surface drive badger unloader

[firstingrasslandfarming]

I have an older model surface drive AKA "pack drive" Badger unloader in my 40' silo that I plan on getting ready for next year. I have no experience as to how to fill a silo with a surface drive unloader as next year will be my first year using the silo since my folks bought the farm and they are not farmers so I take care of things. I remember growing up on my grandpa's farm he had a Jamesway ring-drive unloader that had the deflector pan on it to distribute the haylage/silage from the top as it entered the silo. What I need to know is how to prep the unloader for filling the silo and if it is possible to distribute the haylage/silage with the unloader or is there a different method? Thanks
 

[Roger Tomfohrde]

This might get a little long; If this is the one like we had there is several steps. First unbolt at the drive wheels from the support that keeps the wheels out. Remove the bolt from the plate on the end that keeps it from hitting the outside wall. Slide the wheels/weights off. Fold the two pieces of the drive assembly in towards the unloader body and tie them together, you may have to get the knuckle of the drive shaft turned so it will fold up along side. There should be weights hanging out away from the body of the unloader, take a picture of them so you can put them back the way they are now and move them closer to the unloader and hang all of the weights and wheels on the same shaft to balance the loader when it goes up. If I remember correctly the chute needs to come off also and get tied on top of the body of the unloader, I also beleive that the cable is remounted lower on a support for it by the blower. Tie a rope to the unloader so that when it is at the top it clears the fill chute, this rope should go through the inside chute the silage comes down. Once the unloader is up the fill chute might have to be extended out so it is in position. On ours the unloader would be above the fill chute when it was extended.Make sure everything is tied on securely before pulling the unloader so nothing falls off.We got the bolts so we only needed three wrenches, one 9/16 and two 3/4 inch, but they rust so your may be different. I sure liked it when we went to ring drives as it was easier to get ready to pull. Took about an hour and a half average to pull the badger(s). and 45 minutes for the ring drives. I may have missed some things in this and others should be along soon who are more current in pulling one of these. It has been awhile since I did one.
 

[JD Seller]

Roger has it correct. You need to pull the unloader to the top of the silo before filling it. The unloader is just for UNLOADING. LOL.

There where very few that actually leveled the silage as you filled. I have heard of them but never saw one.

While the silo is empty you need to check that unloader out as it will be at the bottom. Where it is much easier to work on. The cross auger/augers need good flighting to cut the packed silage. They may have little points on the flighting's edge to help cut the silage. Some do some don't. Then check the blower housing out to see of it has any holes in it. Then check to see how close the blower paddles are to the side of the blower. I always set mine where it would catch a nickel but drop a dime. (that is the thickness needed for clearance on the ends of the paddles) Also check the drive belts out. If they are not real good replace them now. Because they will fail on the coldest morning you have. Make sure the motor starts and runs OK. Make sure all the grease fitting take grease. I have a grease gun mounted on the blower. I grease them every time I move to the next lower door. LOL.

Truthfully you maybe better off to call around and find out who does silo unloader repair and pay them to come out an check it out. They will know what to look for. Then they can show you first hand how to set the blower up to raise it and how to set it to unload.

As for filling your silo. Your blower neck should have a deflector on the end that gets turned down into the roof when filling. Both of mine have a cable that runs down the outside to where the blower sets. There is a lever that adjusts where the deflector is directing the silage. You do one load against one side and then the next against the other side then do one in the middle. Then when done you level the top off by hand. They do make Plastic covers for to seal the top so you have less spoilage while it is going through the ensilage process.

CAUTION!!!!! When you enter the silo to level it off have the blower running for a while before you enter the silo. I usually level mine right after I put the last load in. If you let it set there can be silo gas built up. That gas can be poisonous. It is usually heavier then air. So I always go above the door I am going to open and open it while being above it. That way if there is any gas it will go down the chute. You just unlatch the door and then climb above it and kick it in with your foot. Then wait a little bit and go in an level the silage.

Generally a silo unloader is the poorest maintained piece of equipment on the farm. They are out of easy reach and in an acidic environment. A cheap one is usually just a headache waiting to happen when it is cold and nasty with your cattle waiting for feed. I use mine because they are already here. I would never build another one. I can feed much easier and safer with silage in a bag or pit.

If you want to talk to some one email me and I would be glad to walk you through some of the issues I see coming.
 

[sammydwm]

Your "distributor" will most likely be a flap on the top of your filler pipe that has two positions. You alternate positions with each load of silage you blow up. There will be a handle near the bottom of the silo connected to the flap by a cable.
If this does not exist then you have no distributor (and with only a 40 footer this is pretty normal) as the unloader should be tight to the tripod and out of the way of the incoming silage.
Then your distributor usually consists of a 12 tine silage fork and manual labor.
We would level the stuff out and lower the unloader. Set t up and turn it on. Walk around behind the thing helping it along and packing down the silage in the drive wheels circle.

Then we got smart and replaced the thing with a ring drive.....
 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

The post below are correct but I will add a few things we do on our badger.We let the drive wheels on and simply tie them on top the frame and slide the weight out to counter balence the unloader when raised.We remove the spout and bracket so that the unloader can be raised higher into the roof.We have two people when raising and tie a baler twine to the unloader one person holds onto the rope(you can drop it down from the top or stand in the shoot at the bottom,never in the silo while unloader is being raised)This string keeps the unloader from spinning around while raising.My neighbor moves his wheel out that runs against wall to keep his from spinning.It would be a very good idea to take your motor to a shop and have it checked out.We have ours done every three or four years.A Badger dealer can get you an operaters manual or check Ebay.For a distributer ours two 14X40 silos have a hood on top the pipe that divides the silage into three piles in the silo.Put your first load or two in then go to the top and make sure you are getting the silo filled even and not to one side.A 40 ft silo this is not as much issue as larger and taller silos.If you are going to feed in the winter make sure that the chipper wheel on the end of the auger is in good condition.You will learn some as you go along as eight years ago I knew nothing about unloaders but three wore out ones taught me quickly.LOL