How to make crow’s feet on a walk-behind tractor

Making a cutter “crow’s feet” for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands

A walk-behind tractor is an extremely useful equipment for situations where manual labor requires a lot of effort and time from the performer. Now this device, which has small dimensions, is found everywhere: in farms, in vegetable gardens and adjacent territories.

Indeed, the list of activities that can be performed using a walk-behind tractor is very extensive. It can be used to cultivate the soil, harvest and cultivate the beds.

Additional attachments, which the device is equipped with, only increase the range of its functionality. Some of the most useful accessories include the so-called “crow’s feet”.

• Description of “crow’s feet”

• Features of operation

Selection Tips

Self-production of “crow’s feet”

Features of operation

This nozzle is often used for plowing the soil for planting potatoes, when you need to get rid of large clods of soil and organize the prevention of the appearance of pests such as Colorado beetles. It is worth noting that experienced gardeners and agricultural workers say that this nozzle does not cut down weeds, but only reels them around itself. This begs the question: do I need to sharpen it? The answer will be yes. Once you have sharpened this attachment, you can see how small plants will be much easier to cut down, and it will also be easier to work with solid soil.

Description of “crow’s feet

The most important task of the walk-behind tractor in the garden or in the field is full plowing of the soil for subsequent sowing and / or planting. In this case, cutters are used. the main working part of the walk-behind tractor. The cutter is an axle with blades of different configurations. In the process of rotation along the axis, these knives seem to cut the soil layer, carrying out its plowing. By the way, cutters are often called soil cutters. At the same time, not only the upper soil layer is cut off, but also all available vegetation. That is, the cutters plow the land and remove the weed plants.

There are several types of cutters. The most popular are saber blades. This design is collapsible. On the other hand, crow’s feet are characterized by a cast configuration. They are made from carbon steel alloys. Their main feature is considered to be triangular knives, which provide full mixing and crumbling of pieces of soil. This shape is due to the need for high strength when processing hard soil.

Selection Tips

In the process of selecting this element for a walk-behind tractor, you should pay attention to its dimensions. It is important to choose the correct diameter of the crow’s feet axis. It must match the diameter of the landing shaft of your particular device. The size of the attachment is 30 mm and 25 mm. The 25mm cutters have three separate rows of three blades. Such products are used in motoblocks such as “Mole”, “Neva”, “Texas” and others. 30-mm models have four rows of blades.

Another factor to consider when choosing this part is the outer diameter. This indicator determines the plowing depth. Among other things, the nozzle must be made of high quality material, otherwise the part can easily break.

Self-production of “crow’s feet

If the cutters on your walk-behind tractor are outdated, or you have a desire to improve your equipment, for example, to reduce or increase the width and depth of processing, then you can make the part yourself. Often, such an idea allows you to significantly increase the level of quality of land cultivation, as well as significantly speed up the work.

These parts are characterized by a simple design, so they can be made on your own.

The simplest option is to study and analyze the design of industrial-type cutters, and then make some adjustments to it.

You need to pay attention to the fact that for self-assembly of cutters you will have to use individual drawings.

So, homemade nozzles of this type consist of the following parts:

• Sleeve. It can be made from a thick tube with a diameter of 50 mm.
• The flange is manufactured from heavy plate steel. It can be made round, but it is much easier to make a square flange.
• Rack for a blade. Here you can use the steel corner. Some craftsmen use car springs for the manufacture of this element.
• Medium blade.
• Leftmost blade.

Blades are best made from tool steel alloys. Some craftsmen use car springs for this purpose.

Using welding, the blades are mounted on racks that are attached to the flanges. The flanges are attached directly to the sleeve. Some people opt for bolted fasteners, but such designs are not very reliable.

The disadvantage of the crow’s feet attachment is that this element is severely damaged during operation. As a result, the cultivator’s engine is subjected to additional stress, and the performer becomes very tired. In order to minimize this, you need to put wheels on the axle on both sides, which will act as some kind of limiters.

