Middle Buster

[johnk]

I have a one bottom plow and was wondering if a middle buster would do the same thing just twice as fast for turning the soil. Also could the middle buster be used for making ditches to lay 4" PVC drain lines? Thanks.

John

 

[Turfman]

I have used the middle buster for laying drain lines. Took the sweep off a Troybilt tiller furrower attachment and put it on the blade of the middle buster. It did a good job of opening up the dirt, but there was still a lot of hand cleaning of the trench. I bent the furrower up so I took it off. Now I just use the middle buster and make three or four passes a few inches apart. This opens the trench wide enough for 4" drain pipe, still leaves a lot of hand cleaning.

Mine is a King Kutter and it just barely will clear the ground when raised all the way up on my Kubota B2710. In fact, I have to back it up to get it off the driveway and anytime there is a change of grade it rubs the ground. It is supposed to break ground to 14 inches and I think that's pretty close.

I have no idea what your plowing needs are, so I can't comment on that.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Here is a good thread on laying water lines using a Middlebuster to dig the trench. I plan on using this method to run water lines to my flower beds and garden. Trenching with a middlebuster Don't think it would work for 4" pipe.

 

[johnk]

Thanks for all the info and the pics. I have 500 ft of 1 1/4 well tubing runnung down my hill at my cabin and you just gave me a great idea. Thanks.

JOhn

 

[Turfman]

I was using it last night and thought about this thread. I'm sorry, but I misled you. I looked at the middle buster, but got the sub-soiler. The middle buster had a large sweep on it that I found attractive to open the trench a bit, but the shank was shorter and I'd get less depth. I got the sub-soiler. It has more depth and I'm glad I go it, the added depth is better for me. It does make it a bit harder to get around, as I have nearly zero ground clearance with that long shank.

 

[Moon]

I just laid some 4" drain pipe with my middle buster. Had to make multiple runs but ended up getting about 12 inches down. Had to do a little hand digging but not much for the 200' of drain pipe. Would have prefered getting just a wee bit deeper, ....i adjusted and readjusted my top link and 12 was the best i could get. I read the tips on here, but this was my first time using the middle buster.
Hope this helps,
Moon of Ohio

 

[johnk]

I thought you could get a ditch opened wide enough for 4 inch. The 12 inch depth would be fine for what I need. How about making that last pass a little quicker after it's already opened up. Should be beneficial in throwing the dirt out from the bottom a little farther and less cleaning with the hickory backhoe..

John

 

[cisco]

I did about 1000 ft of 3/4 PVC water pipe and 10 gauge electrical wire. The ground was fairly firm, and there were occasional large tree roots (even though I tried to skirt trees by at least 20 ft). I first trenched with a subsoiler (if you hit a large root or rock, it's a lot better with a narrow subsoiler than it is with a larger, but much more easy to bend, middle buster, aka potato plow). Next I ran the subsoiler over the middle buster furrow a couple of times, and I still had to clear up loose soil from a number of areas with ---- a shovel. As to laying flexible pipe through a conduit attached to the rear of a subsoiler shaft - it works, but it works a heck of a lot better for narrower stuff, such as electrial cable. Good luck (and naprosyn, aka Aleve, sure helps the evening that you've worked on a trench).

 

[Alan L.]

Turfman, what hole do you have your lower links set on? I have a middle buster (not a KK) and I can't get but about 8 or 9 inches deep with it. And it clears the ground a few inches. I have not yet tried changing the setting on the lower links, seems like they are on the back holes.

 

[Turfman]

Not sure what you mean on the holes. I'm at the office and can't get to the tractor to look at it. The top link is set in the highest hole (if that's what you mean).
Mine is not a middle buster, it is a sub soiler. The subsoiler is substantially longer than a middle buster.