Do-it-yourself potato digger for walk-behind tractor, dimensions and drawings

The bulk of Russians' garden space is traditionally allocated to potatoes, because our people also call it the second bread. Many have transferred part of the labor of growing potatoes onto their shoulders, or rather onto trailed small-scale mechanization equipment: walk-behind tractors and mini tractors.

And if planting potatoes is not a big job, then hilling them, and most importantly, digging them up is not an easy task. For hilling and weeding, the hiller included with walk-behind tractors is most often used, but for digging in its pure form it is not entirely suitable. Let's figure out what to dig and how to make a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.

There are several known designs of potato diggers for walk-behind tractors and mini tractors. Let's look at them: from the simplest to the most technologically advanced.

Fan potato diggers

The simplest ones to manufacture are also produced industrially, but most require some modifications.

It is immediately clear that they are based on the same hiller; it is this hiller, buried below the level of the tubers, that loosens and turns the soil. But he brings up the dug potatoes - a fan welded to the back of the hiller. Its role is played by metal rods, welded at a distance of 3–4 cm from each other, diverging and curved in the upper part.

The amount of depth is regulated by thrust wheels, and the transverse bar serves as a footrest, upon which a person, with his weight, provides the required depth to the device.

It is this type of fan potato digger that seems to us to be the most productive. The digging process itself can be seen here:

You will have to modify the shape, angle of attack and other nuances yourself, taking into account your soil, the power and driving performance of the walk-behind tractor on which you plan to install the potato digger, and even the varieties of potatoes that form tubers at different depths.

A type of similar digger without a fan, designed for two people:

Vibrating potato digger

A single-row vibrating potato digger is designed for digging up potatoes and other root crops, produced specifically for all Russian walk-behind tractors of the Neva brand (MB, MB2). The mechanism of action is similar to a vibrating digger.

The technical characteristics of this model are as follows:

• overall dimensions - 710x680x730 mm;
• weight - 34 kg;
• working width - 36 cm;
• digging depth - 20 cm;
• speed - 2 km/h;
• productivity - 0.2 ha/hour.

The use of such a machine ensures maximum digging of root crops from the ground and laying them on the surface. The main advantage of the unit is its affordable price and high efficiency.

Potato diggers with a roar

This is the most common type of potato digger, produced by various machine-building plants in Russia and abroad. It has slight design differences, primarily in the design of the screen drive - oscillating during operation of the pan, which allows the potatoes to be partially cleared of the soil while the potato digger is moving.

The knife of such a digger can have different configurations. It can be fixed motionless, or it can be hinged and oscillate slightly during movement, simplifying the process of digging up tubers. The width of the knife is 35 – 40 cm.

What type of potato digger can you make yourself?

The most suitable type of potato digger for self-production is considered to be vibration-type devices.

This is a universal mechanism that is used for small and medium-sized areas. Plus it's easy to make. For large fields, it is better to choose a drum-type potato digger.

This is interesting:

A device for sorting potatoes and how to make it yourself

How to make a potato hiller for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands

How to make a shovel for digging potatoes yourself

DIY drawings

It is this type of potato digger, despite being quite difficult to manufacture, that is made by home craftsmen with their own hands more often than others. We offer approximate drawings with the main dimensions of such a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor.

A large number of joints of moving parts makes this device regularly serviced, but the result of its work is of better quality than that of fan-shaped potato diggers:

Potatoes are peeled better from the ground and are located on its surface.

The magnitude and frequency of oscillations of the screen may vary and depend on the design of the drive, but even with minor oscillations, cleaning occurs quite well:

Owner reviews

Reviews from real owners of the units, which can be read on specialized forums or online store sites, help to highlight the pros and cons of potato diggers for the Neva walk-behind tractor.

Let's look at reviews of different models of diggers to understand which one is better to buy for a small summer cottage, and which one to choose for a farm.

1. Fan potato diggers are compact, can be purchased very profitably, and are also easy to set up. Disadvantages noted by users: unlike the screening and conveyor digger, the fan digger has low productivity and a short service life.
2. Vibratory screen-type potato diggers (for example, the Plowman KKM-1 or Tselina KVM-01 potato digger) have the following advantages: high productivity and large working width. Among the common disadvantages, they often include the rather high price, the heavy weight of the device, the difficulty of adjustment, vibration in the handles of the machine that manifests itself during operation, and often the bulkiness of the design.
3. Conveyor potato diggers have proven themselves to be the most reliable, gentle and productive devices for harvesting root crops, which can easily handle large areas and all types of soil. Also an important advantage is the use of bearings in moving units. But you won’t be able to buy a high-quality digger of this type for little money – this is the main disadvantage of conveyor potato diggers.

Conveyor potato diggers

They are much easier to make yourself, but in our opinion they are no worse at peeling potatoes from soil.

Their knives are the same as those of the screening ones, and the potatoes are peeled while they move along the conveyor belt. It is clear that the longer it is, the better the potatoes will be peeled, but long conveyor belts can only be installed on potato diggers used with tractors. On walk-behind tractors, they will interfere with the person walking behind him.

The conveyor belt drive may be different. If it is taken from the wheels of the digger itself, then they must have good lugs so that they do not lock on wet or very loose soil.

Also interesting in this design are the rear guides, which more compactly place the potatoes behind the belt.

In this self-assembled conveyor potato digger, the belt drive is carried out from the power take-off shaft of a homemade walk-behind tractor and is transmitted by a motorcycle chain.

To view a picture, click on its thumbnail on the right

When manufacturing a potato digger of this type, the main problem will be selecting the rotation speed of the conveyor drive gear and matching it with the speed of the power take-off shaft. In this model, the power take-off shaft rotates at a speed of 500 - 800 rpm, and the gearbox is taken from a motor boat with a gear ratio of approximately 1:2. The rest is selected by the size of the stars for an approximate walking speed when digging 2-3 km/h.

And yet, the connection between the speed of the conveyor belt and the wheel speed seems more appropriate to us.