In this situation, only the topmost soil layer will be cultivated. This option is convenient for cultivating soddy and strong overgrown land. After the first pass, the sod begins to collapse. Further, the wheels are dismantled, and additional processing is performed to one or another depth.

If homemade “crow’s feet” are made competently, then their quality will not be inferior to industrial counterparts.

So, independent production of “crow’s feet” has the following advantages:

Which cutters are better for a walk-behind tractor: saber or “crow’s feet

Choosing the option of a rotary tiller for your unit, one should proceed from the characteristics of the soil. Of course, saber knives can easily cope with the cultivation of previously cultivated soils. When it comes to cultivating virgin lands or lands densely overgrown with grass, the basic mill cutters sometimes do not cope very well with the load due to the insufficient quality of materials and assembly (bolted and welded joints). The processing of heavy soil with such cutters is a rather heavy load on both the walk-behind tractor and its operator. Purchased or home-made cutters with knives made of high-quality metal cope with their task much easier.

As for the version of the “crow’s feet” cutter, you can install the desired number of sections on the walk-behind tractor, adjusting its performance to the needs of your own farm and the power of the unit. This type of equipment handles hard soils and vegetation debris more easily and provides easier control of the device during operation. Many users mark this particular design as optimal in terms of practicality and reliability.

Active saber

The name of the cutters is determined by their appearance. knives are large and have an elongated curved shape. On cutters of this type, there are several sets of four knives located at right angles to each other.

Usually, two or more sets of knives are placed on one axis. This rather powerful design of the equipment has high strength and perfectly copes with the processing of heavy soils and virgin lands, is not afraid of stones, roots.

“Crow’s Feet”

“Goose feet” for a walk-behind tractor is another version of the equipment, the name of which is also determined by the shape of the knives. triangular, similar to goose feet, and located at the ends of the racks of the cutting elements. As in the previous version, the number of knives determines the quality of cultivation and varies depending on the power of the unit.

There are three-row and four-row “crow’s feet” with different axle diameters. Three-row rotary tillers on an axle with a diameter of 25 mm are installed on Texas, Neva, Krot, Cayman walk-behind tractors, and four-row rotary tillers are suitable for Salyut, Farmer, Favorit units. Equipment on an axis of 30 mm is combined with Cascade, Master Yard devices, some models of Neva walk-behind tractors and a number of others.

“Crow’s Feet”. milling cutters for a walk-behind tractor, which show high efficiency when processing heavy, clayey soils and virgin lands, but can clog when working in areas abounding in roots.

Classification of cutters

The rotary tiller represents soil knives fixed on an axis, which, rotating around it during the movement of the walk-behind tractor, crush the soil and weeds. The designs of cutters differ, therefore, in order to find the best option, it is worth understanding their varieties. First of all, cutters are classified according to the type of aggregation:

• side-mounted;
• with installation by means of a hinge.

Side mills, when installed as a running gear, essentially replace the wheels and are powered by their drive shafts. Thus, they simultaneously drive the machine and cultivate the soil.

Mounted cutters are rear-mounted. they are installed behind the walk-behind tractor, operate from the power take-off shaft and perform only the cultivation function. It is with such cutters that the Neva (MB 1 and MB 2), Celina and some others are equipped.

In addition to the type of installation, the cutters also differ in the types of knives:

• active saber;
• crow’s feet.

In this video, we will consider milling cutters for a walk-behind tractor:

How to adjust the plowing depth

The coulter is an important element in soil cultivation. It is installed in the rear bracket of the walk-behind tractor. To adjust the plowing depth by increasing it, you need to increase the pressure on the handlebars from top to bottom, driving the device into the ground.

If the depth is still insufficient, the coulter must be lowered. For cultivation at the level of the shovel bayonet, the movement of the device should be set by swinging it from side to side.

How to sharpen cutters

First of all, we note that sharpening of a rotary cutter is not necessary in all cases. For example, if heavy soil is being processed with a powerful unit on which reinforced cutters are installed, there is no point in sharpening. you will not notice the difference in the quality of cultivation, just waste your efforts on sharpening.

