howse middle busters?

soarkrebel · Oct 21, 2002

I am looking at getting a middle buster to help break ground prior to discing. the howse middle buster is priced right at about $90.00. and the middle buster/sub soiler combo for $152.00 per howse.
Does anyone have one and what is the quality of the product? are there better ones in the same price range?

Hoeman00 · Oct 22, 2002

What about moldboard plow first?
I pulled 2-14" behind my L2900.
Does the box blade u have have rippers ?
If it does set them all the way down and shorten the top link
then use it as a ripper and it will cover more ground/pass.

jimmoore · Oct 22, 2002

Wrong terminology! You must mean a BREAKING plow. A middlebuster throws dirt both ways and is used for making rows. A moldboard or BREAKING plow throws dirt to the right only!!

Hoeman00 · Oct 22, 2002

I assumed he was going to use the subsoiler pt. to rip
one row at a time (slowwww work).

theboman · Oct 22, 2002

I use my brothers middle buster to layout the garden and it's great for ditching. My one complaint is my B7500 don't raise the plow very high off the ground.

soarkrebel · Oct 22, 2002

What i'm looking for something to break up harder ground and gras prior to running my disc. i looked at moldboards or turning plows but i was looking at a cheaper alternative. i don't care if it throws it both ways cause i'm going to run a disc over afterwards. i am mostly going to be doing wildlife food plots with it and maybe some trenches for lines. i am going to run electricity to my shop from my house in the future and will need to bury the conduit for the wire.
i was more curious about howse implements. i don't see alot of talk of them and was just wondering . i went to vasser implements last night and they look like they make a decent implement.
From what i have seen the breaking plows are alot higher than middle busters. and it's hard to find a used one. my dealer has a double breaking plow but i haven't asked the price.

theboman · Oct 23, 2002

A middle buster will do everything you list. You can also get different spades/hoes for the middle buster.
For a food plot I'd disc and disc wth weight added to the disc.

soarkrebel · Oct 23, 2002

I have done the disc and disc whewww takes some time. i used to put out plots with my grandfathers old tractor and always used a breaking plow first after bushhogging.then disced and it was much quicker . for the price of the howse middle buster ($84) it would be worth it.
next year i am going to have several very large plots like 15 to 20 acres so i will bust them up prior with a middle buster and then disc.
thanks but no one made mention of howse's quality?

DaleW · Oct 23, 2002

I have a middle buster / subsoiler made by eagle line mfg and used it to open a trench for a foundation drain. I was able to get down about 12 inches with my 2910 Kubota. What's nice about this unit is that it pivots for additional ground clearance for transport.
You can view their website at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ab-eagleline.com>http://www.ab-eagleline.com</A> and they are great people to deal with and make a quality product at a reasonable cost.
Good luck
Dale

cisco · Oct 23, 2002

I have the Howse subsoiler/middle buster (aka potato plow) unit. It works fine, and the interchangeable blades on 1 unit is a nice touch. The blades are bare metal and will rust quickly, but should take a decade to reduce their structural integrity. I used the subsoiler in areas with lots of roots and other obstructions that would bend a middle buster, and then if I needed a wider trench (power and water lines), I ran the middle buster along the same trench line. I was able to achieve depths of 10" with a L3410. If I had more tractor power and weight, I'd use a multi-blade plow for tearing up virgin (and brush/root/rock infested) soil, but with the soil & 34hp (4WD) tractor I have to work with, one trench at a time is about right - then you can disc or whatever from then on.

hosejockey2002 · Oct 23, 2002

I have a Howse box blade. The welds and paint aren't as pretty as some of the more expensive brands, but it is very functional. IMO, function is what it's about. There may be guys that wash and wax their tractors more than their trucks who are hung up about how pretty their implements are, but after you drag a plow or box blade or whatever through the dirt a few times it's not going to be pretty anymore, so who cares what it looks like? As long as it functions well and doesn't fall apart, it doesn't matter to me if the paint is glossy or matches my tractor perfectly.

soarkrebel · Oct 24, 2002

oh hosejockey youre going to upset some folks with that shiny tractor statement. but you are so right.
I was curious about howse because you don't hear much about them on here. i had to go to my dealer today and pick up a tie rod boot . he said he could get me a atlas middle buster for $103.00. the picture he had looked good . a tough well built looking tool. he ordered me one.
i didnt relize that atlas , darrell harp and busy bee were from the company. thats what he said.
thanks for your input.
And i have washed my tractor but not waxed it (yet). but implements they are tools . i will maintain them but not wax them. my poor woods brushhog has about 30 hours on it and i have had to beat the rear guard back into shape. it has scratches on it and a few battle dings . but it is a tool you can't use it without getting battle scars.

normde2001 · Oct 26, 2002

Well, hosejockey, I have to admit, I have a red tractor, red rotary cutter, red box blade, and red dirt scoop and a good supply of non-sandable primer and red paint. Every time I finish using an implement I wash it and touch up the paint. I only get to my property every couple of months and I do the same with the tractor each time I finish with it......Who's obsessed?
BTW I was glad to see that you are a firefighter. Back in the old days, "hosejockey" was what we called service station attendants....and I said to myself...."Nah, couldn't be...."

Nuru · Oct 26, 2002

Soarkrebel; my neighbors kid me about babying my tractor, cause I tend to wash it after I use it to cut the grass or any dirt/soil/rock work. It is still shiny <font color=green>Green</font color=green>!

soarkrebel · Oct 26, 2002

I do wash mine but wax? i think it is a big investment for a poor man and i like to take care of what i have .
and you know what i really like the color orange.
but you know i think it looks pretty good after a weekend of working it with all the fruits of it's labor dirting it up.

hosejockey2002 · Oct 27, 2002

Around here, service station attendants are a thing of the past. Everyone pumps their own gas. Down in Oregon, they have a law that says gas must be pumped by an attendant. Must be their idea of a state jobs program. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Nuru · Oct 27, 2002

Oh I might wash and wax, if my color was orange as it may get that faded desert look! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

bahia · Oct 27, 2002

just a little suggestion here is for you to consider using a moldboard plow to break new ground or maybe use a chisel plow to open ground that has been plowed recently. like the others mentioned, the middle buster is for ditching and laying off rows mostly. not commonly used for breaking new ground.i like to use a chisel to open my garden ground and then disc it smooth. be safe!

BrettW · Oct 27, 2002

OK, I've got a good tiller and nothing else yet. I can safely,(and slowly) till a nice sized garden without using a plow, can't I? Soil is good, not too much clay. bw