There are models designed for specific walk-behind tractors and mini tractors, like this one for mechanisms with a side power take-off shaft:

Digger "Poltava"

Potato digger "Poltava"

The vibrating type nozzle is used for small individual farms. With its help you can cultivate an area of ​​no more than 2 hectares. The device is suitable for harvesting root crops on medium-heavy soils and humidity up to 31%.

This unit is slightly lighter than the previous one. The “Poltavachanka” potato digger weighs 34 kg. It takes out potatoes at a depth of 18 cm. At a time, it covers a section 39 cm wide. The immersion depth of the working part is changed by adjusting the height of the wheels. The attachment allows the walk-behind tractor to move across the field at a speed of up to 3 km/h. The speed depends on the density of the soil and the depth of immersion.

The potato digger is connected to the Neva, Zarya, MTZ, Agat, Favorit, and Salyut walk-behind tractors using a belt and a special pin that come with the attachment.

Drum potato diggers

This is a rather rare type of equipment for mini-equipment, so it is mostly homemade. Peeling potatoes from soil in such devices occurs quite efficiently, as does laying them on the ground, but the design itself is quite controversial, and the tubers are more damaged than when digging with the above-mentioned potato diggers, and therefore are worse preserved.

What is simpler about them is the direct drive of rotation from the power take-off shaft. Everything else: making the drum, thrust rollers and bearings is clearly more complicated. The design of the knife does not have any special features, except that it is preferable for it to have a more rounded shape in the back so that the potatoes are not further damaged when they get into the drum.

Rating of the best models and their features

Depending on performance and cost, the best models of potato diggers attached to walk-behind tractors are the following.

"Neva"

The unit is ideal for use in gardens, as it is designed for processing small areas. It has a relatively light weight (34 kg) with a width of 36 cm and a working depth of about 20 cm. With an average walk-behind tractor movement of 2 km per hour, the productivity is 0.2 hectares per hour.

The potato digger is designed specifically for the walk-behind tractor of the same brand. However, if there are belts and additional fastenings, it can also be used with other models of walk-behind tractors.

"KKM-1"

A potato digger of a screening type, which is equipped with powerful wheels, which significantly reduces the load on the walk-behind tractor. The soil is grabbed at a depth of about 20 cm. The working width is 37 cm with a unit weight of 40 kg.

Users note this model as one of the easiest to use, but reliable in terms of operation. The thickness of the metal in some places makes this model almost eternal. The unit is equipped with a lot of additional seeders, which can also be used in sowing.

"KT-51"

Designed for connection to medium walk-behind tractors that have a keyed power take-off shaft. The conveyor-type device has a mass of about 50 kg with a width of the processed strip of 45 cm. The depth is adjusted manually (maximum - 30 cm).

"KVM-3"

The vibration-type potato digger is designed for use in hard and loamy soils. It has an additional knife, which is used to cut the layer of soil in which the potatoes are located. At a relatively low price, this model is loved by gardeners for the speed and quality of the work done.

"Soyuzmash KKBS reinforced"

The most primitive, but no less popular version of potato diggers. The unit is a small plow from which rods extend in rays. The plow goes 20 cm deep into the soil, loosens it and brings the potatoes to the surface, where they are retained in the twigs, cleared of soil and laid out on the surface.

Horse-mounted potato digger

There are still quite a lot of them for sale on the Internet. They are imported mainly from Poland and converted into mini tractors and walk-behind tractors.

At the same time, taking into account the higher speed of movement of this equipment in comparison with a horse, in addition to modifying the towing device, a limiter-shield is placed on it on the side on which the dug potatoes are thrown. Otherwise, it will have to be collected in neighboring areas. A wedge-shaped paw digs up the potatoes, as in fan diggers, and the drive of the device that removes the tubers from the ground is carried out by wheels with lugs. The higher the travel speed, the faster this potato extractor rotates.

Dear readers, if you have any questions, please ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)

Attachments for different types of equipment cost an impressive amount of money.

That is why one of the options to save money is to make it yourself, from scrap and purchased materials.

One of the most popular additional devices for a mini-tractor or walk-behind tractor is a homemade potato digger.

It allows you to fully automate the process of harvesting potatoes, which is extremely labor-intensive if done manually.

Basic information

In most cases, walk-behind tractors and walk-behind cultivators are not used over large areas; they will not be able to cope with a large volume of work on heavy soils. This equipment is designed for small and medium-sized farms to work on light and medium soils.

The Neva walk-behind tractor is considered the most popular unit among farmland owners, characterized by high technical performance and a long service life.

Neva walk-behind tractors by themselves are not very effective, but with the use of additional equipment they are capable of performing any agricultural work:

• motor cultivators are suitable for summer residents and farmers for cultivating the soil;
• planters in combination with a walk-behind tractor - for planting vegetable plants on plots of land;
• mowers - for mowing grass mass;
• hilling of potatoes is carried out with hillers;
• A potato digger is used for mechanized collection of root crops.

Recently, farmers have been using modern agricultural technology to grow vegetable crops.

Planting potatoes with a Neva walk-behind tractor significantly saves time, allows you to cultivate large areas, and improves the yield due to loosening the soil. In this case, the process is carried out in 2 ways:

• hillers with regulators;
• mounted planters.

The potato planter for the Neva walk-behind tractor is used by owners of large plots of land. It is more efficient: in one pass it makes furrows in the soil, pours tubers out of a special bunker and covers them with soil.

The harvesting process is carried out using a Neva walk-behind tractor with a potato digger. The teeth of the mechanism dig into the ground, push out the root crops and place them on the surface for further manual collection.

There are several models of diggers that can be combined with the Neva walk-behind tractor:

1. Fan.
2. Vibrating. Includes such well-known models among farmers as:
   KKM-1;
3. model “Vibrating Potato Digger”;
4. KVM-3;
5. Poltava resident.
6. Conveyor or belt.

These models are considered the most popular and widespread.

Where to begin?

