60kg/approx 132 US pounds) for the 5.00x10 wheels I already have.

The steel wheels would be more expensive initially, but the weight hangers would be more time consuming to put together, (something I'm short of at the moment with a shed full of hungry calves!). On the other hand I can see the benefit of adding weight to the machine generally as I have a trailer I pull with it for shifting stuff around. Also, I don't know whether the steel wheels on their own would give me enough traction, or if they'll need weights adding anyway.

As you can see, I'm stuck in a classic indecision loop so thought I'd ask here for anyone's experiences of steel wheels vs. ag tyres and wheel weights for ploughing/ridging?

Any insight would be gratefully received.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! For traction steel wheels are very good. I make mines two in. pad incredible traction. but very bad for grass. A good compromise Tires with 60 kg weight in wheel and with tire chains. In wet soil tire grip come full and tire slip no more traction. Tire chain are self cleaning . You can make tire chain . I make mines . I use standard strait chain no the twisted . Inexpensive and very good. Good luck ! Oldmech

 

[texanjim]

Thanks Oldmech. I have seen your home made steel wheels before, and they are in part the inspiration for this thread!

Tearing up grass is not really a problem, as I'll only be using the plough and ridger for field work, no where near a manicured lawn (not that I have one of those at the moment!)

I know what you mean about the treads filling up. I purchased the plough a couple of months ago and took it into a field to have a go before it had dried up much. The plough starts well, but the wheels spun, treads filled up, then they're essentially slicks with no grip at all.

Tyre chains sound like an interesting idea, but we don't get a lot of snow here so I've never even seen a pair before. Will have a look online, to see how they're made.

Do you find you need weights as well as the steel wheels, or do the wheels give enough traction on their own? I notice you have weights on in the pictures you posted.

I've found a pair of wheel weights from an old Ford (I think) tractor in the shed here. They're quite large though at about 39cm diameter which is too big for the 5.00x10 wheels. The Grillo steel wheels say they're 40cm, so depending whether that's to the outer rim or to the tip of the cleat/pads, they might be an option to add a lot of weight to the steel wheels if I could rig up a simple frame from the lugs on the outer rim.

 

[oldmech]

HI! BCS and Grillo are too light for near all jobs. I remember When I try the Grillo first time with the tiller. The tiller tines in soil was pushing the tractor making bad job. I add weight in wheels (20-30 kg by wheel is enough) As a new tractor. The tiller do not push the Grillo.
For pull we need weight . The best nothing better! Weight first !Tires with good grip With chains. Steel wheels are very expensives! Too Much ! Good luck! Oldmech

 

[Egon]

Two wheel tractor wheels? Here are some. They can be had to fit over rubber tire's.

 

[texanjim]

Thanks Oldmech, I have taken your advice and ordered some barbell weights to add to the wheels as a first step. Found a couple of packs of 4x0.5kg weights in a discount supermarket which fit nicely inside the wheel, then ordered 4x10kg weights to fit on the outside, which are just under the wheel diameter. So with that lot on, I should have 30kg each side. I'll see how I get on without chains, but will hold that in reserve if needs be. If the rain would stop long enough, I hopefully won't need them!

Those wheels look great Egon. Funnily enough I had not long ago watched a couple of Youtube videos of those. Just a bit wide for ploughing though!