Tool Bar Work in Progress

[whopist]

Tool Bar Work in Progress

I’m in the process of making myself a hillier to raise my rows in the garden.

This tool bar started out as a Ford Escape trailer hitch. How’s that for re purposing?

Now I’m working on building the hillier disc attachments.

 

[Robert NC]

Looks good. Hope to see pictures as it progresses. Been thinking about building one also

 

[whopist]

Thanks Robert, here are a few pictures of my hiller progress:

One hiller disc welded up and one in pieces.


One hiller disc temp. bolted on the tool bar. The “U” bolt is not strong enough the way I have it attached. Side load just pushes it to over to the right.


Here it is bolted together behind the tractor. Again I must make stronger clamps.


Once again this project is being built with material I had on hand.

 

[oldtanker]

Did the blades come with the hub or did you have them laying around? If so what were they for?

Looks good but I think you are going to have to go with a couple of plates with 4 bolts to keep those in place.

Rick

 

[whopist]

Rick,
The disc were purchased with an unknown origin. They are about 12” od and have a 5/8” id heavy ball bearing hub. As you can see they are flat disc like coulters. But I think they are going to throw the dirt well in 3rd gear. Oh! They were cheap. (real hillers I have seen have had 1.25” dia round stock with a 16-18” dia cupped disc)

I made the disc legs out of 1” dia round stock and the axle hub is a piece of 4x1.5x.75” steel laying around. Cut it in half and drilled the 5/8” dia hole for axle bolt.




Yes the clamps are still under consideration been looking everywhere for an easy fix.

Thanks for your input.

 

[NNP]

looks good

think snow plow shoes for the clamps.
I've welded angle iron to flat stock for the rod to slip into,
then bolts and a plate on the other side.

Also, when mounting a about 1" rod to something,
swiping frame sway bar mounts off a car or truck works pretty good.
They are bent for a rod and have mounting holes drilled already.

 

[whopist]

NNP,

OK, I'm thinking snow plow shoes!


Man, I'm from East Texas. I don't remember ever seeing a real live snow plow!

I think I follow your angle iron and flat stock. Not sure though? Got any pictures?

Sway bar brackets off a vehicle. Just the excuse I need to spend the day in a bone yard.

Thanks!

 

[NNP]

(quoted from post at 18:27:16 09/10/14)
NNP,

OK, I'm thinking snow plow shoes!


Man, I'm from East Texas. I don't remember ever seeing a real live snow plow!

I think I follow your angle iron and flat stock. Not sure though? Got any pictures?

Sway bar brackets off a vehicle. Just the excuse I need to spend the day in a bone yard.

Thanks!

well, I didn't have a pic of the angle iron mount.
but if you look at this pic of a sway bar mounting brackets kind of deal.
see that triangle shaped angle iron to the side of my setup.
turn it upright and make it longer and you have a channel for the rod to slip into.
In your case, I'd weld either to a square flat plate with a hole drilled in each corner.
a matching plate for the other side with 4 holes too.
bolt it around your toolbar.
(the one plate with your brackets, with proper size square profile U-bolts would work too, but I'm too cheap)
sturdy and loosening the bolts will let you slide it for adjustment of your 'hills'

 

[whopist]

Here is a picture of what I came up with for the hiller clamps:


The nuts shaped to flatten the angle iron for the U bolt nuts are a next size larger so they serve only as bushings.

Thanks for your ideas NNP

 

[pikewi]

Does it work to hold them in place so they don't turn now?

 

[whopist]

The final assembly hasn't happened yet. I'm still welding the second clamp, but the completed one sure seems to hold the disc right where you clamp it.

Besides it been raining for two days and the ground is getting wet.

I am confidant enough to clean and paint while the ground dries.

 

[oldtanker]

My question is if it will clamp tight enough to keep the blades at the desired angle. You may have to drill a hole through the angle and the round stock and pin it.

Rick

 

[whopist]

Rick,
Will my clamp hold the desired angle? I sure hope so! I spent a lot of time and effort with round stock just so I would be able to set the angle right where it worked best. I really think the three holding points I have will hold. (We will see soon.)


The paint is drying as we type.



Check this out! I discovered it on the Ford Escape 2” square tubing while painting the tool bar. “U.S.A.”

 

[whopist]

The hiller is finished and it works! The clamps hold the hiller disc right where you put them. No tilting - No twisting

I am very happy with it.

Assembled and mounted to tractor


Hiller in use.


[b:20dce60238][/b:20dce60238]

 

[NNP]

(quoted from post at 12:44:50 09/16/14)
The hiller is finished and it works! The clamps hold the hiller disc right where you put them. No tilting - No twisting

I am very happy with it.

nice work
Don't forget to figure out how much you DIDN'T spend by making your own. keep a tally in your head.
Every time you homebrew, create, farmerize, make something work, instead of running to a 'store', add to that tally.
In a very short time there will be enough there.....to buy another tractor!

 

[whopist]

NNP, thanks for encouragement.

I'm already thinking I might make a small furrow wedge to open the row for seeding. It will just attach where the hitch ball goes.