Do not rush headlong into tools and pieces of metal. First of all, you should decide on some very important points.

• What type of equipment will the potato digger be used with?
• How much can be spent on this event?
• What type of potato digger and according to what drawings will it be assembled?
• How will the individual parts be connected?
• Where and how will materials for construction be selected?

Equipment with conveyor

The conveyor potato digger has a standard appearance, in which the main elements are a ploughshare and a platform with a conveyor. Peculiarities:

• a conveyor is installed on the platform, the type of which is regulated by the requirements;
• a simple device allows installation on almost any version of walk-behind tractors, including domestic ones;
• often used in areas with hard or loamy soil;
• A potato digger for a walk-behind tractor is created strictly according to the specified parameters of the conveyor and platform, as this is necessary for normal digging of tubers.

When creating it yourself, it is worth considering two factors that will affect installation and operation. The first factor is the size of the device, which allows you to mount the mechanism on the walk-behind tractor. The calculation should always be made taking into account the technical parameters. Another factor is the manifestation of versatility. Most homemade conveyor-type devices can be supplemented with secondary elements.

Connection method - welding or bolt-nut?

There are two ways to connect individual parts of metal structures (sheets, corners and others) that you will have to use when constructing a potato digger.

Contact welding method using electricity or gas

– more aesthetically pleasing, but less reliable in most cases.

If there is a large load on the structure, which may occur when used on hard and rocky soil, there is a possibility of the seam between the metal structures breaking.

Another way is using a bolt, locknuts and nuts.

Using such fasteners, you can connect the metal structure quite firmly.

A bolted connection has other advantages over a welded seam.

If necessary, the structure can be easily disassembled - for example, if you need to transport a potato digger over a long distance.

To connect individual parts you do not need special equipment: a drill, a drill bit and a pair of keys are enough.

What is needed to assemble a homemade potato digger?

The basis of this type of attachment is usually a welded frame made of metal corners. The thickness of the metal is selected taking into account the load it will experience.

The larger it is, the thicker the sheet of metal should be. The most commonly used corners are those with overall dimensions of 63×40 mm. You will also need an iron channel made of durable metal.

Ideally for this case, a part marked with number 8 is suitable. In addition, sheets of metal of various sizes, with a thickness of at least 8 mm, are required.

If everything will be connected with bolts, you should purchase the required amount of hardware.

You will also need:

• a chain that will transmit torque;
• wheels - metal or rubber, depending on the type of soil on which you will have to work;
• metal drum;
• gas pipe with a diameter of ¼.

Pros and cons of conveyor models

Many people find the simplicity of the model and the ability to operate two eccentrics simultaneously attractive. But they contain specific components - silent blocks that cannot withstand regular loads, wear out and require repair or replacement. In this regard, conveyor models are more reliable. They have special gearboxes that allow them to optimize their performance. Thanks to the design, you can easily change the speed of the belt depending on the condition of the soil. Instead of silent blocks, they are equipped with bearings, which also increases the reliability of the equipment.

If we compare in terms of efficiency, there is no fundamental difference between the models. The conveyor model can be superior in that after it the crop remains on the surface of the earth. And the screening ones leave the crop slightly mixed with the soil.

Popular models: Yarilo, KM-4.

Characteristics of screening models

Their well-known representatives: KKM-1, KVM-3, “Poltavachanka”, KM-1 for the MTZ walk-behind tractor.

Potato digger KVM-3

The design consists of an active share and a screen. The area for maneuvering equipment must be at least 60-70 cm wide. The ploughshare cuts the layer of earth into which the lattice is embedded. Due to vibrating movements, the soil is sifted and the crop is separated. The vibration force is sufficient to sift through large, stuck together pieces of soil. After sifting, the crop remains on the surface of the soil.

Advantages of the models:

• wide soil coverage – eliminates crop residues in the soil;
• Separates soil from potatoes well;
• can be used for digging up other types of crops: garlic, beets, carrots, etc.;
• ease of use;
• economical fuel consumption;
• optimal for working on large areas of land.

Flaws:

• high price;
• It is not rational to use on large areas.

Pros and cons of fan potato diggers

Fan models are a mechanism built like a shovel with edges concave inward. Metal rods are welded to the edges. Digging occurs with the help of sharp ends. It has the following disadvantages and advantages.

Fan potato digger

Advantages:

• easily installed on a walk-behind tractor;
• compatibility with walk-behind tractors that have minimal engine power. For example, this is NEVA MB;
• reliability of design;
• high performance;
• simplicity of design allows custom manufacturing in any region;
• affordable price.

Flaws:

• fan models can work with a small area of ​​soil. It is usually up to 20 cm wide and up to 15 cm deep;
• often damages potatoes;
• about 15% of the crop remains underground;
• a walk-behind tractor with a fan potato digger consumes a lot of fuel;
• the crop must be harvested by hand;
• Can only work with light, loose soil.

Operating principle and assembly of a homemade potato digger

The operating principle of a potato digger is quite simple.
The design contains two steel knives that cut the ground. Afterwards, they collect the tubers along with the soil and feed it all along a special transport grid into a collection bunker.

The lattice moves and vibrates, as a result of which the stuck clods of earth are easily separated from the potato tubers.

If there is a lack of material, the bunker can not be made, and the potatoes, cleared of adhering soil, can be dumped directly on the field. Then it is simply assembled by hand.

Assembling the potato digger is carried out in several stages. They are all equally important, each detail performs its function.

The stronger all connections are made, the longer the assembled device will last.

First of all, the frame is assembled from corners and metal channels. It is the supporting basis of the entire structure. After its assembly, all other components are attached to the frame.

One of the largest and most important parts of a potato digger is the elevator.

It consists of a vibrating grid on which the potatoes are fed, and high metal sides made of thick sheet metal.

The entire elevator structure is welded or bolted from metal angles.

The elevator is equipped with special shafts, which transmit the force from the rotating wheels - it causes the grate to vibrate.

