Home built hiller

clemsonfor · Apr 16, 2013

yea im here in upper SC, and we are colder than we have been or normal for now. Its not been super cool here but we kind of went from cold to late spring and then back to spring.

Last year I could if I did have planted my garden early march and been fine, but I didn't, and I got it in about this time of year, im hopeing to have it tilled this week and start getting stuff in this weekend late sunday.

winston1 · Apr 16, 2013

Definitely been a little cooler in snaps this spring than normal but not a first. Just hoping we don't get a frost with the cool temps.

clemsonfor · Apr 16, 2013

What was it 3 years ago we got the big snow here in my area sometime in march.

Terrydt100 · Apr 16, 2013

Here's a hiller I made from a front end l from riding mower.

6011Artist · Apr 17, 2013

Clemson, I have several trailers with mobile home axles on them but I also run lowboy tires, not mobile home tires. If you know how to mount the tires they are very safe and efficient. The problems are with the tires stamped "for mobile home use only". And DOT can ticket you for using them.

On the hiller builds, lots of good looking equipment being built here. I took a shortcut when I built my gardening implements. On the Yanmars the bottom of the tranny/rearend is already sort of low so as long as you stay that high or higher you are ok. I have the reciever style 3 ph "trailer mover" as some call them. I insert a piece of tubing into my hitch and then weld another piece of 2 x 2 tubing to the first piece to create a "T" style toolbar and them mount hillers or cultivators or whatever I need onto the 2" T style toolbar. Tubing isn't expensive so I build one for each different set-up, never having to change anything from one to the other. And changing them out is as simple as pulling 1 pin and sliding that piece out of the reciever hitch. For a layoff plow to run my rows I built it out of a piece of tubing with 1 c-tine bolted to it with a small shovel, makes good rows in already tilled soil. I built another using a piece of tubing with a cultivator foot off of a H Farmall tractor, it has the adjustable angle for the sweep but I can mount a sweep, shovel, middlebuster...any bolt on plow to it.

I have the hiller parts but never put them together because I am in sandy loam on top of a hill, no drainage problems ever. I run a sprinkler and plant down in the furrow where the most moisture is.

I'm farming cheap with lightweight homebuilt implements that are light, change out quick and didn't cost a fortune to build. In fresh tilled soil, no rocks, roots or anything to get in the way, I can get away with it.

6011Artist · Apr 17, 2013

Terry, that's good as snuff and not half as dusty...lol.

I like it when someone recycles old stuff into new usuable stuff. It looks like it would work fine. After you figure out your angles you might want to weld them in place (hillers). I see the tires inside of the PVC pipe for a roller. Did you fill it with concrete for weight? Another great idea that'll get the job done.

On the sweep on the rear, you will probably find you're going to have to replace that aircraft cable with a piece of flatbar or angle to hold your plow down on the ground. It looks like it will kick up when lowered into the dirt. Have you used it yet ?

clemsonfor · Apr 17, 2013

It was a joke, if you spend any time on the triler section they jump all over you for MH axles, then there are plenty that defend them. I personally dont care and would run one if i got a deal on one.

And i have seen regular tires "greenball" brand and others for sale online that are the exact same size as the "One time use only" tires in case you have a fender clearance issue to worry about or something.

Car Doc · Apr 17, 2013

Ok I did get in and finish the garden and planted corn and beans last nite darn good I did too because we got .40 and some pea hail and its light rain and 39 when I came to work. This is some crazy weather and tonite 28 low which I was aware of so I shut the water down and drained my pvc also last nite. :confused2:

I found I need to modify the flattener for next year or maybe I get lucky and can do 2 corn crops and try it this year anyway it needs a flat piece at the back to spread the dirt. What I saw was the 1 1/8 sq tubing was cutting thru the dirt ok but wasn't really making a flat surface I could drive my little earthway seeder down.

I still did it ok but it was somewhat off to the side of the crown of the hills it will work fine just thinking ahead and talking out loud for the next guy. You will notice my latest adopted us kitty helping me get the crop off to a good start haha she will be a constant companion over there all summer she was last year.

