Rock picker

[sos1]

Looking for simple pull behind rock picker plans for lawn tractor with hydraulics.

 

[FarmWrench]

I am a potato farmer. Rocks and picking them is an art and science. What size rock? what shape rock? What is the rest of the soil structure? What crop and operations will be done on the crop?

 

[pohorsky]

What size of a lawn tractor are you talking about?

 

[BHD]

most simple rock pickers are some type of rake/bucket that rake and hold the rocks and lets the earth fall through, the rods/bars of the bucket,
http://images.ironsearch.com/dealer...542-633959060070269629.jpg?FULL=T&h=420&w=615

then you get more complicated with moving parts, that that rake the earth and flip the rocks in to a holding bin,

 

[BHD]

here is a combination of the two for a ATV,
DuraGrade - A1 Box Scraper for Garden Tractors or ATVs and Quads, Requires No Three Point hitch

 

[BHD]

the land scaping rake could be an option, I will not pick them up but may collect them for picking up,
not the best video but shows how one could be used,

 

[BHD]

and there powered rakes that can be used to winrow rocks,
http://www.flaman.com/agriculture//...images/products/broch_SRW1400 Windrower-2.jpg

and here is a machine that uses a power rake has a dirt remover and collector,
Haybuster Rock Windrower & Picker at Triple H. Equipment, Inc.

First I do not know of any plans, but one needs more information (I realize most I showed are for larger tractors but I think they could be down sized, if wanted.

if a land scape rake was used like a dump rake (made rows of rocks), and one make a rock bucket to pick up the rows, or piles, I know those who have used rock pickers around here used a combination of the rock winrowers and the pickers, the winrower to make less passes with the picker, at 5 foot or what ever the width was,

 

[BHD]

this is one could be down sized is my guess, similar to the ATV unit,

when the teeth are in the soil and pulling I do not know how much a lawn tractor could pull,

the power rake and a catch (some what like the hay buster, could take less power, say 3 foot wide, and even if the catch was not the rolling cage like the hay buster, but a small lift like thing like the bucket here, my guess is one will have to get some idea of how much your tractor can pull.

one could make it some what like a potato digger, and on smaller units they vibrate the digger part so the tractor does not have as much drag on it, (some think like a vibra plow, they use to trench in water lines and cable)

Potato Digger to Harvest Potatoes

 

[sos1]

I'm talking about gravel 1/2" and larger on a go kart track. I've got a JD 314 with hydraulics front and back.
Mostly clay like soil.

 

[sos1]

JD 314

 

[sos1]

I can add something on front.

 

[BHD]

I would think some type of landscape rake and rake along and lift and pick up the rocks with a flat bottom shovel.

 

[BHD]

if it was a rotary rake one could go a greater distance or if at an angle could roll them off to the side , like the windrowers above, if one drives the rake with hydraulic controlling the speed of it would help to control the way it would work,

about the only other thing I can think of is to scoop up the track and screen the gravel, and re spread, the gravel,

 

[BHD]

 

[sos1]

Just threw driveshaft into flywheel.
What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dragoneggs]

I use my 60in Landpride rake but it doesn't do what I really want and that is to pick up and dump. I rented a Bobcat with some kind of rock rake long ago which would dig a bit and sift the rock and collect them for dumping. Anything bigger than a baseball would be collected. It worked well with multiple passes. Would love to find an attachment like that for my BX!!! I have a lot of glacial till so many rocks up to volleyball size. Clearing the top four or so inches would be a dream.

 

[cycle_gator]

Dragoneggs:

"Top four inches" -- You have got to be kidding, our soil grows rocks. My soil in Eastern WA is even worse than here at home, the rocks are bigger. I have about an acre and a half to smooth and seed after installing the septic system over there (just backfilled yesterday) so let us know what you find that works as I would really love to NOT turn into the consummate rock picker for the entire summer.

 

[BHD]

Just threw driveshaft into flywheel.
What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have no idea of what happened, but hope not that much damage.

 

[dragoneggs]

Dragoneggs:

"Top four inches" -- You have got to be kidding, our soil grows rocks. My soil in Eastern WA is even worse than here at home, the rocks are bigger. I have about an acre and a half to smooth and seed after installing the septic system over there (just backfilled yesterday) so let us know what you find that works as I would really love to NOT turn into the consummate rock picker for the entire summer.

Ha ha... I know, I know... amazing how the soft rain of the PNW nurtures the rocks to grow. They literally do rise out of the ground here. If I removed the rock in the top 6in I would lower the grade by 4in. But if I could efficiently collect and use as draining behind retaining walls, I am on to something. Especially if I could figure a way to build structural (4+ foot) retaining walls cheaper than the Allan blocks that cost about $9 a piece! They look good though.

 

[cycle_gator]

You know if the Allen blocks hold up, I am willing to bet it is one of the more economical ways to build the terraces. I noticed WSDOT is using a mondo version of those interlocking blocks to construct a monster retaining wall on I 90 just east of the old snow shed along Lake Keechelus. Pretty good endorsement for the technique.