After the elevator is completely assembled and fixed to the supporting frame of the potato digger, a ploughshare is attached to it. This is a plow, which is the direct working part that turns potato tubers out of the ground.

It can be made from a variety of metal objects. Both from a real, most ordinary plow, and from a specially sharpened and curved piece of pipe with a diameter of 200 mm.

It is advisable to attach the ploughshare to the elevator using bolts, since this part of the potato digger experiences the greatest load during operation. 10mm bolts are exactly what is needed in this case.

The penultimate stage is the design and assembly of the support and transport unit. It consists of wheels, discs to which they will be attached, two roller chains and a metal rod. There are also sprockets and bearings.

All these assembled parts will make moving the potato digger during operation extremely simple and easy. Roller chains are used to transmit rotation to special shafts that create vibration on the elevator grate.

The sprockets are mounted on a metal rod, which acts as a bridge and rotates as it moves. Metal disks are welded to the rod, and wheels are subsequently attached to them.

Special attention should be paid to the method of connecting the equipment to the agricultural machinery that will set it in motion.

The construction of this device is the last stage in assembling a potato digger with your own hands.

If you have any attachments for a tractor or walk-behind tractor, you should simply make a structurally similar mount.

Although some well-known manufacturers of mini tractors create an individual and rather complex system for connecting attachments.

In this case, you should show engineering thought and find an approach to solve this problem. Perhaps a way out of the situation could be to make changes to the design of the tractor itself.

Conveyor potato digger

This is a hanging attachment. It consists of a ploughshare and a conveyor belt. The belt moves continuously during operation. The parts of the tape are metal rods, less often rubber. The conveyor is equipped with special devices - load hooks. They are connected to a drive on wheels, which drive the entire mechanism.

Specifications:

• dimensions – 1140×740×47 mm;
• speed – 2 km/h;
• weight – 36 kg;
• digging depth – 20 cm;
• area circumference width – 53 cm.

Advantages:

• suitable for walk-behind tractors and motor-cultivators;
• does not damage root crops;
• perfectly cleans tubers.

Flaws:

• used only on heavy soils;
• high price.

This type is suitable for use on small and medium-sized farms.

Thickness of the metal used to assemble the potato digger

The optimal metal thickness that should be used for this type of homemade equipment is 5-7 mm. It is this size that guarantees fairly high strength and not excessive weight.

If the work of harvesting potatoes will have to be done on land that has excess moisture, then the lighter the machine, the better. In this case, you can use material of smaller thickness.

If the soil is hard and rocky, then the greater the weight of the potato digger, the better. With its weight it will create the force necessary for work.

It will be easier for the ploughshare to cut into the ground and turn the layers of earth outward along with the potato tubers.

General requirements for a potato digger

The principle of operation of the device is quite simple - extracting a clod of earth along with root crops. The potatoes either remain on the surface or are collected in a special container.

Optimal metal thickness

This parameter directly depends on the load that the unit is expected to experience. The structure is made of sheet steel. Its thickness is extremely important; the minimum acceptable value is 8 mm.

Wheels for digging

For more comfortable movement, the design includes wheels. If you do digging at home, then wheels from an old wheelbarrow will come in handy. Ideally, they will be mounted on an axle and have thick tires. If you plan to use the digger on hard ground, it is better to install metal wheels.

Connection methods

There are two options here. The first is to use welding. Its undoubted advantage is its structural strength. The second is to connect the parts using bolts and nuts. The advantage of this method is the convenient assembly and disassembly of the device.

For a walk-behind tractor or mini tractor, single-row potato diggers are used. There are also two-row ones, but they are suitable for working on a heavy-duty tractor. The difference between these potato diggers is shown in the photo below.

Single row potato digger

Double row potato digger

What wheels to use to construct a homemade potato digger

For the type of equipment under consideration, three types of wheels can be used:

• rubber with regular tread;
• rubber with tractor tread;
• metal.

Each type has both its advantages and disadvantages. The use of any of them is fully justified in different cases.

If the soil is wet and loose and easily collapses under heavy weight, you should focus on rubber wheels.

They are quite light, and the tractor tread of the rubber tires will easily rake the ground, which will allow the equipment to move off without difficulty, without slipping or getting stuck.

Also, when designing a potato digger, you should choose the widest possible wheels, otherwise movement will be somewhat difficult.

Metal wheels are perfect for working on hard ground.

They will significantly increase the overall weight of the structure, which in this case is only beneficial: it will be easier for the plow to stick into the ground and perform its function.

It is also advisable to choose a tractor tread for all-metal wheels in order to avoid getting stuck and skidding when driving on loose and marshy soil.

Finger drum

If possible, a finger drum can be installed on the elevator. It is a piece of pipe onto which fingers of the required length are welded.

The part should be of such a size that it does not reach the grill by just a couple of centimeters. The drum is mounted on a special axis, which has a welded sprocket.

Using a chain drive, the drum axis is connected to the wheel shaft.

If everything is done correctly and the calculations are correct, your fingers will break up the hard, dried soil, which falls along with the tubers onto the elevator grate. As a result, the potatoes will be as free as possible from adhering soil.

To make this option you will need:

• 
  large diameter pipe cut
• round sheets of metal
  , which will subsequently cover both holes in the pipe;
• steel rod
  , which will serve as an axis of rotation;
• long cylindrical metal fingers
  (you can use reinforcement used to reinforce concrete).

The entire structure is manufactured using resistance welding.

Buying a factory potato digger is a very expensive undertaking. Therefore, if you don’t have extra money and have a lot of time, as well as a well-working head and hands, you can easily save a decent amount.

After watching the video, we can conclude that it is important to be careful and conscientious about your work, then a homemade potato digger will be able to serve you without breakdowns or downtime for a very long time:

Probably, every owner of a large personal plot or vegetable garden wants to minimize the labor intensity of land work and reduce the time of tillage to a minimum, which is why gardeners strive to acquire a walk-behind tractor and various equipment for it. If you are the happy owner of this useful equipment and like to grow a lot of potatoes on your plot, then it makes sense to think about the need for a potato digger for mechanical harvesting. Now you can buy various designs and improved equipment for all types of walk-behind tractors, or you can put in a little effort and make a digger for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands. In this article we will introduce you to the varieties of this device and tell you how to make a potato digger yourself.

