Quick Hitches Packed Clay. Ripper? Subsoiler? Disc? Scarifier?

[Beau42x]

I need break up hard packed clay on my racetrack. I need to get down as far as I could. I have spots of fine sand that need to be mixed into the clay with my grader BUT first it needs to be broken up. What is my best 3ph option?

 

[jeff9366]

What is the operating weight of the tractor you will use?

Does the tractor have 4-WD or just 2-WD?

How deep do you want to penetrate the track?

What has packed the clay, animal hooves or tires?

How far into the track can you push a spade when the track material is moist?

Anything hard less than 18" below the track surface?




Without above answers I will tentatively suggest a Chisel Plow (Photo #1) or Chisel Plow's lighter duty clone called a Field Cultivator. (Photo #2)

These implements will go deep but not disrupt the surface too much.

 

[Beau42x]

I'm not sure what you mean by operating weight. The tractor has 150hp and weighs 6270KG. Then there's calcium in the tyres. It also has a front loader attached. It is 4wd. The clay has been packed by my champ 760 grader, my water truck, packing trucks and of course a full season of stock car racing in 2016. When moist I can probably push a spade about 3" in. Here's the plan: I would like to break the clay up as far down as I can, even if its only 6" at a time (the lower, the better), then pass the grader over it at an attempt to mix any sand with the clay (move it up the track, break some more, move it down the track and so on) until when I can re-pack the track without having spots where there is sand only. The problem is there are spots say 3'x3' of sand only, that the cars dig out through the night. Leaving "holes" in the track surface.

 

[jeff9366]

The tractor has 150hp and weighs 6270KG. Then there's calcium in the tyres. It also has a front loader attached. It is 4wd.

I recommend a Chisel Plow. With your heavy tractor you should get down 10" the first pass, 14" the second pass OR DEEPER. These implements will go deep but not disrupt the surface of your track too much.

Chisel Plows are plains soil implements. There are likely Canadian producers.

LINKS: Athens Plow - Model 156 Chisel Plow
Subsoilers & Rippers >> Rome Plow
BRILLION Chisel Plow
357 Inline Ripper - Wil-Rich


MORE: Chisel Plow site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

 

[Beau42x]

thanks Jeff, I will look into it!

 

[jeff9366]

Determine what size Three Point Hitch your tractor has. Probably a Category III, Three Point Hitch. Maybe a Category IV, Three Point Hitch.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Chisel plows work great for fields and pastures that have suffered normal compaction. But you're talking about a race track that has been professionally compacted, and the dirt is going to be like concrete. You will likely break some shanks on a chisel plow trying to break it up.

Instead of a chisel plow, I'd look at a subsoiler. Something like this: Sub Soiler

Or this: V-Ripper Subsoiler | Northstar Attachments

I'm not sure you can get enough traction with your tractor to bust up the soil on that tract. The best solution may be to hire a dozer with a ripper on the back. That would do it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Lets think a bit differently here. Why rip up the whole track just to repair a few spots? Rent a backhoe and dig out the sand spots and refill with dirt off of the track. If you compact the dirt in 6" layers with a jumping jack it should stay in place.

 

[jeff9366]

When moist I can probably push a spade about 3" in.

Here's the plan: I would like to break the clay up as far down as I can, even if its only 6" at a time ~~~ until I can re-pack the track without having spots where there is sand only.

The problem is there are spots 3'x3' of sand only, that the cars dig out. Leaving "holes" in the track surface.

The 3" spade test indicates the track surface is not compacted.

Subsoilers and Chisel Plows are not too separated in function, perhaps overlap in some manufacture's descriptions. Both will get beneath track surface to disrupt deeper, per OP's desire and best pothole elimination practice. In either case, PARABOLIC shaped rippers decrease draft force resistance and strain on the shanks/rippers and would be essential were I making the choice, based on limited information we have. I am sticking with my Chisel Plow recommendation for the moment. I like spring-protected Chisel Plow's ability to reset/trip if encountering a finite hard area or boulder, over shear bolt protection on some subsoilers.

With either a Chisel Plow or Subsoiler the OP can vary the "bite" of the implement by adjusting the Three Point Hitch Top Link.

Chisel Plow will leave the track surface easy to smooth with the grader, while leaving some undisturbed, supportive subsurface after the first pass. Less labor intensive to smooth track surface with a grader, which the OP has, than using a jumping jack. Tractor has a loader if he needs to move material. I speculate OP grades entire track surface after each race.

Chisel Plow should speed rain absorption/drainage as sand and clay is amalgamated over time.

Clay absorbs a lot of sand and remains clay.

Most Chisel Plows are sized for a Category III Three Point Hitch, which I speculate matches the OP's 14,000 pound tractor. Various width Chisel Plows available, with varying census of shanks.


BEAU42X: What is the length and width of your track?
Is track banked or flat?
How many laps is a typical competition?
Are ex-sand holes confined to certain sections of the track or evenly disbursed over the track?
Any problems with standing water after rain?

Correct me if I am interpreting your goals incorrectly.

 

[Streetcar]

Lets think a bit differently here. Why rip up the whole track just to repair a few spots? Rent a backhoe and dig out the sand spots and refill with dirt off of the track. If you compact the dirt in 6" layers with a jumping jack it should stay in place.

Great thought, even if you scarifying all of the clay you will still need to spread the sand out prior to compacting track