Planters Oliver Cultipacker Repair

[diamondjfarmwv]

Mornin' fellers. Last week, 60's out here on the ridge; yesterday and today, snow, wind, and cold. Mama Nature can't make up her mind in these parts.

I just bought a used Oliver double cultipacker for almost nothing, and I need advice on the best way to repair. I attached a few photos showing the damage, which are breaks in previously welded cast iron end caps that allow the rollers to be attached to the hitch/pull frame. The former owner (a local hay farmer) suggested that I have two outside cover plates fabricated, reweld the four breakage areas, and bolt onto the ends. I've greased the end bearings and applied high-end penetrating oil to the nuts and threads (after wire brush cleaning) in case I need to remove the broken end plates from the implement. I'm getting ready to seed a previously long-fallow pasture for a couple of horses (3-4 acres), which I plowed compacted soil and disc harrowed last summer. Any suggestions? In advance, thanks!

 

[sweettractors]

The weld would work good with nickle rod and wood bushing in the ends for bearings. Ken Sweet

 

[kevin37b]

You will never fix that with any magic welding rods . Look at the material . As soon as you throw a bead on there , and it cools you have a crack . Build a new frame ?

 

[diamondjfarmwv]

Thanks, Ken! You wouldn't happen to have two of these for sale would you?

 

[diamondjfarmwv]

That's what I feared, Kevin. These 4 breaks are stressed points on these end plates. Looks like somebody at Oliver would've made these solid and steel rather than cast iron. Replacing the broken ends with OEMs would be best, but who in the world would sell these?

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks, Ken! You wouldn't happen to have two of these for sale would you?

We sure don't. Either weld or replace is about the only options. Ken Sweet

 

[diamondjfarmwv]

Thanks, Ken. What do you think this is worth? It's actually too big for me, as I only have 3.5 acres I'm seeding for pasture for 3 horses; and my tractor is only a 20 hp 1968 Farmall 140. Really need a much smaller, single cultipacker. Just curious what this old Oliver might be worth so as to trade fairly. Thanks.

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks, Ken. What do you think this is worth? It's actually too big for me, as I only have 3.5 acres I'm seeding for pasture for 3 horses; and my tractor is only a 20 hp 1968 Farmall 140. Really need a much smaller, single cultipacker. Just curious what this old Oliver might be worth so as to trade fairly. Thanks.

If it were me, I would cut the axle and frame down to the desired length and fabricate the 2 the ends plates. This would make you a good packer for your tractor. You could sell the other rollers and axle on Ebay for $200 pretty easy. Someone on TBN could possibly be interested also. Ken Sweet

 

[DJ54]

Dad built a frame for a cultipacker out of 8" C-Channel. V'd the sides of the channel to make the 90º bends, then rewelded. Cut an oak block, soaked it in Linseed oil, to fit inside, and drilled like 4 holes to accept 3/8" bolts to hold the block in. Drilled a hole in the oak block to accept the axle. Slipped the blocks on the axle ends, then dropped the frame down over it, and bolted the block in. Hole drilled on the outside of frame O.C for the center of the axle, for a grease zerk. That was in about 1964, and I still use it.

 

[diamondjfarmwv]

That's a good idea, Ken. I probably could go with 6' and pull that without too much strain on the old 140. And seeing as how I bought the implement locally for $175, be nice to recoup some or most of the cost. Thanks for the recommendations.