At the same time, when working with lighter equipment, sharpened cutting attachments can improve cultivation efficiency for a while. But you need to be prepared for the fact that there is not enough sharpening for a long time, after a few hours of active use the knives become dull, and you will have to sharpen them again, which is quite laborious. In addition, too sharp knives crush the root systems of weeds, which does not help the fight against them, but, on the contrary, accelerates their reproduction.

However, you can sharpen soil knives if you wish. To do this, remove the cutter from the walk-behind tractor, clean it from dirt and carefully sharpen each knife with sandpaper.

Assembling a cutter for a walk-behind tractor: tips and instructions

Auto mechanic specializing in agricultural machinery

Soil cutters can be called the most popular type of attachments for walk-behind tractors used in farms and household plots. They are indispensable for soil cultivation, chopping weeds, mixing and leveling the soil and are actively used on land plots with heavy and waterlogged soils. Often, work with a walk-behind tractor with cutters is provided initially when purchasing a unit.

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However, if the cutters are included in the kit for some devices, they are not for others, and this has its advantage. Many experienced small farm equipment users prefer to decide on their own which cutters are needed for their farms. In such cases, milling cutters for a walk-behind tractor are purchased separately and of the desired type, or they are assembled by hand. Often, additional cutters are required to the existing ones. The quality of land cultivation depends on the choice of equipment, so it is important to understand its features as best as possible.

The milling cutters for the walk-behind tractor will help you in soil cultivation

We collect “crow’s feet” with our own hands

If the existing rotary tillers for some reason do not suit or have become unusable, rotary cutters for a walk-behind tractor, made by hand, can become an alternative to purchased devices. This task is not particularly difficult and at the same time has advantages in the form of the desired degree of reliability of the structure and its features, increasing the efficiency of land cultivation and, of course, saving money on the purchase of a ready-made device.

The easiest way to manufacture is to study the design of industrial cutters and diagrams of how to assemble a cutter, and then create an analogue with the desired adjustments, if required. It makes sense to draw drawings for the assembly, taking into account the necessary parameters and requirements for the device.

When assembling “crow’s feet”, a homemade design includes the following parts:

The knives are welded to the uprights, which in turn are fixed to the flanges, and the flanges to the bushing. Sometimes bolts are used for the connection, but practice shows that it is much more reliable to use a welded connection.

To prevent premature wear of the knives when processing particularly difficult and soddy soils, it is recommended that the design provide for relief of the load due to the additional installation of limit wheels on the sides of the device. This somewhat complicates the processing process, since only the top layer of the soil is cultivated, after which it is necessary to dismantle the restraints and re-processing.

Manufacturing of crow’s feet soil mills

Cutters of this type began to be widely used from the middle of the 80s of the last century. This was due to the development of self-made small mechanization at that time. Since then until our time, this design has fully proved its right to exist. Structurally, this module can be divided into several main elements, which are manufactured separately and carry different functionality.

Cutting element (knife)

It is made of strong non-brittle steel type 65-70G, 3-5 mm thick. The triangular shape of the knife is considered optimal for the least resistance when entering the ground.

As a knife, DIYers often use the triangular cutting element of a segment mower. Since the steel of the rack and the segment has a different composition, welding must be performed after tempering, followed by quenching. Cutters with such knives are used on clean work areas. For heavy, virgin soils, it is recommended to make cutting elements from thicker steel, which will make a high-quality welded joint.

As practice shows, the optimal knife width is 50-80 mm. Larger dimensions create increased soil resistance.

Knife block

By connecting the knife racks and axial tubes, an interchangeable modular cutting element is obtained. Only two blocks with welded-on drive bushings remain individual.

With the appropriate qualifications and the availability of the necessary equipment, the manufacture of this element will not be difficult. In order to avoid damage to materials and to prevent unnecessary body movements, it is advisable to draw up a detailed drawing before manufacturing or use a ready-made one.

Drive sleeve

It is advisable to start making a soil cutter from this element. Since the bushing is subjected to heavy loads, it is manufactured on a lathe with a wall thickness of at least 5 mm, optimally 7-8 mm. An inner hole is machined on one side so that the cutter can be easily fitted onto the shaft without excessive play, a tolerance of about 0.5 mm.

