Types of potato diggers for mini-tractors, operating principles and selection criteria

Attachments for a mini-tractor are indispensable equipment on the farm. One of the most popular devices is a potato digger. There are many varieties and models on the market. But if you make such a design yourself, financial costs are significantly reduced.

What is a potato digger for a mini tractor

A modern potato digger is a passive attachment for connecting to equipment with a power take-off shaft. It works like a shovel or plow, but teeth or rods are welded to the parts.

The main plow goes deep into the soil, loosens and turns it over. The potatoes cling to the rods, rise and remain on the surface.

What does it look like

Externally, the equipment resembles an ordinary wheelbarrow, but differs in the presence of teeth and mechanisms for rotating the transport belt. There is an element for fixing to a mini-tractor.

Principle of operation

A potato digger for a mini-tractor helps extract potatoes, beets, carrots and other root vegetables from the ground.

This happens as follows:

• the ploughshare is immersed in the ground to a depth of 20 to 50 cm;
• when the mini-tractor moves, it pulls out the root crop along with the soil;
• the mixture is sent to the grill;
• the earth is gradually poured back into the ground, and the peeled tubers fall to the surface.

Afterwards, all you have to do is walk across the field and harvest.Compared to digging up a vegetable with a shovel, a potato digger significantly increases labor productivity and reduces the consumption of physical strength.

Reference. Any model allows you to carefully harvest the crop. The tubers are practically not damaged. If the surface of a vegetable is slightly scratched, it is better to eat it immediately.

Varieties

All potato diggers are divided into 2 large groups: single-row and double-row. The former are distinguished by the presence of one row of teeth, the latter are equipped with two rows of rods and are considered more complex devices.

Single-row ones are:

1. Vibrating, or thunderous. The most common option. The models are equipped with a horizontal ploughshare, which digs the ground during operation. It looks like an upside down letter "P". Immerses to a depth of 20 to 30 cm. There are rods at the back. The distance between them prevents the tubers from falling back into the newly dug trench. A vertical piston is attached to the rods to create vibration. The lumps under the vibration flow are broken up and sent back to the field. The tubers then fall to the surface.
2. Transporter. The operating principle is the same as that of vibration technology, but there are also differences. The horizontal share is replaced by flat teeth directed forward. A special drive starts the conveyor belt. On it, the potatoes are detached from the ground and then fall to the ground.
3. Fan. A simple design, including a ploughshare in the form of a shovel bayonet and a fan made of metal rods. Tubers from the soil move backward along the ploughshare, and then fall through the rods to the surface of the earth. This potato digger is perfect for working together with a mini-tractor and walk-behind tractor.
4. Drums. The technique is distinguished by the presence of a rotating drum.Potatoes fall into it, which, after being cleared from the ground, move down.
5. Equestrian. The operating principle is noticeably different from previous models. The ploughshare lifts the tubers and transports them to the rotating wheel. This element moves in the opposite direction, pushing the crop towards the side bundles of metal rods. Then the tubers fall to the ground, but a little further than the dug trenches.

In households and on small farms, single-row potato diggers are used. In fields with an impressive volume of vegetables, two-row models are used. We will not describe them in detail, since they are intended for connection to heavy special equipment.

Review of the best models

Russian-made potato diggers are endowed with excellent technical characteristics and show good performance. Let's look at the most popular models.

"Scout"

This is a conveyor potato digger for high-quality pre-processing of vegetables.

Peculiarities:

• compatible with Scout mini-tractors, equipped with a three-point suspension system and a power take-off shaft;
• connection to models T-12, 15, 18, 24 and 25 is permissible, but using a drive belt of the appropriate class;
• adjustable knife depth up to 28 cm;
• power ratings - from 12 to 25 liters. With.;
• power take-off speed - 540 rpm;
• drive belt type - B2360, B25550 or B2600;
• travel speed - from 2 to 7 km/h.

The cost of attachments starts from 20,000 rubles.

KKM-3

This screening potato digger for connection to the MTZ-132N is designed for digging and laying vegetables on the soil surface.

The model provides adjustment of the depth of immersion of the teeth.

Peculiarities:

• productivity - 0.05-0.2 ha/h;
• speed - 1.1-2.1 km/h;
• soil grip depth - 20 cm;
• required drive - PC-3;
• cost - from 12,500 rubles.

The technique has proven itself well in working with wet and hard soils. At the same time, it is capable of loosening soil littered with stones up to 8-9 t/ha.

4UD-1

A potato digger for extracting vegetables from the soil and partially separating them from the ground, followed by laying them on the surface of the field.

