Compost turner.

[ferrari99]

What do you think about getting a tiller gearbox and turning it into a compost turner like the big ones but on a small scale?

 

[ferrari99]

 

[Code54]

Never seen one before - how is it supposed to work?

 

[TimberXX]

Great idea. If you look on YouTube the videos are impressive for compost turnersI don't think a 2 wheel machine could tow or push one side like a 4 wheel tractor, (see YouTube videos) but maybe ride on top of the compost pile?

Good luck

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[CalG]

http://theruralchannel.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1619.jpg

 

[ferrari99]

Never seen one before - how is it supposed to work?

The drum has flails mounted to it (not on the model) which are spiraled round the drum, to one side of center they are anti-clockwise to the other clockwise. So the compost on the outside gets 'sucked' to the middle and middle goes to the outside so eventually all the material gets a turn in the middle (the hottest point). Hope that helps.

 

[farmerboybill]

I usta have a book called "The Joy of Gardening" by Dick Raymond. It was really just one big promotional for Troy Bilts. It showed his idea of composting between two sheets of plywood. You'd pound several posts in the ground 6 or so inches wider than the tiller. Then, you rip a sheet of plywood lengthwise and wire them to the inside of the stakes. It's not the ideal size for a compost pile (2X2X8 versus 3X3X3), but it was in a book heavily promoting a troy-bilt, so it must be true....

 

[CalG]

I turned piles yesterday. The fel works fine, "Turning" consists of up ending the pile about it's own base. Lift and dump, lift and dump. So now the pile is ten feet to the right of where it was. Next time, I'll tip it back ;-)

 

[ferrari99]

I turned piles yesterday. The fel works fine, "Turning" consists of up ending the pile about it's own base. Lift and dump, lift and dump. So now the pile is ten feet to the right of where it was. Next time, I'll tip it back ;-)

I agree that a FEL works fine but it doesn't help if you don't have one.

 

[ferrari99]

I don't think a 2 wheel machine could tow or push one side like a 4 wheel tractor, (see YouTube videos) but maybe ride on top of the compost pile?

Good luck

You could take the wheel off and 'divert' the drive to the wheel on the other side of the turner.

 

[Code54]

The drum has flails mounted to it (not on the model) which are spiraled round the drum, to one side of center they are anti-clockwise to the other clockwise. So the compost on the outside gets 'sucked' to the middle and middle goes to the outside so eventually all the material gets a turn in the middle (the hottest point). Hope that helps.

Neat -thanks for the info

 

[ferrari99]

Building your own

 

[jaotguy]

just tossing it out there ... for much smaller piles.

a 2 stage walk behind snow blower , fitted with looser fitting augers and some "tines" to make up the difference ... walk into the pile, and blow to the left ( or right) with the chute aimed low and close... ( move the pile to the left or right in a row )

 

[ferrari99]

just tossing it out there ... for much smaller piles.

a 2 stage walk behind snow blower , fitted with looser fitting augers and some "tines" to make up the difference ... walk into the pile, and blow to the left ( or right) with the chute aimed low and close... ( move the pile to the left or right in a row )

Good idea but we don't have many snowblowers down under.

 

[ferrari99]

I had another idea, that is to have a trailer (see pic 2) that can move bins (see pic 3) and tip them. Then dig into the side of a hill (see pic 1) and so you can put an empty bin in the bottom and tip the full one from the top. The red thing on the trailer in pic 2 is a manual hydraulic and the blue rod on the trailer goes through the yellow hole on the bin. You will notice the rod is not in the center of the bin that is so that it is easy to tip.

 

[ferrari99]

How much will a walking tractor (approx. BCS 853) tow with dual wheels and weights?

 

[TimberXX]

The 107d has a 4wd trailer that can handle 2000 lbs. So maybe an 853 could do something similar.