On the other hand, a groove is made for the landing of the axial pipe with a depth of 30-40 mm. This will allow you to get an axis-aligned connection without any problems. A hole is drilled for the fixing pin.

Axle tube with flanges

This element is made in collapsible and non-collapsible versions to choose from. But there is one feature in favor of the collapsible option. the ability to install an additional knife block or vice versa. How the cutter will behave will be finally revealed only after testing and, as is often the case with homemade products, the result does not always correspond to expectations. For manufacturing, standard pipes Æ25-32 mm are used.

When making a collapsible version, it is necessary to carve out connecting sleeves, which are half inserted into the axial tube and fixed through the holes with rivets or electric welding. The protruding part will serve as a connection for a similar element.

A flange is welded onto the axial tube for fastening the knife stands. It can be turned on a lathe, or it can be made from metal strips with a thickness of at least 5mm.

Holes are drilled in the flange for bolted or riveted connections with the uprights. The connection of this unit by electric welding is undesirable due to increased loads.

The length of the tube is selected depending on the location and width of the cutting elements. The number of workpieces must correspond to the number of knife blocks. Two blocks are manufactured with drive bushings.

Do-it-yourself crow’s feet cutters for a walk-behind tractor

The motoblock has long taken its place in small agro mechanization. Compact size, maneuverability, the ability to install replaceable modules made it popular both in the countryside and in summer cottages. Land cultivation is one of the main purposes of this technique. In turn, cultivation cutters are the most demanded module that is installed on a walk-behind tractor. On sale, such elements are sold separately from the power unit, and are relatively inexpensive.

But if you have the necessary skills and knowledge, a cutter for tillage can be made by hand. It should be noted that some homemade products are much superior in quality and functionality to their factory counterparts.

Cutting element stand

It is most optimal to use the same steel that was used in the manufacture of knives, but it is quite possible to use strong, alloyed steels with lower physical and technical indicators.

The stand of “crow’s feet” is made of a straight or curved strip along the edge. An edge that is in direct contact with the ground should preferably be sharpened.

Holes are drilled in the rack for fastening to the axle pipe flange. Cutting elements are welded on with subsequent hardening.

Which cutters are better for a walk-behind tractor. we decide on the choice

Many novice farmers find it quite difficult to decide on the right cutters for the job. In fact, there is nothing difficult about this. you just need to study and compare the qualities and characteristics of different types of equipment. The cutters available on the market are divided into 2 types:

• saber cutters. devices of this type are in the highest demand, it is these cutters that are included in the delivery set of many walk-behind tractors. Among the main reasons for the popularity of mills of this type should be highlighted the highest efficiency, the ability to cultivate any soil, including that previously untouched by agricultural machinery. High-quality models of saber cutters are made in 2 stages: first, products of increased strength are formed from carbon steel. At the next stage of production, knives are subject to prolonged heat treatment under the influence of high-frequency currents. The main feature of high-quality saber-shaped devices is the impossibility of welding cutting surfaces;
• cutters “crow’s feet”. equipment of this type appeared on the market relatively recently. In practice, hard soil lends itself to processing with such devices. free of hard weeds. The high efficiency of these cutters is achieved due to their specific shape. The latter also allows you not to harm the roots of the planted plants during the cultivation of the garden. Among the main disadvantages of this kind of devices, one should highlight their low strength and a lot of inconveniences during repair.

When buying any of these types of cutters, be sure to consider the type of soil to be processed before and after planting.

Drawing of crow’s feet for a walk-behind tractor

Milling cutters are one of the most commonly used types of equipment for motoblocks. It is quite difficult to overestimate the role of milling cutters in agriculture, because these devices allow you to process the soil with high quality and fully prepare it for further planting with a minimum amount of time from the efforts of the farmer.