Potato digger for walk-behind tractor type UGRA KKV-1 (PTO)

Photo: https://pokupki.market.yandex.ru

The unit is of the active type and is designed for collecting potato tubers. The operating principle is based on the use of a V-belt drive, which is connected to the angular belt reducer of the UGRA walk-behind tractor or its analogues. The presence of a gear clutch lever requires manual control. It copes well with extracting vegetables at a depth of 18 cm.

Potato digger for walk-behind tractor type UGRA KKV-1 (PTO)

Advantages:

• high quality product
• easy to operate
• high digging speed
• quality work
• does not degrade the presentation of potatoes
• easy to install and use

Disadvantages: not found

Attention! This rating is subjective in nature, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required. This concludes our review. We hope that we helped answer the question of which potato digger for a walk-behind tractor is best to buy. Good choice!

#2020

Read us first - add the site to your favorite sources.

Add a comment

{"commentics_url":"\/\/express-novosti.ru\/comments\/","page_id":1435418,"enabled_country":false,"enabled_state":false,"state_id":0,"enabled_upload": false,"maximum_upload_amount":3,"maximum_upload_size":5,"maximum_upload_total":5,"securimage":true,"securimage_url":"\/\/express-novosti.ru\/comments\/3rdparty\/securimage\ /securimage_show.php?namespace=cmtx_1435418″,”lang_error_file_num”:”\u041c\u0430\u043a\u0441\u0438\u043c\u0443\u043c %d \u0444\u0430\u0439\u043b\u043e\ u0432\u043c\u043e\ u0436\u0435\u0442 \u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043e.","lang_error_file_size":"\u041f\u043e \u0436\u0430\u043b\ u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0437\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0444\u0430\u0439\u043b \u0440\u0430\ u0437\u043c\u0435\u0440\u043e \u043c \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0435 %d MB.","lang_error_file_total":"\u041e\u0431\u0449\u0438\u0439 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u043 c\u0435\u0440\ u0432\u0441\u0435\u0445 \u0444\u0430\u0439\u043b\u043e\u0432 \u0434\u043e\u043b\u0436\u0435\u043d \u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c \ u043d\u0435\u0431\u043e\u043b\ u0435\u0435 %d MB.","lang_error_file_type":"\u041c\u043e\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0436\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0442\u0 43e\u043b\u044c ""lang_text_loading":" u0437\u043a\u0430 ..","lang_placeholder_state":"\u0420\u0435\u0433\u0438\u043e\u043d","lang_text_country_first":"\u0421\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0432\u044b\u04 31\u0435 \u0440\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0443″,”lang_button_submit”:”\u0414\u043e\u0431\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0442\u04 4c","lang_button_preview":" \u041f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u043c\u 043e\u0442\u0440″,”lang_button_remove ":"\u0423\u0434\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c","lang_button_processing":"\u041f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0436\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0435..."}

Do-it-yourself potato digger - design features

There are two types of household potato diggers:

simple and vibration. The principle of operation of potato diggers of all types is the same - the rawl, ploughshare or tines are immersed in the soil and extract potato tubers onto its surface. Thus, the gardener will not need to manually dig out potatoes from each hole - the gardening unit will do it for him. Both types of diggers can be made independently from available materials or you can buy some components, the cost of which is low, and save your budget.

Simple digger

is an attachment in the form of a pointed curved iron sheet to which rods are welded in a fan-shaped manner. This mini-ploughshare cuts the soil and lifts the tubers along an expanding fan of twigs, while sifting out excess soil. A simple digger, which is attached to a walk-behind tractor, mechanizes potato harvesting.

The vibrating digger
is a conveyor potato digger for use when working with a walk-behind tractor. Complete with screening grid and wheels. The harvesting mechanism with such a digger is simple: the soil is cut with a rake, which goes along with the potato tubers onto a grid, where the root crops are sifted from the clods of earth and then rolled along the screening grid to the soil surface.

Important! It makes sense to make a potato digger yourself for cultivating areas with light and medium-heavy soils.

Vibrating potato digger type 1100 under keyed PTO

Photo: https://pokupki.market.yandex.ru

This potato digger belongs to the category of attachments for walk-behind tractors. Main purpose: pulling out root crops mechanically, followed by manual harvesting. Can be used for harvesting onions, beets, carrots and so on. Effective when harvesting potatoes planted in rows every 60-70 cm.

Vibrating potato digger type 1100 under keyed PTO

Advantages:

• The equipment is reliable and easy to use
• breakdowns are extremely rare
• The manufacturer provides a 1 year warranty
• good combination of price and quality
• simple design

Disadvantages: not found

How to make a potato digger with your own hands: choosing material and tools

In order to make a regular homemade potato digger for a walk-behind tractor, you will need the following materials:

• frame made of welded corners, the size of which is 40 by 40 mm;
• sections of pipe or channel 1.3 m long;
• fittings with a diameter of 10 mm;
• metal sheet with a thickness of 7 mm or more for the sides of the fence and ploughshare;
• pieces of square pipes or channels for metal racks - 8-10 pieces;
• rotary metal drum and chain for transmitting rotation;
• wheels, bolts and hardware.

Did you know?
A vibrating potato digger for a walk-behind tractor ensures harvesting up to 95% of the entire potato harvest, and a simple fan one – up to 85%.
Equipment and tools needed to create a potato digger with your own hands:

• welding machine;
• drill and drill bits;
• metal scissors;
• hammer, wrenches;
• Bulgarian.

Voting for the best potato digger for a walk-behind tractor

Which potato digger would you choose or recommend for a walk-behind tractor?

