Cultipacker Build

[Milkweed]

Here are some pics of my build from last year.

I ordered:
(25) cultipacker wheels from Agrisupply @ $8.49ea. ($212.95)
(2) 1.75" pillow block bearings @ 15.95 ea ($31.90)

I couldnt find a whole lot of options for the 1.75" cold rolled steel in my area.
Ended up giving $40.00 for a 5' piece. I am not real sure if that was any near what it should have cost. I know they added an $8 cut fee in there as well.

I cant remember for sure, but I think I used one spacer to tighten up the wheels.

I used a left over 20' stick of 2" square tubing I had laying around and put a hole in the end to connect to UTV/ATV/ tractor.

Only used 23 of the 25 wheels. Now I have a spare if I need to replace one.

I ended up deciding I wont have a lot of use for wheels currently. I wont be traveling very far, and over soil when I do need to. I may look into it in the future.
I added a frame on top to fit some cinder blocks for added weight in rocky soil.

I have one year of use out of it and do not have any complaints. I do catch myself wondering how much good I am actually doing on such rocky ground... Would like to eventually get a no till drill, but not today.

 

[foggy]

Nice work on the packer! I bet that extra weight works just about right. A fair price too. I think about getting a small one like you have......so I don't bust my current one up pulling it down the road a bit. Wonder how a drill would hold-up on your rocky land?

 

[wiscwhip]

foggy, you still interested in a fully bolt together model with the plastic/concrete packer wheels like we talked about last year on the "other" forum? I have all the details worked out now and I'm just waiting for the detailers at work to create the dxf files so I can run the material through our machine centers. Funny thing is my wife(who hates this stuff) was just on me about not following up on this from last fall.o_O PM, if you want.

 

[foggy]

foggy, you still interested in a fully bolt together model with the plastic/concrete packer wheels like we talked about last year on the "other" forum? I have all the details worked out now and I'm just waiting for the detailers at work to create the dxf files so I can run the material through our machine centers. Funny thing is my wife(who hates this stuff) was just on me about not following up on this from last fall.o_O PM, if you want.

Hey Whip......are you going to do sectioned wheels? Molded? We talked about so much stuff.....I forget. I think I could get interested in a kit.....and could write the instructions or something. Kool.

 

[wiscwhip]

Yup that's the one. 3 section molded plastic pipe, filled with concrete for the roller. Completely bolt together framework. No welding needed.

 

[EOB]

Any ideas on how much a cultipacker should weigh? I have a home built cultipacker, the width of the wheels are 4.5' wide. It weighs 260 pounds. I am thinking about adding a rack for weight. My ATV tires pack better.

 

[foggy]

Any ideas on how much a cultipacker should weigh? I have a home built cultipacker, the width of the wheels are 4.5' wide. It weighs 260 pounds. I am thinking about adding a rack for weight. My ATV tires pack better.

I think your soil type could be a big factor on how much weight is needed. I have quite fine sandy soils and it packs pretty easy....but get some clay clods and you will need lots more weight to crush the clods and pack the seeds. My 8' wide Dunham packer must weigh about 800+ lbs and does a great job......so I'm guessing 100+ lbs per foot would make a reasonable packer?