DIY Farm Impliments

[arizonian]

Looking good, Gerry.

What stroke did you end up with on your eccentric?

Does your plasma table handle 1" or did you have to go to oxy/acetylene?

[milomilo]

I pulled all my shallots yesterday. They are drying now.

[greywynd]

Sweet! Hoping it works for you.

Can we reserve a few pounds of garlic? We have plans to go camping for 10-12 days in September, and are hoping to stop by for a visit…will message you when I have a little more time.


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[Ironman]

Originally Posted by greywynd

Sweet! Hoping it works for you.

Can we reserve a few pounds of garlic? We have plans to go camping for 10-12 days in September, and are hoping to stop by for a visit…will message you when I have a little more time.


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Yes, don't worry, we will have some for you.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Gerry a video of it running would be nice.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by arizonian

Looking good, Gerry.

What stroke did you end up with on your eccentric?

Does your plasma table handle 1" or did you have to go to oxy/acetylene?

The eccentric stroke is 3/4" and gives 2.5 inches motion at the blade. I have left a tail on the blade arm because if all goes well, I am thinking of a set of fingers to lift up the bulbs and leave them on surface. That will lift and lower the grate.

My plasma will cut 1" nicely at 80 amps and 15"/min speed. I have not tried to pierce 1" plate, I prefer to do an edge start.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by Shade Tree Welder

Gerry a video of it running would be nice.

I'll see if my daughter can do one next weekend.

[Ironman]

So as promised here is a short video of the rig and the moment of failure.
It worked well for a minute and then physics took their toll. The self aligning bearings have a plastic race, visible after the seals were blown off, and reciprocating motion does not fit well with it.

There was a moments despair as I thought of digging by hand, and I said lets try this as a normal drag undercutter. So I got a piece of chain and tied it in place and the tractor pulled it waay easier than the old 28" undercutter. Although this one is 39" wide the knife is made of 1/4" T1, and the old 28" knife is 1/2" T1.
I can't explain the difference in drawbar power requirements, but that has to be it.

Yesterday we harvested 2400 plants and after the beginning defeat all went well. The ground cloth was easy to lift off and roll up as it was picked up. I did have concerns but as the leaves of garlic point up, they slid through the holes effortlessly.

[greywynd]

Well, revision 2 for next year will be another step. Glad the cloth trial went well, and the drawbar knife still did what you needed to.

I wonder if the geometry is such that this one adds more downforce onto the tractor, increasing the traction? That was one of the major advantages of the 3pth system on the lighter tractors.


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[Ironman]

Originally Posted by greywynd

Well, revision 2 for next year will be another step. Glad the cloth trial went well, and the drawbar knife still did what you needed to.

I wonder if the geometry is such that this one adds more downforce onto the tractor, increasing the traction? That was one of the major advantages of the 3pth system on the lighter tractors.


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I have no clew as to why it works, but as far as I can tell this machine does not have anything but lift on the 3 pt, it can be lifted by hand from whatever position it is set in.

Maybe the angle of the knife helps to pull down and assist traction. This morning we are moving to the west garden, and I will see if it is the same in this other area. I suspect it will do well.
I had to make wheel spools for front and back to widen the stance and straddle the row.
I can't see that making a difference. I do want to put Beetjuice in the rear wheels to add some weight one of these days.