Bomet Z-655

0.00 % ( 0 )

KTN-2V

3.03 % ( 1 )

Garden Scout

6.06 % ( 2 )

Yarilo

18.18 % ( 6 )

KM-4

9.09 % ( 3 )

Neva

18.18 % ( 6 )

KM-1P

9.09 % ( 3 )

"Poltava"

6.06 % ( 2 )

KVM-3

9.09 % ( 3 )

KKM-1

9.09 % ( 3 )

KK-1

3.03 % ( 1 )

4UD-1

3.03 % ( 1 )

Features of making a simple potato digger

A simple potato digger is an improved curved shovel that plunges into the ground below the level of potato tubers and pushes them to the surface. By correctly calculating the width of the digger and the angle of inclination of the cutting tool, during harvesting you can loosen the soil, which will not need digging. Making a simple potato digger is simple - three sheets of iron are welded together and attached to the walk-behind tractor with a special fastener. The simplicity of the design and the small number of component parts allow it to be manufactured by a novice agricultural machine operator who knows how to work with a welding machine.

How to make a hiller

The simplest hiller is the lister type, which consists of two peak-shaped welded wings made of sheet iron with a thickness of at least 2-3 mm. This device has a fixed grip length due to fixed elements, the tip of which pierces and loosens the ground, so every gardener planning to make a simple potato digger with his own hands must first make drawings of the device, taking into account the row spacing that is acceptable for him, which he usually maintains when planting potatoes. As a rule, this is about 60 cm, and industrial hillers are only 30 cm wide. To make a hiller, you need to take a sheet of metal at least 3 mm thick, triangular in shape, the base length of which is from 30 to 60 cm, and the height is about 30 cm. This element The hiller is bent along the height of the triangle, thereby creating a point that pierces the ground; small rectangles in the form of wings are welded to it, the span of which will be equal to the width of the rows. 7-10 rods approximately 30 cm long are welded to the main triangle in a fan-shaped manner. For better rigidity, the tip of the triangle is reinforced with an iron strip no less than 3 mm thick.

Important!
A rigid stand-mount will prevent overloading the walk-behind tractor engine during operation.

Attaching the potato digger

To attach the potato digger to the walk-behind tractor, you will need a metal rectangle 50*520 mm, the metal thickness of which is at least 10 mm. Holes are drilled on it to regulate the depth of immersion of the digging tip into the ground to avoid cutting the tubers. It makes sense to strengthen the rigidity of the tip and wings by connecting the edges of the wings with an iron plate, to which a structural post will be welded, bearing the entire load of earthworks when harvesting potatoes; if possible, this metal part can be pre-hardened.

How to hill potatoes with a walk-behind tractor

Hilling is a necessary, but unloved procedure by gardeners. The bushes need to be covered with soil from time to time, otherwise the roots will grow and the potatoes themselves will turn out small. The soil layer provides protection from pests and prevents the growth of weeds. Manual work takes a lot of time and effort, so it is quite possible to mechanize it.

Hilling up using a walk-behind tractor is best done after rain, so that the ground absorbs the water. There is a special device - a hiller, it can be lister or disk. It is convenient when this tool is equipped with an adjustment mechanism, which makes it possible to use it at different row spacings.

The attachment may have one or more pairs of disks made of sheet steel with a thickness of at least 2 mm. The discs are fastened at an angle to each other. Rotation is provided by bushings.

Before you start processing potato beds, you need to take some time to set up. Important parameters are the angle of inclination and the depth of the backlog. The speed of work should be low. The first procedure is carried out immediately after the sprouts appear. The second - after the shoots reach a height of 40 cm.

How to make a screen-type potato digger with your own hands

Making a potato screening type digger with your own hands is a little more complicated, but very realistic to implement. First, you need to make the individual components of this useful unit, connect them together, check the operation of the mechanism, and the do-it-yourself vibrating potato digger for a walk-behind tractor is ready for harvesting potatoes. Let's study all the stages of making a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor. Before manufacturing this mechanism, it is recommended to make a schematic drawing of a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor, indicating the dimensions of the parts for clarity when measuring the material and further welding work.

To begin with, it is recommended to make a frame for the screen digger. To do this, you should weld a rectangle measuring 120*80 cm from a square pipe of 40*40 mm (or corners), which needs to be well sanded with a grinder. Then a section of 40*40 mm square pipe is welded to a quarter of the length of this frame rectangle for a jumper and further installation of rods. In another part of the frame we make a mount for the wheel axle; to do this, from the outside in the corners, we need to vertically position and weld two 15 cm long pipes with a diameter of 30 mm, and use a drill to drill a hole with a diameter of 10 mm in each pipe.

Then you should install several vertical posts - to do this, you need to step back 5 cm from the built-in jumpers on both sides and weld them in a square measuring 3*3 cm and 50 cm long, then step back another 20 cm and weld 40 cm posts, after which step back 40 cm and weld 30 cm posts, the result will be a kind of ladder. Now you need to connect the racks with a metal strip, the thickness of which is 0.4 mm, at an angle of 45 degrees, the result is a triangular structure.

Did you know?
The first horse-drawn potato digger was created by a Russian blacksmith in 1847.

How to make a pitched board and ralo

The next stage of making a potato digger with your own hands is welding the working part of our device - the raal and the pitched board. Ralo is necessary for digging potato tubers from the soil and then feeding them onto a ramp made of iron rods. For the construction of the rahl, two metal sheets measuring 400 * 400 mm, 0.3 mm thick, are needed, in each of which you need to make a hole for a bolt, and also drill a hole in the racks, stepping back 5 cm from the edge, and firmly screw these metal plates to frame with bolts. Then a metal plate measuring 30*70 cm is bent cone-shaped in the central part using hammer blows and butt-welded to the side sheets - it turns out to be a rawl, the edge of which needs to be sharpened for better penetration into the ground.

