Odometer

[ArtMech]

I'm planning to install auxiliary non-GPS odometer to my tractor. Have heard some types of them - Hub Odometer or Bike Odometer. But haven't heard anything about Tractor Odometer.
Does anyone of you guys use it? What kind, make, model? If there is any info on this subject please pass a link.
Main duty of that device will be to measure area while multiplying the mileage by mower width.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Sportsman762]

I would be concerned about measuring area by using a mower unless you are superman and can keep the exact same amount of overlap each path and figure out how to calculate for the turns.

 

[ArtMech]

I would be concerned about measuring area by using a mower unless you are superman and can keep the exact same amount of overlap each path and figure out how to calculate for the turns.

I don't think you need to be a superman to keep up an overlap constant. It's a matter of experience, especially for those who mow much with both, either side mounted mower or rear mounted mower.
Yes, I was thinking about the turns. In case of any kind of odometer, it needs that the mileage should be measured by the rear RH side wheel i.e. the closest one to the centre of the turning radius. I'm guessing all of us are turning to the right side while mowing. And the sharper the turning angle, the lower the angular velocity of the RH side wheel. So the mileage measured by that wheel could be closed to real on the turns. I don't say it'll be exactly real. Only a few passes on the same lot will show you, how precisely will the mileage be measured. But I'm sure it'll be more precisely measured then by GPS device, especially on the hilly lots or in the mountains.

I'm contemplating on the Bike Odometer.
The following link is just for example: Waterproof Bicycle Bike Cycle Wireless LCD Digital Computer Speedometer Odometer | eBay
Look at the price! If it doesn't fit a tractor, you can simply throw it away... or give it to your kid.
I was talking to sales person about it. To install it you need to attach a sensor to the axle casing and to stick a wheel magnet to the rotating axle so to provide a gap of 5 mm (~1/5"). And it'll start measurement. Salesman only doubted, would the system work if the speed will be comparatively low (I mean mowing speed). He said he's sure, no problem if that speed exceeds 5 km/h (~3 m/h) - it's nearly the walking speed of a human, if less - who knows.

Another one I was thinking about is a Hub Odometer (Hubometer).
Link here: http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=219889
What I don't like with it is, that it could be simply broken by the shooting out stones from the side mower discs.

Still searching for the best solution and good ideas on this subject.

 

[mikehaugen]

I really gps is your best bet really. Most any gps will have a tracking feature telling you how far you have travelled... and they are pretty cheap now- you could even use a smart phone if you have one.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'm planning to install auxiliary non-GPS odometer to my tractor. Have heard some types of them - Hub Odometer or Bike Odometer. But haven't heard anything about Tractor Odometer.
Does anyone of you guys use it? What kind, make, model? If there is any info on this subject please pass a link.
Main duty of that device will be to measure area while multiplying the mileage by mower width.
Thank you in advance.

I have used milermeter.com for measuring fence lines. It would be easy to go around the field on their Website and find the area.

Here are some more options: https://www.google.com/search?q=mea...7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

 

[ArtMech]

Well I have nothing against GPS while using it on a flat terrain. But it gives some inaccuracy as I said on the hills which are dominating in the area I'm mowing.
Once I've measured my own lot area with a GPS three times while walking on foot. And each time the result was different. Even the contours gotten were not equal to each other.
That's why I'm thinking the method of surface copying by tractor wheel could give more accurate distance measurement.

 

[wploetz]

Maybe this is not practical but could you just walk the areas you work just once with a wheel?
Or could you use your county GIS if they have one? Or google earth?

 

[ArtMech]

All you guys are offering is correct. Thanks for links. We have local distance and lot area measurement site too: Maps.lt.

Just from another angle. This is an example.
I have 2 customers for mowing. Both have the same lot areas, lets say 25 ac each. The 1st one's lot is flat, the 2nd one's is hilly. Mowing speed in both cases is the same, gear engaged the same. The hilliness of the 2nd customer is such, that sometimes I'm losing steering control climbing up a hill. The flat lot I'm mowing 7 hours, the hilly one - 8 hours.
I wonder, where am I losing 1 hour?

 

[rmorey]

Sounds like the hills on the hilly lot are causing you to spin a bit, which means you're moving slower. In other words, your "speed over the ground" is less on the hilly lot.

 

[smstonypoint]

Trigonometry is not my long suit, but aren't you traveling further on the hilly area? Suppose you have an equilateral triangle with a base of 100 yards with the end points labeled A & B and the apex labeled C. If you are on flat ground you would travel 100 yards going from A to B, but on hilly ground you have to go from A to C to B, a total of 200 yards. Does this make sense?

Steve

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would think the difference would be the slowing of the tractor when going up the hill vs flat ground. You may not recoup the slow down of going uphill when you turn and go downhill if the tractor engine braking affects the downhill speed. Tire slippage my also factor into it.