Peculiarities:

• suitable for work in tandem with mini-tractors and tractors of the 0.6 t class with a power of more than 20 hp. With.;
• installation takes place on a rear three-point hitch using a PTO drive;
• pick-up depth - from 15 cm;
• speed - up to 6 km/h;
• productivity - up to 0.225 ha/h;
• type of construction - single-row.

The cost of the model starts from 1,800 rubles.

Bomet Z-655

The vibrating potato digger with rear discharge has a compact size (1.7 x 1.5 x 1.15 m), so it is used on small flat or hilly plots of land with moderately compacted and light soil.

Peculiarities:

• compatibility with any models of mini-tractors with a power of more than 15 hp. With.;
• power take-off speed - 540 rpm;
• soil capture depth - up to 20 cm;
• operating speed - 5 km/h.

Side loading allows you to place the harvested crop 50 cm from the main trench. This ensures that all tubers are lifted without any damage. The cost of the model is from 65,000 rubles.

Wirax

Single-row conveyor potato digger for any mini-tractors of traction class 0.9 with a power of 20-35 hp. With. Cultivates only loose soil without stones.

Peculiarities:

• soil gripping depth - up to 25 cm;
• operating speed - 8 km/h;
• ability to work on surfaces with a slope of up to 6°;
• equipped with two rubber-fabric conveyor belts made in Italy;
• cost - from 60,000 rubles.

KK-1

A single-row conveyor potato digger is suitable for connection to heavy walk-behind tractors and mini-tractors with a power of 18 hp or more. With.

Peculiarities:

• working width - 65 cm;
• digging depth - up to 25 cm;
• operating speed - 4 km/h;
• connects to the Salyut, Ugra, Neva equipment;
• cost - from 55,000 rubles.

Criterias of choice

Before purchasing, it is important to decide on the following parameters:

1. Power. The higher it is, the more productive the equipment.
2. Width and depth of grip. Here they pay attention to the depth of the tubers and the width between the rows.
3. Speed. Affects speed digging. It’s good if the car moves at a speed of 6 km/h.
4. What type of soil is the digger designed for? Information is provided in the technical specifications of the model. If you choose the wrong sample, the equipment will quickly fail.

How to make a potato digger with your own hands

If you don’t want to spend money on buying attachments, you should try to assemble it yourself from scrap materials. The following are instructions for making a simple potato digger.

Required materials and tools

To create a homemade potato digger you will need:

• frame;
• lattice;
• a pipe with a diameter of 20 cm for making a ploughshare;
• ready-made chain mechanism for fastening;
• steel or rubber wheels;
• welding;
• Bulgarian;
• sharpener;
• bolts.

Drawings, diagrams

There are a large number of schemes for the manufacture of attachments, but it is better to choose a scheme for assembling a vibrating potato digger. This simple design does not require a high level of skill.Only minimal knowledge of welding is required.

Step-by-step instruction

The following diagram will allow you to assemble a reliable potato digger from simple materials:

1. For the frame you need a corner with a section of 60x40 mm. Gussets that strengthen the corners of the frame and other components are cut out of a steel sheet 6-8 mm thick. All parts are fixed by welding or bolts. It’s good if fastening methods are combined.
2. A grate is made from rods and steel strips with a diameter of about 10 mm. The finished structure is connected to the shaft, and the fixation points are secured with bolts.
3. A pipe with a diameter of 20 mm is cut with a grinder and a ring is made from it. The resulting product is processed with a sharpener. The sharp ploughshare is fixed to the frame and elevator using bolts. The diameter of the fastening elements is 10 mm.
4. Install the hubs on the sides of the hitch.
5. Fix the finished trailer mechanism.
6. Mount wide wheels. Better than 2 pairs.

Assembly of equipment is carried out only on a flat surface. Use a serviceable tool, without burrs or chips.

Operating rules

Using a potato digger involves taking into account the following tips:

• You cannot be in front of a working mini-tractor with attached equipment;
• It is forbidden to jump into the vehicle while it is moving;
• after finishing work, be sure to remove the drive belt from the engine;
• It is not recommended to lubricate working units of equipment that is turned on;
• It is better to work with safety covers and guards.

This is interesting:

Advantages and disadvantages of growing potatoes using Dutch technology

How to make a shovel for digging potatoes yourself

How to make a two-row potato planter yourself

Conclusion

Making a potato digger at home is not difficult if you choose the most suitable diagram and drawings.The main thing is to follow the instructions and securely connect the parts by welding. During the process, be sure to use personal protective equipment.