Traction subsoiler/ripper - enough traction?

[Grubs]

I have a B1750 (20HP) 4WD HST with turf tyres.

I want to pull a single tyne ripper (I think you guys call it a subsoiler) through some rabbit warrens to destroy them to a depth of 40-50cm (18").

Soil here has a fair bit of clay and in summer is hard but crumbly. In winter has a little more give.

I'm happy to take multiple passess at the job - perhaps digging in only 6-8" on each pass but my experience just loading a rear bucket with mulch tells me that my tractor doesnt have a lot of traction.

I can add weight, and perhaps get some chains for the rear tires (if chains of this size are available in Australia - we dont get a lot of snow) but I'm wondering if I'll still be just pi$$ing into the wind. I can easily imagine that lowering the ripper to the ground might just anchor the tractor in one place... but I might be underestimating it. I dont have many hours in the seat.

Before I go out and spend $400 on it, is pulling a single tyne ripper/subsoiler a job for a bigger tractor?

 

[johan3400]

I only have experience with an L3400 (35 hp) I pull a ripper 14 inches deep and it is all the tractor wants most of the time I am in clay. I have R4 tires, not turf and I would hate to spend 400 and not get the results I want. I purchased my subsoiler for $20 at a farm sale. I am happy with the results, but would hate to spend a bunch more and maybe have less than I want for results. Your idea of several passes may work, but each time you loosen the soil you also loose traction some.

 

[BruceWard]

I looked at rippers a few years ago. Most wanted a 30HP tractor. What does the spec sheet say for the ripper you are looking at? I doubt you could rip 18" at a time. I ended up have a Cat D4H Dozer rip 24". This ripping was for pine tree planted. Teh Dozer ripped about 30 acres for around $1400.

 

[rdsaustintx]

I have a B1750 (20HP) 4WD HST with turf tyres.

A BX will pull a subsoiler/potato plow through about anything, at least with ags. But turf tire on a B-series is just wrong. Plain wrong.

 

[Harvest Moon]

I've had my subsoiler down 14" to 16" with my L3400 in very hard packed clay.. it was a parking lot for tractor trailers before I graded the 3/4 crushed stone off.

The first 8 to 10 inches were too hard to do anything, the tip would drag on top like concrete but once I got it down under it did pretty well about 60% of the job, ripping up large chunks of packed clay. The other 40% took 80% of the time as it would stop the tractor dead, 4wd loaded R4's locked and spinning, about 3300 lbs of machine at that point.

My thought is you'd probably be fine if you could keep the tip engaged in 6 to 8 inches drops but it's not too likely you'll pull much more than that at once with 20 hp and turf tires unless it's pretty soft.

My biggest problem is that at full 3 pt hight I have to adjust the top link to keep the tip just a few inches off the ground for transport. To get the right ripping angle for maximum depth I have to readjust after I get it started because at full hight the tip is about 2" below grade. Be sure your smaller tractor has the three point hight to install it.

 

[LBrown59]

A BX will pull a subsoiler/potato plow through about anything, at least with ags. But turf tire on a B-series is just wrong. Plain wrong.

It hain't a tractor till it gets AGs.

 

[Tom_H]

A BX will pull a subsoiler/potato plow through about anything, at least with ags.

With the right conditions, I agree. I got my BX with subsoiler to rip Duripan (silica cemented hardpan-almost like concrete) with embedded rocks. I had to be in low gear and strapped several large buckets of river cobble to the subsoiler as ballast. I agree about the ag tires. I had mine on and even they would sometimes spin. I had to sometimes get a running start to rip, and was able to do about 1 inch at a time. There's no way the potato plow (middle buster) would do anything in this stuff however. IF you have some really heavy duty adjustable chains already on hand to put over those turfs, it MIGHT make a little difference, but I just don't know. In addition to ballast on the subsoiler, I'd recommend ballast to the rear of the tractor as well for more traction from rear wheels. Factors that would help a B series do better than a BX are: geared (direct drive) tranny with extra low pulling gear, larger diameter rear tires.

 

[JonR]

I only have experience with an L3400 (35 hp) I pull a ripper 14 inches deep and it is all the tractor wants most of the time I am in clay. I have R4 tires, not turf and I would hate to spend 400 and not get the results I want. I purchased my subsoiler for $20 at a farm sale. I am happy with the results, but would hate to spend a bunch more and maybe have less than I want for results. Your idea of several passes may work, but each time you loosen the soil you also loose traction some.

I can't seem to get my subsoiler to go but 4-5 inches into the ground, even when I have weights on it, how do you get yours that deep

 

[Grubs]

... But turf tire on a B-series is just wrong. Plain wrong.

It hain't a tractor till it gets AGs.

lol

I felt this way too but my desire to reduce ground compression and preserve our back lawn that is in fairly unstable loam pushed me towards the turfs. I figure that I dont have a FEL so I'm driving a girls tractor anyhow Some heavy duty "Mr T" style chains should restore some masculinity but by the looks of this thread those of you with success and the subsoiler mostly have 30HP+ tractors, more weight and more grip.

I had to sometimes get a running start to rip, and was able to do about 1 inch at a time. There's no way the potato plow (middle buster) would do anything in this stuff however. IF you have some really heavy duty adjustable chains already on hand to put over those turfs, it MIGHT make a little difference, but I just don't know.

I suspect your experience is close to what I'd find. 1" at a time is just never going to help me and I just cant imagine how much weight I'd have to add to get those turfs gripping once the top crust has been broken. For my job (tearing up rabbit warrens) I'd need multiple passess and I need to go at least 18" deep. A few sticks of TNT would be my first choice just for the fun factor but for legal reasons I think I might just call in the pros with the right hardware.... at least to get a quote.

 

[PINGG2BLUE]

I can't seem to get my subsoiler to go but 4-5 inches into the ground, even when I have weights on it, how do you get yours that deep

You can possibly lengthen your toplink. It should change the angle of plow to bite deeper.