If the farm has a mini-tractor, then it is imperative to have attachments to automate the harvesting process. The device can be bought in a store, but the price does not always suit the consumer. If desired, a potato digger and potato planter for a mini-tractor can be made independently. Moreover, the first attachment can be used not only for digging up potatoes, but also for harvesting other root crops.
Types of potato diggers
This type attachments always fixed to the rear linkage of the mini-tractor. Structurally, potato diggers are divided into single-row and double-row models. In addition, there is one more difference - according to the principle of operation. Two types of potato diggers are mainly used for mini-tractors:
- The conveyor potato digger is considered the most complex in design. In front it has a ploughshare, which cuts the soil when the digger moves. Together with the soil, the tubers end up on a conveyor made in the form of a lattice made of steel rods. This is where the potatoes are peeled from soil. Conveyor-type models are expensive and are most often used on farms.
- A vibration potato digger has a simpler design. It also has a plowshare for cutting the soil.But the table made of rods is not made in the form of a conveyor, but simply thoroughly welded. The soil with root crops cut with a plowshare falls on this lattice, which vibrates due to movement. This kind of digger is also called a screen digger. The tubers are thrown up on the rods by vibration, and they are cleared of soil. For home use, a vibration model is better suited.
There are also several potato diggers for mini-tractors, but these are more homemade, although there are also factory-made ones. Let's look at them: - The simplest design is a fan potato digger for a mini-tractor, and in terms of its operating principle it resembles a vibration analogue. In this design, the potato digger is made of hiller, and rods in the form of a fan are welded to the back of it. The potatoes are peeled on this grid. Fan diggers are best used with a walk-behind tractor.
- A potato drum digger cleans the tubers from the soil by rotating the lattice structure. Its disadvantage is damage to the potato skin. The drum is connected to the power take-off shaft by direct drive. There is a soil trimming knife installed at the front.
- A horse-drawn potato digger, imported to us from Poland, is quite interesting in design. Local craftsmen convert it into walk-behind tractors and tractors. There is a knife installed in front of the digger. While moving, he cuts the soil and removes it along with the tubers. At the back of the knife there is a rotating fan made of steel rods, driven by lug wheels. So he throws the tubers off the knife to the side.
The owner tries to add something of his own to each digger during the work process. Modification of the mechanism leads to the emergence of new designs.
Making your own potato digger
When making a homemade potato digger for a mini-tractor, it is better to give preference to a vibrating model. In the photo we suggest looking at the drawings of this design, where the dimensions of all components are indicated.
Some may find the design complicated and the thought immediately flashes through their minds: “I’d rather buy it.” Don't despair. Let's look at how to assemble such a digger with your own hands:
- The homemade structure must be durable. The main load falls on the frame, so you need to approach the choice of material for it wisely. The main frame is welded from a corner with a section of 60x40 mm or a channel. You will need a piece of sheet steel 5–8 mm thick. Scarves are cut from it to strengthen the corners of the frame and other components that bear a large load. The service life of a home-made digger depends on the quality of the steel and the connection of the components. For fixation, welding or bolting is used. The knot will be stronger with the combined connection method.
- After making the frame, they begin to assemble the elevator, that is, the grate where the tubers will be cleaned. The materials you will need are a rod with a diameter of 8–10 mm, as well as sheet steel for making the body. First, a grid is welded from rods and steel strips. A shaft is attached to the finished structure, which will make the lattice table vibrate while the digger moves. Finally, the elevator is installed on the frame, where it is firmly fixed with a bolted connection.
- Now you need to make the ploughshare itself, which will cut the soil. Here you need to take strong steel so that it does not bend in the ground. The workpiece is bent into shape as shown in the diagram. A steel pipe with a diameter of 200 mm can be used as a blank for the ploughshare. The cut piece needs to be cut lengthwise in one place with a grinder.After this, the ring is unbent, giving it the shape of a ploughshare. The edge of the finished knife is sharpened on a sharpener. The ploughshare is secured to the elevator and frame using bolts with a diameter of 10 mm.
- The next step is to make a device for fastening the wheels. Here, each master chooses a convenient option for himself. You can simply attach a shaft with bearings to the frame on stands or install separate hubs on each side of the digger.
- The final stage of the work is the manufacture of mounting the digger to the mini-tractor. It all depends on the design features of the equipment. It is optimal to visit a retail outlet and look at the design of the trailer mechanism for this model of mini-tractor. Use the same principle to make a homemade mount.
At this point, the homemade digger is ready. Now you need to choose the wheels on which it will move. There are two options considered here: steel or rubber. It is better to have two pairs of wheels on the farm. For hard, dry soil, steel wheels are ideal. You may even have to weld on the lugs. The type of tread depends on the soil and is selected individually. On wet and loose soil, it is better to roll the digger on a rubber run. It will sink less into the ground under its own weight.
The video shows a homemade potato digger:
Types of potato planters
A homemade potato planter for a mini-tractor is very difficult to manufacture. Although skilled owners manage to do it in order to save on purchases. In the photo we presented a diagram of one of the potato planter designs. Using this principle, you can assemble a homemade tow hitch for a mini-tractor.
Now let's look at what factory-made potato planter models look like:
- The two-row potato planter for the KS-2MT mini-tractor is more suitable for the MTZ-132N model. The design has two containers for potatoes with a volume of 35 liters. If necessary, adjust the row spacing when planting tubers.
- Automatic mounted potato planters S-239, S-239-1 are also double-row. The planting depth of tubers is from 6 to 12 cm. There is a mechanism for adjusting the row spacing.
- A two-row potato planter for the L-201 mini-tractor can hold up to 250 kg of planting tubers in the basket. The design is equipped with a mechanism for adjusting row spacing.
Depending on the model, the cost of potato planters varies from 24 to 80 thousand rubles. Potato diggers are not very cheap either. This is where you should think about making your own attachments. The work is difficult, but economically justified.