The pitched board is welded from 8-10 metal rods or pieces of reinforcement approximately 1.2 m long, one end of which is welded below to the raft, and the second extends beyond the boundaries of the digger and moves quite freely.
The rods are welded parallel at a distance of about 40 mm. To strengthen the structure, a channel about 30 cm long can be welded at the end of the frame on both sides - these will be risers to which the bar is welded.
Rods will then be welded to it at a distance of two-thirds of their length to strengthen the pitched board. During the harvesting process, the free edges of the rods will vibrate and break the soil adhering to the root crops. It is also recommended to weld metal plates on the side of the bars of the pitched board to prevent potato tubers from falling out of the lattice structure.

Selection of wheels for the design

We have already familiarized ourselves with the main steps of how to make a potato digger with our own hands; now we need to choose wheels for the design from the following options:

• metal – suitable for use on hard soil, their weight makes the digger heavier and improves the work of the rake;
• simple rubber ones - used for working on loose soil; on wet soil they will not make it possible to transport garden equipment;
• rubber ones with a tractor tread - will make it possible to use the structure in wet soil without slipping; they are bulky and heavy.

Rubber wheels with tractor tread are the best option for making a potato digger. The wheel is equipped with a mount shaped like the letter “G”, which is attached to an axle mounted on the frame of the digger. The wheel can be fixed with a “pin” by analogy with a garden wheelbarrow.

Important!
Wider wheels will make it easier to move the potato digger around garden beds.

Making fasteners

And here we are at the final stage of making a potato digger with our own hands - making the mount and final assembly of the mechanism. The gearbox unit is attached to the axle using bearings, and the transport mechanism is assembled from wheels, roller chains, and metal disks. The axle, as a connecting bridge, should be attached with sprockets; discs are welded to it, to which the wheels are attached. The chain will transmit energy and rotate the shafts, driving the potato digger mechanism.

Then a holder is made with the letter “G”. The long end is attached to a radial part connected to the walk-behind tractor, and the short end is welded to the tip of the rahl. To control the angle of the rafter, the best option would be to connect the beam to the potato digger with two or more bolts.

As a result of all the work done, you will have a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor, very easy to use, in addition, it will be partially dismountable and transportable due to the mechanism being bolted together. This potato digger will help remove potato tubers from the soil, clear a little of the soil and carefully place them on the surface of the furrows. The owner of a personal plot will only have to harvest the crop and provide it with optimal conditions for storage.

Was this article helpful? Not really

For those who know first-hand what it is to work in the field, grow your own potato crop, and even more so harvest it, understand what a difficult task it is. It’s good that after a long time of this practice, a person came up with a simple invention to facilitate potato harvesting - a do-it-yourself potato digger

. In this case, our grandfathers used an ordinary shovel, and this mechanical device was created specifically to automate the collection of potatoes. The function of a potato digger is to separate tubers from the soil and place them on the surface of the field.

Of course, there are factory versions of this device, but for a more or less experienced gardener it will not be difficult to assemble a potato digger yourself, which will be little inferior to these samples.

Potato digger design

The simple design makes it much easier. It is based on a welded frame, which is assembled from a special corner measuring 63x40 mm, an iron channel number 8, and 8 mm metal plates. A ploughshare is made from the plates, which in principle can be made from an ordinary circular saw. The ploughshare is attached to the elevator casing with 4 bolts tightened with nuts. Thanks to the round sharpening of the part, potato tubers are almost impossible to cut.

The tilt of the elevator can be changed by changing the fastening of the casing to the frame, and at the same time the angle at which the opener digs also changes. The editorial unit is made from two cylindrical metal bodies. They have the form of a glass and a bushing and connect two shafts made of steel - the drive and the driven. These shafts should rotate without difficulty, and special sprockets with welded hubs are mounted on prismatic keys. As a rule, they are made from a piece of gas pipeline measuring approximately 25 mm.

potato digger for a mini tractor can do without a cleaning drum.

, however, creating it is the most difficult part in making a potato digger. Its design includes two roller chains with 94 links, mounted on rods. This design, due to its shape, was called the “squirrel wheel”. This wheel is mounted on two bent disks for strength. In some cases, a bicycle wheel rim is used instead of disks. The “squirrel wheel” is welded to the disks and fixed on two fixed welded axles, on which it then rotates. The shaft rotates on the bearings, and with it the driven sprockets rotate, on which the rotation of the drum itself depends.

The best material for a slider so that the chain-bar tape can easily slide over it is fluoroplastic. The tape itself looks like a “squirrel wheel”, but the rods on it are shorter and there are fewer of them. Sliders are also needed to protect the chain from damage and act as a support.

The easiest part of making a potato digger is its support and transport unit. Each person makes it according to his own calculations. Usually there are no special difficulties in creating it. By the way, similar mechanisms are used in

It is worth making a manual potato digger for compact areas. It is better to buy industrial types of equipment for large areas from manufacturers.

Simple vibration equipment can be easily made from the following materials:

1. Iron channel.
2. The pieces of steel were no thinner than 5 millimeters. Strong steel will be required for the plowshare. A used blade from a circular saw or any other high-speed steel is perfect.
3. Iron corners from rolled metal.
4. Steel or iron rods. It is better to use fittings of small diameter.

The vibration model must be made from a base or frame. The design must include:

• base (the above-mentioned frame);
• suspension system;
• rods for adjustment;
• moving elements (wheels or lugs).

Drawing of a vibrating potato digger for a walk-behind tractor:

How to install a potato digger on a walk-behind tractor

So, the digger is ready, but it’s too early to start work. First you need to configure and install it correctly. The goal is not only to harvest the potatoes, but also not to damage the tubers.

Digger adjustment:

• Loosen the bolts that are located between the post and the lock.
• Move the plowshare while adjusting the penetration into the ground. Optimally - 30 cm. If the depth is less, the crop can be damaged.
• Tighten the mounting bolts.
• Now you need to adjust the slope of the pitched board. To do this, just turn the handle until the board hits the ground, then in the other direction. The back of the board should be raised above the ground by about 5cm.

Work on creating a vibration model

Rules for manufacturing each part separately and assembling the entire mechanism.

