Transporter Potato Digger For A Walk-behind Tractor: An Overview Of The Universal Type Potato Digger KM-4 And Other Models

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

Harvesting potatoes is a complex and lengthy process that today can be significantly simplified and facilitated with the help of a potato digger for a walk-behind tractor. This is used by many farmers in order not to dig out the tubers by hand. Thus, it is possible to save a lot of effort and time.

Peculiarities

Additional equipment for the walk-behind tractor facilitates many types of work on the farm and on the usual 6 acres of a summer cottage. One of such units is a potato digger, which can not only simplify harvesting, but also prevent serious damage to the human musculoskeletal system, which could occur in the case of manual harvesting of potatoes.

An important feature of potato diggers is that when using them, the tubers are less damaged. After passing the device through the beds, the potatoes remain directly on the surface of the earth. At the same time, some types of diggers are also capable of clearing the tubers from the ground during the digging process. Among the features of this attachment, many users have noticed another one - after using it, the ground becomes looser. In addition, when digging up potatoes, sprouted weeds are removed.

For farmers, whose farms have a walk-behind tractor, it is very profitable to have such a device in stock . The design of the potato diggers is made in such a way as not to interfere with the collection of tubers into the bucket. Moreover, a conveyor potato digger for a walk-behind tractor can speed up the collection process several times compared to other models. Of course, when choosing this equipment, it is imperative to take into account the power of the walk-behind tractor, as well as the area of the treated area.

Principle of operation

According to the principle of operation of the potato digger, they differ slightly. It consists in the fact that with the help of a special nozzle with teeth, the unit penetrates into the soil. As a rule, the depth of penetration does not exceed that at which the main volume of potatoes is usually found. After that, the soil layer along with the root crops is on the surface.

It is worth noting that the soil adhering to potato tubers is partially or completely removed during the operation of the device . For example, in vibrating units, the soil with tubers is cut with a knife, and then falls on the grate, where, using vibration, the tubers are cleared from the ground. In conveyor models, the cleaning principle is the same, only a conveyor belt is used instead of a grate.

The universal potato digger does all the main work and as a result, the farmer only has to pick up the potatoes lying on the ground with his hands. At the same time, after themselves, most of the potato diggers leave a flat surface, without large earth clods.

Types

Additional equipment for digging potatoes can vary in size, structure, width of the working strip, the ability to work on various weeds, methods of cleaning tubers from soil. However, two types of potato diggers are most often distinguished according to their principle of operation: passive and active.

Passive

They are the simplest types of diggers for walk-behind tractors. Their main advantage is their low cost and the ability to connect to almost any model of a walk-behind tractor. Most often, such potato diggers are made in the form of a shovel, resembling a heart in appearance. In its upper part there are teeth, and the lower edge is sharpened. With its sharp part, the device enters the soil, while the toothed part raises the potato tubers to the surface. The largest clods of earth disintegrate the moment they hit the teeth.

Diggers of this type are attached using a hitch. Of course, such equipment is distinguished by significant reliability and simplicity, but at the same time much more manual labor will be required. In addition, not all tubers are easy to find under clods of earth that have not broken.

Active

They are connected to the walk-behind tractor using a belt, gearbox, power take-off shaft (PTO). Special adapters are also offered for them, allowing you to use a strap for fastening. Such potato diggers are highly efficient and reliable. In addition, they better clean root crops from the soil, which simplifies manual labor. Such diggers are divided into the following series of devices:

• conveyor, in which the harvest passes along a conveyor belt for cleaning;
• vibrating, which are equipped with a vibrating grid; they have another name - roaring.

It is worth noting that the conveyor-type digger is also often used for harvesting beets or onions. At the same time, it is capable of processing large fields.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of the potato digger is that it significantly speeds up and facilitates the work. This is an important advantage, especially when large areas have to be processed. Among the advantages of this device, it is also worth highlighting the ability to work in any weather. If, in too dry or humid weather, digging potatoes by hand becomes too difficult a task, then with such a unit it is greatly simplified.

A potato digger allows you to get a good presentation of potatoes . After all, the tubers will be not only with minimal damage, but also practically clean. It is important to note that all types of potato diggers are easy to operate, which does not require any special skills. The main disadvantage of such a unit can be considered cost, since models of active type diggers can cost a lot. And also some note the inconvenience of the need to plant potatoes in even rows. However, this is not difficult if you use special equipment for a walk-behind tractor.

Basic models

Currently, a large number of models of potato diggers are presented. Among them, practicing farmers distinguish several that are used most often.

KM-4

This model is a conveyor digger, which is a single-row attachment. It makes it possible to harvest the crop with virtually no loss. The device has a well thought-out design and high performance. Can be used on almost any type of soil. The model provides the ability to adjust the digging depth, the maximum value of which reaches 20 cm.

KKM-1

It is a vibrating digger, which is often used not only for collecting potatoes, but also other root crops. It is very convenient that this model is used in conjunction with walk-behind tractors such as "Favorite", "Salute" and others. Ideal for areas with light to medium humidity. This model is capable of operating at a speed of about 2 km / h.

Able to dig to a depth of 20 cm, and the width of the working strip reaches 35-37 cm. The popularity of the model is due to its average cost.

KVM-3

The model with a Soviet-style vibrating grid is distinguished by its versatility. It is suitable for motoblocks of various models. Moreover, it can work even fields with solid soil. To do this, it is enough to install an additional knife on the unit.

The main characteristics of the device are the same as those of most other screening diggers:

• speed - up to 2 km / h;
• depth - up to 20 cm;
• working strip width - 36 cm.

DTZ-2V

It is a two-row model that is well suited for both walk-behind tractors and walk-behind tractors. It fits perfectly with units with a capacity of 24 liters. with. Differs in fast and high-quality work. The working width of this model is 42 cm.

Poltavchanka

This vibratory digger is best used in small gardens of less than 2 hectares. The maximum digging depth does not exceed 18 cm, and the width of the working strip is 39 cm. It should be noted that the low weight of this model allows it to be used many times. Well suited to such walk-behind tractors as "Favorite" and "Neva". However, it is undesirable to use it for soils, the moisture content of which exceeds 30%.

Neva

This vibration model was created specifically for the walk-behind tractor of the same name. However, it also fits other devices if additional attachment straps are available. In 60 minutes of operation of such a unit, you can harvest from an area of 0.2 hectares at an average speed of 1.5 km / h. The model is capable of penetrating to a depth of 20 cm and a working width of 35 cm.

It is worth noting that the reviews on the work of this potato digger are some of the best.

Garden scout

Roaring digger, great for Zarya walk-behind tractors. For an hour of operation of such a machine, you can harvest potatoes from a plot of 2 hectares. The working width of this machine is 40 cm, while the digging depth reaches 28 cm.