Subsoiler/middle buster/pipe(wire) layer..

hunt4570 · May 26, 2015

So I'm looking to run some electrical wire (and someday some waterpipe probably) out in my yard. My soil here is mostly sand did a search and came up with the subsoiler/pipe layer combo at Agrisupply (see below).

My thought was maybe a middle buster/subsoiler combo but cant seem to find one.. What do you think of the set up below.. should it work? I like that the subsoiler is shear bolt protected just in case.

Any thoughts to these attachments? Anyone actually have them and tried them?

Subsoiler: 3 Point Subsoiler-Subsoiler Attachment | Agri Supply #73410

Pipe layer : 3 Point Pipelayer-Pipe Layer Attachment | Agri Supply #73622

hunt4570 · May 26, 2015

I replied to this because I couldn't even find the post..

joe48 · May 26, 2015

These weren't available several years ago so I made my own out of a factory bend piece of conduit, basically mounted like theirs. Made some brackets to hold a reel of wire. Not pretty but worked.

LD1 · May 26, 2015

I just made one too. I think they will all work well for wire. But with a small tractor I don't thin I would trust one to get waterline deep enough.

Deerherd · May 26, 2015

hunt4570 said:
So I'm looking to run some electrical wire (and someday some waterpipe probably) out in my yard. My soil here is mostly sand did a search and came up with the subsoiler/pipe layer combo at Agrisupply (see below).

My thought was maybe a middle buster/subsoiler combo but cant seem to find one.. What do you think of the set up below.. should it work? I like that the subsoiler is shear bolt protected just in case.

Any thoughts to these attachments? Anyone actually have them and tried them?

Subsoiler: 3 Point Subsoiler-Subsoiler Attachment | Agri Supply #73410

Pipe layer : 3 Point Pipelayer-Pipe Layer Attachment | Agri Supply #73622

I bought one and it was too large to attach to a standard size subsoiler but made a good beverage holder in the man cave.

I made up a smaller version with exhaust pipe flared and welded in a "V" of angle iron. Worked good for cable lines. In the picture there is a ditching point on the subsoiler, I use the standard point when burying cable. Good luck!

denmis · May 26, 2015

Howse makes a combo subsoiler/middlebuster, of which I have one. I've used the middlebuster several times, but have not yet put the subsoiler blade on. Subsoiler Middlebuster Combination

I've been thinking about rigging a conduit to lay pipe too, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

hunt4570 · May 26, 2015

On one of the reviews I read, the guy says it will work with the small 8" middlebuster blade. I think I'm going to give it all a try.

Ken45101 · May 27, 2015

I made my own with a 1" piece of pipe that I bent and welded to an old subsoiler that I don't use any more. It worked well for shallow burying antenna ground wires (#14 THHN ham radio antenna). I do not think it would put anything down deep however in our clay soil.

jenkinsph · May 27, 2015

I have used a sub soil for sprinkler wire (low voltage) but these attachments won't run deep enough for higher voltage wire. Most electrical codes I have seen require that you place the wire 24" deep.

hunt4570 · May 27, 2015

So last night I ordered the subsoiler. wire/pipe layer, and the middlebuster blade to go with.. They called this morning to tell me they were out of stock till the middle of next month..on the hunt again I guess.

kdm0811 · May 27, 2015

I made something like that up to bury an invisible dog fence wire. I was able to pull it behind my zero turn mower, and get it about 4" deep. I now have a BX24 and a subsoiler. I can get that about 14" deep in my soil, but I have to make two passes.

Apsterbobed · May 27, 2015

The National Electrical Code permits residential circuits of 120 volts or less and 20 amps or less with gfci protection to be buried 12" or more, irrigation control, landscape lighting ect... 30 volts or less can be buried 6" or more. Most other residential underground electrical is 18" to 24" depending on where and what, but there are some exceptions and some local codes are different. Just thought I would throw that out there, I can help with electrical more than tractors!

hunt4570 · May 28, 2015

A guy up the road from me, ok...40 minutes up the road but who's counting right? Anyway, he has one of those tractor graveyard type places with old tractors,old rusty implements, and some new implements mixed in, with lots of other rusty junk laying around, you know... the candy store!!
Thought I'd give him a try and found just about exactly what I was looking for, looks likeits been there for years but I dont think its ever been in the ground.. have a look.

Cleaned it all up and I think I'm ready to give it a try..

LD1 · May 28, 2015

Looks like you need to come up with a way to hold the spool of wire

hunt4570 · May 28, 2015

LD1 said:
Looks like you need to come up with a way to hold the spool of wire

Yes I do, and am wide open to suggestions!

For my first little project I may just hang something off the ROPS..

LD1 · May 28, 2015

hunt4570 said:
For my first little project I may just hang something off the ROPS..

Thats what I was thinking

hunt4570 · Jun 1, 2015

So I did my intended job with this thing today, didn't work as well as I had hoped, but not too bad either.. mostly operator error I suppose. Had difficulty getting any depth with it, added some weight to it which helped a bit, tilted it forwards and back trying to find an optimum angle also.. I'm learning, next time will be better I'm sure, or I hope anyway...:thumbsup:

And a impromptu wire feeding device..

LD1 · Jun 2, 2015

Large pipe, small shank, and dry ground would be why you had issues getting depth.

That pipe needs to be a piece of 1/2 or 3/4 conduit to match the ripper and tooth size. The tooth size and angle just isnt enough to overcome the resistance of the pipe to pull it very far into the ground.

Tilting the thing by shortening the top link would help it dig in a little more at the front, but that will also raise the pipe/wire at the back, so I dont think that is gonna help much.

hunt4570 · Jun 2, 2015

LD1 said:
Large pipe, small shank, and dry ground would be why you had issues getting depth.

That pipe needs to be a piece of 1/2 or 3/4 conduit to match the ripper and tooth size. The tooth size and angle just isnt enough to overcome the resistance of the pipe to pull it very far into the ground.

Tilting the thing by shortening the top link would help it dig in a little more at the front, but that will also raise the pipe/wire at the back, so I dont think that is gonna help much.

I made a couple passes prior to putting the pipe layer (is that the correct name of the thing) on and still couldn't get much depth with it, maybe a foot or so. Again, this is a new set up to me and I'm learning..
I'll probably see about getting a small middlebuster wing to put on it and see if that helps any.
Just going to need to practice some I suppose.
But as always... open to advice..

Oh, and yes, I need to rig up something with that 3/4" or so conduit for installing wire instead of pipe.