Do I need to sharpen cutters on a walk-behind tractor. we figure it out together

It is rather difficult to give an unambiguous answer to this question due to several factors. Firstly, the recommendations of the milling cutter manufacturer are of great importance. Some companies that make high quality plowing equipment do not advise sharpening cutting elements, as this will degrade the efficiency of the cutters and void the warranty for their service. Other manufacturers, on the contrary, recommend that you definitely sharpen the cutters before each season of operation of the walk-behind tractor.

The second important factor is the result that the sharpening of the cutters can bring. The only, but very important advantage that this procedure gives is ease in the cultivation process, because it will be much easier for sharpened cutting knives to go deep into the ground and plow it efficiently. The disadvantages of sharpening include the need to dismantle and install equipment on a walk-behind tractor every time. Another very important drawback is the ability of cutters to grind weed roots deeply hidden in the ground, which will lead to their intensive vegetative reproduction throughout the entire area of ​​the garden.

The third factor is the type of soil being cultivated. If a rotary tiller on a walk-behind tractor is used mainly for the processing of hard clay soils and virgin lands, then sharpening the cutting knives will help to plow such soil faster and better. If the soil in the garden is soft, then, as a rule, it is not necessary to sharpen the used set of cutters.

All of the above advice on the manufacture, installation and sharpening of devices are suitable for the operation of equipment in tandem with Neva MB-1, MB-2 walk-behind tractors, as well as agricultural machines of the MTZ, Celina brands and units of other imported and domestic manufacturers.

A milling cutter for a walk-behind tractor is one of the most common types of additional equipment for tillage. It is a set of special knives fixed on an axis. With their help, you can quickly and easily get rid of weeds, cultivate the soil on the site. In order to choose the optimal type of cutter for your walk-behind tractor, you should classify them a little.

Crow’s feet

The second constructive type of cutters is crow’s feet. The product got its name for the unusual shape of the cutting elements, reminiscent of the legs of a goose. They are triangular in shape and are located at the edges of the posts. The number of cutting elements and the size of this module also depends on the power of the walk-behind tractor. The more racks with knives. the better the processing.

This cutter is capable of processing heavy virgin and clayey soils, but in areas with increased vegetation and roots, the product is likely to clog.

How to assemble correctly cutters on a walk-behind tractor. manufacturing saber equipment

Immediately before the manufacture of saber-shaped rotor devices, we advise you to study the drawings that will tell you the correct procedure for assembling the equipment.

Any saber cutter for a walk-behind tractor consists of two interconnected blocks, each of which contains 12 cutters. The design of one separate unit includes 3 units, each of which is equipped with 4 cutting knives. The latter, in turn, are located in relation to 30 ° in relation to each other. The assembly of saber-shaped devices is as follows:

• First, make a stand using a 6.3 × 4 cm corner;
• Weld one of the ends of the rack to the flange so that later you can combine 4 cutting knives with each other;
• Connect all cutting elements of the cutter to each other by means of flanges and bolts with washers.

A rotary milling cutter manufactured in this way has high strength and stability, which will allow you to use it for processing soils of any density.

Homemade milling cutters for a walk-behind tractor. the procedure for manufacturing equipment

The simple design of milling cutters for walk-behind tractors allows you to make such devices with your own hands. Below we will consider the correct procedure for the manufacture of different types of equipment for plowing the soil.

Self-installation of cutters on a walk-behind tractor

Self-installation of equipment on a walk-behind tractor is performed in exactly the same way, both for saber cutters and for devices such as “crow’s feet”.

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In any case, the procedure is as follows:

• Place the manufactured cutters on a special wooden “goat”, about 0.5 m high;
• Gently tilt the walk-behind tractor at an angle of 45 °, and rest it on the opener;
• Place the “tragus” under the handlebar grip of the walk-behind tractor;
• Dismantle the standard wheels of the agricultural machine, and install homemade cutters instead;
• At the left and right outer ends of the cutters, securely fasten the discs for the cutters. they will significantly improve the movement of the walk-behind tractor with cutters and make it smoother and more stable.

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After completing all the above steps, you can start processing the soil. During work, do not forget to monitor the reliability of the fastening of the plates, fixing the main and additional cutters on the walk-behind tractor.