Then again, the owner may be stiffing you on the actual acreage of his plot either intentionally or unintentionally. Do a Google Earth measurement of both plots and figure the acreages. Zoom to the largest size that you can plot the entire length by width in order to get the most accurate measurement. I have used this and calculated the area of a port facility in Nigeria and came within 100 sq meters (about .01% difference) of what a professional land survey determined the area to be and this was a very irregular shaped surface with several buildings to be deducted.

 

[ArtMech]

Trigonometry is not my long suit, but aren't you traveling further on the hilly area? Suppose you have an equilateral triangle with a base of 100 yards with the end points labeled A & B and the apex labeled C. If you are on flat ground you would travel 100 yards going from A to B, but on hilly ground you have to go from A to C to B, a total of 200 yards. Does this make sense?

Steve

That is true if the distances AC=CB=100 yards. The odometer will indicate 200 yards undoubtedly. But what will the GPS indicate?

 

[ArtMech]

I would think the difference would be the slowing of the tractor when going up the hill vs flat ground. You may not recoup the slow down of going uphill when you turn and go downhill if the tractor engine braking affects the downhill speed. Tire slippage my also factor into it.

Then again, the owner may be stiffing you on the actual acreage of his plot either intentionally or unintentionally. Do a Google Earth measurement of both plots and figure the acreages. Zoom to the largest size that you can plot the entire length by width in order to get the most accurate measurement. I have used this and calculated the area of a port facility in Nigeria and came within 100 sq meters (about .01% difference) of what a professional land survey determined the area to be and this was a very irregular shaped surface with several buildings to be deducted.

I didn't go into details, but indeed climbing up a steep hill (as well as on steep decent) I'm operating rpm lever to keep up them constant (at ~2000 rpm). Otherwise you'll get out of power. Yes, visible slippage sometimes occur, but just in 2' or 3' long in the very steep uphill. And I'm never reducing the rpms at the turns. So I assume I'm at a constant speed while mowing both, either flat surface or hilly.

Yes, an issue comes from the owners. I've checked the doubtful lot areas in the local maps.lt system. Both are equal. And still, while mowing hilly lot I've spent not only extra time, but also used more fuel. Whereas both owners got the same amount bills. To give them the bills with the different amount, I need to prove the lots are different. If the maps display no difference, than it needs to present other evidence or arguments. From my point of view the odometer read-out may help. I'm not sure it will, but...

 

[Redneck in training]

There are digital laser or radar spedometers/odometers. They are used, in example, in rallye cars or skiing because of constant wheel/ski slipage. Just don't know if they would work for slow moving vehicle.

bookofjoe: World's First Personal Radar Ski Speedometer

Dickey-John make one specificaly for tractors.
Here is a link: http://www.dickey-john.com/products/public-works/ground-speed-sensors/ or http://www.dickey-john.com/product/radar-ii/

 

[Xfaxman]

How about a GPS Odometer for a bicycle or ATV.


https://www.google.com/search?q=GPS...uYGICQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAA&biw=1083&bih=745&dpr=1

 

[ArtMech]

Thank you fellows. I'm carefully reading the links you have passed. :thumbsup:

 

[oldbones]

Don't get on here much this time of year, but if you haven't gotten anything yet, you might look at a "Calc-An-Acre". This does speed, area covered, distance travelled. You have to enter implement widths as you change them. Can get it from many places such as Shoup Parts. I had one on my main field tractor until I got a new planter with a monitor that figures it all, and went gps/autosteer for tillage. They run off magnets that you install on the front wheel hub. Just fyi, the more magnets you put on, the more accurate it is. The magnets are adhesived to the hub, and won't fall off. Had excellent results with mine. With wires and magnet installation, it took about 1/2 day to install.

 

[ArtMech]

if you haven't gotten anything yet, you might look at a "Calc-An-Acre". This does speed, area covered, distance travelled. You have to enter implement widths as you change them. Can get it from many places such as Shoup Parts. I had one on my main field tractor until I got a new planter with a monitor that figures it all, and went gps/autosteer for tillage. They run off magnets that you install on the front wheel hub. Just fyi, the more magnets you put on, the more accurate it is. The magnets are adhesived to the hub, and won't fall off. Had excellent results with mine. With wires and magnet installation, it took about 1/2 day to install.

No, I didn't make a decision yet. I'm trying to collect as much info as possible. "Calc-An-Acre" is a good choice. It's curious that it may be more than one magnet adhesived to a hub to count the wheel revs. I thought it must be the one.
Thanks for your input.

 

[oldbones]

If you want to check it out, here's the link to the operator manual for Calc-An-Acre:

http://www.micro-trak.com/PDF/Calc II July2013.pdf

It explains the magnets and placement. Wish I'd kept my old one when I traded tractors. I could use it on my utility tractor for spraying weeds in CRP ground.
oldbones