Hoover potato digger

[m hawley]

Has any one had any luck with a horse drawn ground driven potato digger. This is a Hoover digger that I set up on my 630 Case draw bar and used the depth handle on the digger to lower the shovel head. Out of four rows of spuds only one row was successful the rest plugged the digger. When this machine works properly it dose a great job. I’m thinking about converting the machine to a three point hitch so I can lower the Shovel head with a little more control. The digger was not complete when I bought it there was originally a set of iron wheels in the front and I think they helped control the depth of the shovel. That Is one of the problems that I have the shovel wants to go to dept into the ground and plugs the machine. The other thought I had was to motorize the chain This way I could stop the tractor and let the dirt clear out.

 

[RGMartin]

Mine isn't a Hoover, but I have an old IHC of similar design. I run it on a "cheater drawbar (3 point hitch drawbar)" behind my DB 770 or 780. Gives you finger tip control of depth. It isn't perfect, but works pretty well. To work right you need depth wheels just ahead of the cutting edge.

I do about 1/2 an acre with mine every year.

 

[gusbratz]

looks fun, i saw a few of those on the local classifieds for sale and thought about buying 1. did you mow all the vegitation off before you used it. I see a lot of roots and grass in there.

 

[RGMartin]

(quoted from post at 13:46:26 11/23/12) looks fun, i saw a few of those on the local classifieds for sale and thought about buying 1. did you mow all the vegitation off before you used it. I see a lot of roots and grass in there.

Not fun, not in the least, hard back breaking work. I use it to try to instill a work ethic in the kids.

I brush hog mine, wait a week or so to dig. I know others spray to kill the weeds and potatoes before harvest to make things go smoother.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Hi I have a hoover and three more diggers and that old hoover does the best. But you need that wheel in front to help on the depth . And you need to plant your potato in a hill up row and the less grass and weeds the better. And it better than a shovel as I do about two acres.

 

[Tim in New York]

We used one similar to that for quite a few years when I was a kid. As others have said, ours had the two small iron wheels in the front, and a big lever that raised and lowered the blade. And it had a shaker mechanism with tines on the back that was supposed to work the dirt through the bed, as well as pull the vines through the machine.

Ours worked best when dad put the old blades on his Bolens mower and mowed all the weeds down. He would ride the digger and try to work the potatoes, dirt, and leftover vines and weeds up the conveyer chain with his feet. Oh yea, and scream at me at the same time for not staying on the row. When we got a rock caught between the conveyer chain and the side of the digger, it would jam and lock everything up. Usually once at least per row.

Hope this helps. And sure wish I had the old digger back just for the memories.

Tim

 

[LYako]

I am in the process of compiling a book on the history of the Hoover potato digger and its inventor, I.W. Hoover. I would like to get some idea of how many of these machines are still in use. Does anyone use the Hoover digger to harvest their potatoes or other crops on a regular basis? If so, how many acres are harvested? What types of crops? Thanks for your help!