If the farm has a mini tractor, then it makes sense to think about the various attachments that may be needed for it. One of the most popular devices is the mini tractor potato digger. Summer residents and farmers are given the opportunity to choose the most suitable model. The article discusses various types of such devices, and provides instructions on how to independently manufacture such a suspension mechanism.

Appointment

The mini potato digger helps the owner to extract the potatoes from the ground to the surface.

The principle of operation that applies here is as follows:

  1. The ploughshare plunges into the ground to a depth exceeding that at which the roots are located.
  2. When the minitractor moves, it picks up potatoes mixed with the ground.
  3. This mixture is gradually moved backwards and onto the grate.
  4. There, the earth is poured into the soil, and the potatoes move further back and fall to the ground.
  5. After that, it is enough to walk across the field with a bucket and collect potatoes from the ground.

Potato digger for mini tractor

Note! If we compare it with digging up potatoes with a shovel, then in this case labor productivity is significantly higher, and much less physical effort is spent.

Using potato diggers gives the owner the following benefits:

  1. Thanks to the fact that when cleaning is spent much less effort, it is possible to pay more attention to the quality of work. When using such units, the loss of potatoes is much less than with manual harvesting.
  2. Although the mechanism does an important part of the work, it nevertheless ensures thrift in relation to the harvest. Root crops are practically not damaged here.
  3. Cleaning not only requires less effort, but is done at a much faster rate.
  4. The mounted potato digger has a simple and clear operating principle. At the same time, the operation of such a suspension device does not cause difficulties.
  5. For those who do not have sufficient financial means to purchase, or those who like to make their own hands, there is an opportunity to make a homemade device.
  6. The potato digger can be used not only as a suspension for a mini tractor, but also used with a walk-behind tractor or a conventional tractor.
  7. There are not only such tractor designs, when root crops are removed from the ground, but also others, where the potatoes fall into a special tank.
  8. In such devices, you can easily adjust the depth of immersion of the share, depending on the need.

It is important to note! One of the important advantages of such units is their versatility. With the help of these devices, you can collect not only potatoes, but also other root crops.

Varieties of potato diggers for a mini tractor

Fractal mini tractors

There are several types of such units. The article discusses the varieties of single-row devices. However, a potato digger for a tractor can be double-row. This design can significantly increase the productivity of the work performed.

Vibrating

One of the most well-known options is a vibrating digger for a mini tractor. In the process of work, a horizontal ploughshare digs the ground. Its shape resembles an inverted letter "P".The blade sinks into the ground to a depth lower than the potato tubers should be. When moving, a mixture of root crops, scattered soil, lumps and stones falls on the share.

Vibrating potato digger

There are rods at the back, the distance between which is such that the potatoes cannot fall between them. A vertical piston is connected to this basket, which creates vibration. Potatoes and stones of the same size move backward gradually and fall to the ground. The lumps are shattered by the vibration and the earth wakes to the ground. Potatoes lying on the surface of the earth will then be easy to collect.

Interesting. If you plan to make a potato digger for a mini tractor with your own hands, then this design is usually chosen. It is also called rattling.

Transport

The scheme of work here is the same as that of the vibrating potato digger. However, there are slight differences. Instead of a horizontal share, flat tines are used here, directed forward. Further, the potatoes fall on the conveyor belt, which rotates from a special drive. On it, the potato moves back and falls to the ground. After that, it is collected. An example of a model that uses this principle is the Scout conveyor potato digger for a mini tractor.

Transporter potato digger

Fan

Such a device can be considered as a simplified version of a potato digger. A ploughshare that digs the ground resembles a shovel bayonet. Metal rods are attached to its back with a fan.

The potatoes and the earth move backwards along the plowshare and fall on the branches, then fall to the ground. The fan digger for potatoes for a mini tractor can be used not only on a mini tractor, but also with a walk-behind tractor.

Drum

In this case, the roots enter the rotating drum. In this case, the earth gradually falls out, and the potatoes, moving backward, fall to the ground.

Drum type potato digger

Equestrian

This digger works in a different way than those previously listed. After the ploughshare digs out the potatoes, it moves back. There the wheel spins in a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of travel. This wheel pushes the potatoes to the ground in bunches of metal rods laterally.

Self-made potato digger

Roaring potato digger for walk-behind tractor

The most convenient high-quality model will be a vibrating potato digger for a mini tractor. This section provides instructions on how to make it. In the process of self-creation of this unit, it must be borne in mind that the durability of the mechanism is ensured by the quality of the steel used and the strength of the connections. The latter can be achieved by bolting or welding.

Frame

The basis on which the entire structure will need to be fixed in this device is a rectangular frame. It is made from a 4 x 4 cm square pipe.It is welded in such a way that a rectangle of 80 by 100 cm is obtained.

On this frame, you need to install the fasteners going down. They will be equipped with a share, vibration grid and wheel holders. A mechanism will be installed on top of it that will vibrate the basket.

Homemade potato digger

Lemekh

This knife will lift potatoes mixed with soil to be processed into the basket. Mounts for it are located on the sides at the front of the frame. A ploughshare is usually a strip of strong steel that must be bent accordingly. In this case, the middle should be horizontal, the edges should look up. The front edge of the share must be well sharpened.

Wheels

Here they are not only a means of transportation, but also allow you to adjust the depth of the ploughshare. The hubs are attached to vertical metal pipes with a cross section of 3 by 3 cm.

Two square pipe sections are welded to the rear of the frame from the sides, located vertically. Their section should be 4 by 4 cm.The vertical wheel struts are threaded into these pipes and are fixed with bolts. The wheels are on an axle, which, apart from them, is no longer attached to anything.

If the owner wants to increase the depth at which the share works, then for this it is enough to move the vertical wheel struts up a little. If this depth needs to be reduced, the wheel heights will need to be adjusted in the opposite direction.

Note!It is advisable to prepare at least two pairs of wheels for work. The first one should be rubber-mounted. It is suitable if you have to work on soft or damp soil. The second one is wheels with a steel rim. They will be useful if the soil is hard.

Grid

It consists of metal rods parallel to each other. The distance between them is such that potatoes cannot fall out between them. In the mesh, the rods are parallel to the direction of travel. In the transverse direction, they are held together by narrow steel strips, to which the rods must be welded. Their edges are curved upward and are attached to special holders that are attached to a mechanism that vibrates the basket.

Net for potato digger

Mini tractor clutch

In front, a mechanism is attached to the frame by welding, designed to be attached to the minitractor as a suspension.

Vibration mechanism

A basket is connected to it. Vibration is provided by rotating a small disc with a rod perpendicular to it. The disc rotates, the rod provides up and down movement of the basket. The higher the rotation speed, the more intense the vibration.

This disc, as provided in the drawing, is connected via a transition mechanism to a large wheel that is located on the side of the frame. It is connected by a rubber pulley to the mini tractor motor, which thus provides vibration.

Important to note! If additional fasteners are installed to increase the strength of the potato digger mechanism, this will make this device more reliable and durable.

Using a potato digger makes digging up potatoes a stress-free job. In addition, the quality of work will be higher compared to using a conventional shovel.