Forcing Scarifier deeper into the earth?

[AmericanTractorDriver]

Hello,

Shown here is the scarifier as far as it would drop. This earth was gardened last year and was plowed late in the fall. On firm dirt, without an attachment, the lift arms will lower to about 4 inches off the ground. Is this typical of a scarfier to not want to drop in on its own?

Thanks

 

[mjncad]

Since you list no tractor; I'm going to assume this was a relative's or neighbor's tractor doing work for you. In any case it looks to me like it could use some serious weight on the scarifier to get it to dig in. Three-Point-Hitches rely on gravity and implement weight to get the job done.

 

[bcp]

I wouldn't call that implement a scarifier, more like a cultivator. That is probably as deep as it is meant to go.

This is what I call a scarifier:



From Rankin


Bruce

 

[gwdixon]

The tines in the OP's photo look to be of fairly light weight construction. The number and design of the springs indicate that it is not designed for a heavy work load but rather to just agitate the soil.

A scarifier, as bcp has shown is more rigid and heavy-duty. It is designed to rip packed or heavy dirt and can be made to penetrate deeper by varying the angle of the tines. A box blade usually has those type of tines also. Plus, the weight of the box blade helps sink the scarifiers.

 

[yelbike]

I think all the replies are correct with the terminology but fail to answer the OPs question. Can his cultivator go deeper?
Seems to me you about 6-8" down so you only have another 2-4" to go. It should keep going down a little with every addition pass.

 

[paulemar]

Hello,

Shown here is the scarifier as far as it would drop. This earth was gardened last year and was plowed late in the fall. On firm dirt, without an attachment, the lift arms will lower to about 4 inches off the ground. Is this typical of a scarfier to not want to drop in on its own?

Thanks

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=308610"/>

Did you try shortening up the top link a bit to give the points a little more "down" angle? It looks to me as if the points may be just skimming flat at that depth the way it is now. As mentioned above, it doesn't look very heavy duty, so proceed cautiously, a little adjustment at a time.

 

[pacerron]

If you have a draft control lever on your tractor make sure it is all the way down as well as your depth lever.
If you get too much resistance ( wheels loose traction ) you may have to raise the draft control lever a little.
Your implement looks to have spring latches to protect the diggers.
Also check how your top link is adjusted.

 

[crazyal]

Did you try shortening up the top link a bit to give the points a little more "down" angle? It looks to me as if the points may be just skimming flat at that depth the way it is now. As mentioned above, it doesn't look very heavy duty, so proceed cautiously, a little adjustment at a time.

This is what I was thinking as well. It's hard to tell without seeing the attachment out of the soil though.

 

[Gary Fowler]

At 6-8" depth, there really isn't any need to go deeper as far as root system goes. You should be able to go deeper the more passes you make if it is a plow deficiency, however check the draft control (assuming the tractor has one) and lower it down as far as it will go and try it again. If it has draft control it will be a second lever to the outside of the lift control. That could be what is holding the cultivator up, when travelling it senses the load and stops the 3 PH lift arms from lowering any further.

 

[TripleR]

We have one exactly like that and that is about as far as you want to go on an initial pass, as mentioned those tines are not all that strong and are designed with the springs for a reason, to keep from bending them. Subsequent passes will go deeper if you feel the need, but that is about as far we we used ours. Those things really aren't very heavy and I don't know of anyone who uses them for primary tillage anymore; handy for garden use etc. though.