The hiller works great overall I will be looking for a couple spring shanks might even get away with solid shanks? And a couple small shovels to create my irrigation ditches. As of now I will water down the dip created by the disc and clean it with a hoe as the water cuts it out once everything gets going good thats the plan today it may well change as time goes on. :thumbsup:

clemsonfor · Apr 17, 2013

make sure to get kitty fixed or else you end up with half a dozen more. Really wish folks would fix thier animals instead of just letting them be. Folks like us who like and care for them would not feel so bad each time one shows up homeless, as were loaded up with them.

Car Doc · Apr 17, 2013

Apparently she has been or she would be knocked up already. She got a bad respiratory bug this winter and I took her in and she ended up staying a week with shots every day etc and I had the vet check her and he said he felt a suture line on her belly and she was about a year and half old so I totally agree on fixing outdoor pets. :thumbsup:

Fact you can see on her neck where he shaved her to do the blood work (feline leukemia check etc) its turning gray poor girl now she will have a gray patch on her neck when the hair grows back in haha. (free kitty thats a big laugh around our house)

Terrydt100 · Apr 17, 2013

6011Artist said:
Terry, that's good as snuff and not half as dusty...lol.

I like it when someone recycles old stuff into new usuable stuff. It looks like it would work fine. After you figure out your angles you might want to weld them in place (hillers). I see the tires inside of the PVC pipe for a roller. Did you fill it with concrete for weight? Another great idea that'll get the job done.

On the sweep on the rear, you will probably find you're going to have to replace that aircraft cable with a piece of flatbar or angle to hold your plow down on the ground. It looks like it will kick up when lowered into the dirt. Have you used it yet ?

I did add concrete to the pipe. You were right about the cable , plow came out of the ground. I added a bigger plow and weight to hold the plow in the ground. Was able to play with it a little Works a lot better. Should be able to do some adjusting later this week if it doesn't rain.Its been really dry so will take all the rain we can get. This is a great site have learned a lot . Am working on a cultivator from ideas from this web site. So many ideas so little time.

winston1 · Apr 17, 2013

Car Doc, thanks for taking the time to share your hiller with us. Looks like it is going to work out great. I sort of like Terrydt100's floating roller idea. Don't know I will modify but I might if I get a little bored.

Car Doc · Apr 17, 2013

Welcome and thanks for taking the time to look! I appreciate all the ideas that have been put on here hopefully someone will benefit on their next build.

6011Artist · Apr 18, 2013

Clemson, sorry I missed that as being intended for a joke. You are right, lots of people think they are illegal and constantly jump at the chance to put the use of them down. I will add, they are unsafe if you don't know anything about them, especially how to properly install the tires. But with proper knowledge, a very heavy duty axle system.

Ok, I'm laughing with you now....carry on...lol.

6011Artist · Apr 18, 2013

hey Terry, this is a great site for learning to build equipment. I have several projects where I've accumulated the parts but haven't built them yet...one day though I'll do it.

Try adding a solid piece of angle iron to that plow and use that to adjust the angle as well. Holding it rigid is the trick to it always being where you put it.

Car Doc · Apr 18, 2013

6011 I knew he was kidding that was the whole idea its tongue in cheek humor! There is always something just under the surface we have to try to be PC and SC on here.

Heck I cut them apart and welded them added a 6" drop to lower the trailer and I can only imagine how many trouble free miles shes givin me I know I am on the 5 or 6th set of MH tires.

pbulling · Apr 20, 2013

Ginormous said:
Paul -- sorry, haven't been on for a few days... I did buy those brackets for 2" square to 1 3/16" round. I got them at a place in Ohio called Buckeye Tractor. Here's there website: Buckeye Tractor Co They list them as 2" square to 1 1/4" round, but they work just great with the Agri-supply hillers that have 1 3/16" round shanks. They're not free, $18.69 each (part # 17500), so you might be able to make some for yourself using their simple design.

Bought those brackets from Buckeye. Regular delivery to south La. took only 3 days. Thanks again for the advice.

Ginormous · Apr 21, 2013

Paul -- Glad it worked out for you. I was glad I found them myself. I was debating about either making some brackets or buying ones that were double that price, but when I found those at Buckeye Tractor, I decided I'd rather spend buy those and use my time to work on other things. :thumbsup:

pbulling · Apr 22, 2013

Ginormous,
Was an easier decision for me because I don't know how to make them. But, if I keep looking at this site I might learn how. Welding interests me but I really don't have a clue. Re Buckeye, I like their stuff and was pleased with delivery/service. Thanks again.