Renze
Elite Member
How it leaves the field behind, in what conditions you use it, the flow of the dirt over the disks and the backfillers, seed disposal of you home made camshaft seeding unit, etcetera...
My home built no-till seed drill
- Thread starter spurlocktool
- Start date
- Views: 118967
Scotty370
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 896
- Location
- Buffalo, New York
- Tractor
- 318 John Deere, 4200 John Deere, 1947 John Deere "M"
Third post since 2007? Common' man! You've got the kind of talent that TBS needs! Don't be a stranger! Beautiful build! ~Scotty
F250DSLPWR
Silver Member
WOW, This is a great post. The seed drill looks good. I am wanting a seed drill for our ranch. We were given one but it is all rusted out. The seed cups are really rusted bad. This just might be the ticket to rebuilding it with your seed tube idea.
Cheers,
Mark
Cheers,
Mark
OP
spurlocktool
Bronze Member
Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I will try to get around to posting a few other of my contraptions.
Mark, there shouldn't be a heating problem with the polyethylene since the discs fit the shaft freely and rpm is very slow, maybe around 30. I made the discs with a hole saw, then finished the outer diameter on a lathe for a light press fit in the PVC. Then bored the 7/8" hole while still in the lathe. So the poly discs are stationary in the PVC, and the 7/8" shaft rotates freely in them.
I've used this material for plain bearings before with no problems. It tolerates dust and is slippery and self lubricating in light load slow speed applications. The 7/8" shaft has a flanged ball bearing on the right (driven) end to take the side force of the drive chain. But the left end has only a 1" thick poly disc. If that were to wear I can easily replace it with another ball bearing, and at that point wear in the other discs would not matter. I'll try to post a video tomorrow.
Yes, by all means!!!!:thumbsup: Great job on this one...
F250DSLPWR
Silver Member
Thank you for the info.
Mark
Mark
forester2
Gold Member
Uber cool!! Do you have a source and cost for the impellers?
OP
spurlocktool
Bronze Member
Yes, I used impeller #18-3017 made by Engine and Drive Parts | Teleflex Marine. (If you click on each of the thumbnail photos in my album individually, they open larger and have expanatory text below, this impeller info is there.) These things are made in many sizes, numbers of blades, widths, shaft hole dimensions, etc. The one I used is about 1 1/4" wide and not quite 1/8" smaller OD than the ID of the 2 1/2" sch 40 PVC. If you google "18-3017 impeller" you'll find lots of suppliers and prices around $12-$16. Here's one: Amazon.com: Sierra 18-3017 Mercury/Mariner/Chrysler/Force Impeller: Sports & Outdoors
Have fun!
OP
spurlocktool
Bronze Member
OK guys, I've posted a video here: Photo Sharing by MyPhotoAlbum :: billspurlock's MyPhotoAlbum Gallery :: Home built seed drill
It's about 2 minutes of video showing details of a seed metering prototype model as well as action shots of the drill in use. Most of it has narration so turn up your sound.
The legume mix cover crop seed I am using wants to be buried about 1-2" deep, and you can see that's about what I'm getting in my untilled dry ground. Harder ground would require some weight, while tilled or damp soil or smaller seed would require wheels or some such to limit depth of cut. This is our dry season here in California, so in October I will spread compost, then drill in the seed. I have very limited water (basically a dry farmed orchard except for a bit of drip irrigation), so I depend upon timely fall rains to get the cover crop up. I'll post results of the full scale planting test then.
In the meantime I'm happy to provide additional details or pictures so don't hesitate to ask.
It's about 2 minutes of video showing details of a seed metering prototype model as well as action shots of the drill in use. Most of it has narration so turn up your sound.
The legume mix cover crop seed I am using wants to be buried about 1-2" deep, and you can see that's about what I'm getting in my untilled dry ground. Harder ground would require some weight, while tilled or damp soil or smaller seed would require wheels or some such to limit depth of cut. This is our dry season here in California, so in October I will spread compost, then drill in the seed. I have very limited water (basically a dry farmed orchard except for a bit of drip irrigation), so I depend upon timely fall rains to get the cover crop up. I'll post results of the full scale planting test then.
In the meantime I'm happy to provide additional details or pictures so don't hesitate to ask.
handirifle
Veteran Member
I gotta say, I have no need for this type of machine, but I do have need of those type of skills. WOW! Nice work, on both the design and construction. Looks like you thought of everything.
How long from the light bulb idea, to the finished project?
How long from the light bulb idea, to the finished project?
