difference between sub soiler and middle buster?

aardvark · Oct 22, 2004

I can't see a difference from looking at pictures in catalogs. I think I want a sub soiler to pull up some roots, but I can't tell how a middle buster would work any differently, other than it's more money, which would make the tractor lighter. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JerryK · Oct 22, 2004

You can only use the middle buster to pull middle sized roots, but you can use the sub-soiler on other sizes /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

shvl73 · Oct 22, 2004

I have a subsoiler & it has a narrow tooth. I think the middle buster has a small plow tip.

Bob_Skurka · Oct 22, 2004

Do a Google search and find the website for Howse Implements, while I have a total disdane for their products (I.M.H.O. they have lousy fit & finish, are lightly made, and generally poorly designed) and have gotten rid of every one I have ever owned (except my Sub-Soiler-Middle Buster combo unit) they do make the best combo tool I have found. They have pictures posted on their site. The combo Sub-Soiler Middle Butser is a modular unit, the blades interchange. And as a bonus, you get a trailer hitch thrown in for free! I think the combo unit costs about $165.

You can see a picture of the subsoiler in my photo gallery in the photo section of TBN.

I have further modified my unit since posting the pictures in my photo gallery. The pictures show my sub-soiler with a plastic pipe attached to the trailing edge. The sub-soiler blade is held in with bolts. I swapped out the bolts with top link pins so now the blade interchange without tools. Further, a 2" receiver hitch is now welded on the frame. Further I'm working on TWO new attachements. One will be a sod-cutter to cut 8" strips of sod from around planter beds so I can lay in edging stones. The other will be a shrub puller. The beauty of the Howse A-frame assembly that works with their Sub-Soiler Middle Buster combo unit is that it allows you to swap out the blades, and if you have other uses, to make new ones as well.

To more direcly answer your question, a Sub-Soiler digs a deep but very narrow ditch. A Middle-Buster is also called a potato plow, it only digs down about 5 or 6 inches and plows a path that is about 8" wide.

cisco · Oct 24, 2004

Skurka's got it right. The subsoiler trenches deeper (mine gets to about 20 inches) and narrow (single blade of ? 2-3 inches width), and the middle buster, aka potato plow, about 12 inches deep and 9 inches wide (at least mine does - have no idea as to manufacturer, but it comes with a common shaft and the blades interchange - a common set-up). The middle buster is useful as a poor man's and low hp tractor plow, and also to open trenches to lay shallow drainage pipes, etc. The subsoiler is a good root killer, and when rigged right can also allow you to lay cable off a spool of wire or flexible and narrow (e.g., 1") pipe. There's obviously all sorts of stuff you can add to the A-frame.

johnk · Oct 24, 2004

Heres a pic of a fitch the middle buster dug..

johnk · Oct 24, 2004

And another

johnk · Oct 24, 2004

One more. It works to bury 4" corragated drainpipe. Actually put in 100ft and it took about an hour........

philshel · Oct 25, 2004

This is almost exactly what I need. I need to cut small drainage ditches alongside and/or at the base of hillsides. Does any one make a middle buster that is offset to the out side of the rear tires? Sort of a “side buster.”

RonR · Oct 25, 2004

Pulling a "sidebuster" behind a CUT, I don't think you could drive it in a straight line--I think it would turn the tractor as you drove.........

Just my 2 cents.........

Ron

aardvark · Oct 25, 2004

Also, I went to buy a sub soiler yesterday afternoon, and I decided not to after seeing it. I don't think my BX23 will lift high enough to get a standard cat 1 sub soiler out of the ground. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Oh well, I'll figure out something else, which will probably involve me building one. Maybe a middle buster would be better on a BX, if it's shorter, but TSC didn't have any in stock. Thanks for the info everyone.

AndyM · Oct 25, 2004

...I don't think my BX23 will lift high enough to get a standard cat 1 sub soiler out of the ground. 

Check out King Kutter's XB line of attachments, specially made for such subcompacts like your Kubota BX23.

Some TSC locations don't stock the XB line, so you might have to order from them...

King Kutter XB Middle Buster & Subsoiler Combo

GerardC · Oct 26, 2004

( This is almost exactly what I need. I need to cut small drainage ditches alongside and/or at the base of hillsides. Does any one make a middle buster that is offset to the out side of the rear tires? Sort of a “side buster.” )

This is what I did. See attachment. Gerard

GerardC · Oct 26, 2004

Another view. Gerard

Bob_Skurka · Oct 26, 2004

Gerard, how deep can you get with that? That blade looks very familiar, what did you fashion it from? I like the concept of what you did to offset it by attaching it to your blade.

philshel · Oct 26, 2004

Hmmm, very interesting. I was thinking of something similar. I had thought of attaching a blade similar to a round nose shovel to the bottom of a grading blade. I need to dig fairly large trenches right up next to fairly steep hill/mountain sides. Short of a backhoe I can’t think of a good method.

GerardC · Oct 27, 2004

( Gerard, how deep can you get with that? That blade looks very familiar, what did you fashion it from? I like the concept of what you did to offset it by attaching it to your blade. )

Bob:

With this particular set-up I can go about 16" deep. As for the blade (see attachment) it's a KK. I painted it with gloss black rust-oleum. Hated the mustard yellow. Gerard