Smooth or notched cultipacker wheels?

[Buty]

Building a cultipacker and looking at two wheel options. Option 1: larger smooth wheels 17" OD x 3 3/4" wide and 24lbs each Option 2: Notched wheels are 9.5" x 2.28" wide weighing 8.2lbs each. Based on a 5' wide cultipacker, the smooth wheels add about 40% overall weight. Is weight the only factor that I need to be concerned with? Seems like the notched wheels are what most people are using these days. My only other concern would be part availability (if one breaks) for the smooth wheels whereas Agri supply stocks the notched ones. I would be using this cultipacker after a tiller for food plots such as clover or larger grains.


Smaller notched wheels


Larger smooth wheels

 

[jeff9366]

If soil is highly prone to form hard clods which remain after one pass of a Disc Harrow, notched wheels are preferred to break them. Notched wheels are somewhat a specialty item.

As you prep with a PTO powered roto-tiller I recommend smooth wheels.

Most CUT tractor Cultipackers are sold with smooth wheels.

BRILLION offers a large number of Cultipacker wheel types for their Big Ag implements. I guess if one is spending $70,000 for a Cultipacker, it gives the Brillion salesman something else to talk about if discussion lags.

BRILLION LINK: Pulverizer

 

[oldnslo]

Would the smooth wheels have a potential for sliding Vs turning if they encounter a large clod or stick?

 

[jeff9366]

Not in my experience. Even the "smooth" wheels have a high ridge, which gives them a certain boat rudder effect. And, being of cast iron, they are heavy, so lots of rolling inertia. I think my 72" Cultipacker weighs 860 pounds.

Photos: everytthingattachments.com Cultipacker

 

[Buty]

Wow, interesting chart.

 

[flusher]

Building a cultipacker and looking at two wheel options. Option 1: larger smooth wheels 17" OD x 3 3/4" wide and 24lbs each Option 2: Notched wheels are 9.5" x 2.28" wide weighing 8.2lbs each. Based on a 5' wide cultipacker, the smooth wheels add about 40% overall weight. Is weight the only factor that I need to be concerned with? Seems like the notched wheels are what most people are using these days. My only other concern would be part availability (if one breaks) for the smooth wheels whereas Agri supply stocks the notched ones. I would be using this cultipacker after a tiller for food plots such as clover or larger grains.

View attachment 473817
Smaller notched wheels

View attachment 473818
Larger smooth wheels

You need both. Alternate the smooth and notched wheels. That way you keep damp soil from clogging the V's formed by the smooth wheels.

Here's my 10-ft wide cultipacker which is set up that way.



Good luck

 

[Steave]

Until I seen that chart I wouldn't have thought there would be much difference. Not a good picture but the only one I could find right now. My Brillion has the notched wheels.

 

[Buty]

I am in cultipacker envy seeing all the nice equipment you guys have. Does the wheel O.D. size have anything to do with it? The 9 1/2" wheels would have less surface contact so...maybe pack same as a heavier unit?

 

[jeff9366]

A Cultipacker is supposed to crush all soil clods as it rolls in seed, so heavy is considered desirable.

Double Roller Cultipackers are not too uncommon. Here is one, seven feet wide, 1,400 pounds.

Sweet Farm Equipment - New & Used Farming Tools & Equipment | Tractor Equipment, Implements


Do you think you can build for less than you can buy?

LINK: Cultipackers For Sale by Everything Attachments

 

[Buty]

Do you think you can build for less than you can buy?

LINK: Cultipackers For Sale by Everything Attachments

Yes, since I found some used wheels and, I have some scrap iron laying around.