cultipacker help

[GRB054]

Purchased a custom built 16" cultipacker earlier this summer- looks like someone took two 8" sections from a cultipacker or cultimulcher and built a heavy steel frame and tongue. Used it over the weekend and find the packer wheels are too loose. They run on a 4 1/2 inch center tube and washers are used to keep the packer wheels tight on the center tube. Does anyone know what brand used a 4 1/2 center tube? Any idea where I could find washers , or even better, split washers with a 4 1/2 inch id (the type that hinge so you don"t have to take the whole thing apart to add)?
 

[DeltaRed]

How loose are they?it is supposed to have some movement.thats how they work.I dont believe a 'split washer'will stand up.The constant hammering will dastroy it.
 

[DeltaRed]

Some of them have an adjustable collar(My IH,Brillion,Kewanee all did)Something I have also done is to take a piece of flat steel(1/8;1/4;3;8;1/2,etc)and make my own spacers.Simply cut to correct size with your torch.You CAN do it!
 

[GRB054]

They are looser than I typically like- probably a full 3/4 of an inch space when you lift up one end and slide them together- unfortunately whoever built it did not put an adjustable collar on the shaft
 

[maxwell99]

i would think that the pack wheels being loose is a good thing. this gives the pack wheels movement to roll and compack the seeds in uneven ground.

I have an old (i think its a brillion brand 8ft)
it does a great job, even has a busted wheel or two, but seed always come up good after running over them with the packer.

these old machines were designed to be a bit loose.

worth there weight in gold when planting seed.

 

[Leroy]

Brillion and the wheels are not supposed to be lose enough to flop, just enough for one to turn against the next. The only ones that are supposed to have any slop are the ones with a sprocket type wheel between the regular packer wheels and those run on a spacer that gives them the proper loosness. You do not have that. I think you are meaning 8 & 16 Foot', not inch ". You could take 2 bar clamps and pull the wheels as tight together as possible and then fill the space with washers and when you take the clamps off you will still have enough looseness for the way they are supposed to be. Thay should not rattle when in use. Might have to take steel plate and cut the hole with a torch and grind smooth to get washers to fit.
 

[GRB054]

I agree- some give is good but right now the wheels are loose enough so they flop and you can see them twist a little- I was hoping to find where I could just buy washers but the suggestion to take flat stock and cut my own spacers seems like the best bet unless someone comes up with a washer source
thanks