The basis

It is optimal to use a square profile pipe 40 by 40 mm. It is better to take a 4-meter piece of rolled metal and divide it into segments of 120 and 80 centimeters. We get four support beams.

From them you need to weld a base in the form of a rectangle at a right angle. Its dimensions will be 120 by 80 centimeters.

Rod mount

It is necessary to weld the jumpers not in the middle of the frame (rectangle), but at a quarter of its length.
On the back side of the base, we fix the square tubes in a vertical position by welding. They are placed outside the base to install the axle. Wheels are then installed on the axle.

Or an engraver makes a 1 centimeter hole in a place convenient for fastening.

Vertical racks

We retreat 5 centimeters from the edge of the frame and secure the square profile by welding. Its length is no more than 50 centimeters. After 15-20 cm, we also fix the square profile by welding, but already 40 centimeters long. After the second rack, we measure 40 centimeters and secure the 30 centimeter profile with welding.

As a result, the design is similar to a metal pair of descending stairs.

Rigidity for racks

It is necessary to secure the racks at the bottom of the structure. To do this, use a strip of metal 0.4 - 0.5 mm. The racks should be connected by welding at 45 degrees, additionally welding the strips together.

Plowshare or ralo

Creating the working part of a potato digger.
A homemade ploughshare must sink into the soil, digging through potato rows for harvesting. To make a ralo, you need metal from 0.3 mm thick. Two “working” blades are cut out according to the drawing and a homemade plow is welded. To give it a three-dimensional shape convenient for gripping the soil, you need to tap the center of the blades with a hammer, after securing the entire structure with a fastening rod.

Making pitched boards

The pitched board is a continuation of the design of the potato digger, or rather steel rods welded to the base. The easiest way is to use reinforcing bars with a diameter of no more than 10 mm and a length of up to 120 centimeters. Every 4-5 centimeters you need to weld the reinforcement, as shown in the photo.

Adjustment rods

An optional element, because adjustment is only needed on problematic (watery) soil.

The rods will easily adjust the desired angle for tilting the reinforcement (pitched) board. The easiest way is to make a movable structure in the form of a frame on which the pitched board is located. The frame is tightened with ordinary bolts.

Support wheels

The design of a digger for a walk-behind tractor, created by yourself, must be equipped with movable wheels for ease of operation and movement.

It is most profitable to equip the digger with wheels from a garden wheelbarrow with wide tires. We purchase axles, attach them to the frame and install the wheels. It is easier to secure the wheels with a pin (as in a garden wheelbarrow).

Model KVM-3

This model belongs to the vibrating modular screening machines and has a different design. The potato digger has a static knife and a shaking table, moving along a special elliptical lifting and pushing trajectory. The knife is connected to the drive frame through an adapter, which provides additional vibration. Therefore, the unit can work on particularly heavy soils. The vibration strongly shakes the ground, the tubers are easily cleaned and fall to the surface. The universal mechanism of the vibrator allows you to work with walk-behind tractors in which the pulley is installed both on the left and on the right.

KVM-3 is aggregated with Neva, MT3, Salyut, Zarya, Agat walk-behind tractors.

The vibrating modular potato digger has the following characteristics:

• overall dimensions - 900x670x560 mm;
• weight - 34 kg;
• working width - 39 cm;
• processing depth - 20 cm;
• productivity - 0.1 ha/hour.

The device is inferior to KKM-1 in terms of root crop harvesting efficiency, but its cost is lower.

The simplest potato digger for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands

A lancet-type potato digger is the simplest type of attachment for.
Manufacturing does not require special materials, complex drawings or measurements. You will need a bipod, but it can be easily cut, for example, from an old shovel. Make rods from reinforcement or adapt teeth from old forks. A thrifty owner will always find a use for even old broken garden tools.

To successfully use homemade equipment, you need to know the degree of soil density on the site. Otherwise, using such a potato digger will become inconvenient.

Easy to attach to any model of cultivator or mini-tractor. There are no moving parts in the design, so there is nothing to break.

Types of potato diggers

There are 2 types of potato diggers on the market:

• passive;
• active.

Passive equipment includes attachments that have a simple design and low cost. Such devices are called lancet, fan or simple. The main working element is a shovel on which rods are welded.

This is very reliable equipment, but it has low performance. In addition, approximately 15% of the crop remains in the soil. Other negative points include high fuel consumption and shallow digging depth (15 cm). The working width is 20 cm. This device is mounted on a cultivator or walk-behind tractor.

Active potato diggers are divided into the following types:

• conveyor;
• vibrating (screening).

Vibrating potato diggers work thanks to a ploughshare and a vibrating table. The design is improved by connecting a mesh. The device is equipped with one or two eccentrics.

Conveyor models are divided into belt and conveyor models. Their main difference from other models is the presence of a belt on which the soil with potatoes is sifted. The fuel consumption of such models is minimal, and the harvest percentage reaches 98%.

There are also drum potato diggers. They are used over large areas. The device consists of 3 main elements:

• knife;
• frames;
• rotating drum, which is made of steel rods.

The knife is mounted on the frame using a hinge joint. He cuts off the layer of soil along with the potatoes. As the drum rotates, lumps of earth break up and spill out through the grate, and the tubers fall out onto the arable land.

Which is better

There are many popular models. Before making a final decision, it is important to decide on the following parameters:

1. Area of ​​the treated area. The power of the technology depends on it.
2. Soil quality. The simplest equipment will not cope with hard ground.
3. Humidity. Cheap and low-power potato diggers do not work well with wet soil.
4. Device dimensions. Wide ones are used on large plantations, and narrow ones are used in vegetable gardens for single beds.
5. Type of peeling potatoes from soil. Different models of potato diggers clean clay, loam, black soil, and sandstone in different ways.
6. The presence of additional elements, for example, wheels.
7. Type of fastener.
8. Cost of the device.
9. Condition of the main equipment, i.e. walk-behind tractor or mini-tractor. Modern attachments are often not suitable for outdated models.