Warm days are coming and this is the best time to prepare for the sowing campaign. Most summer residents use to facilitate heavy physical labor walk-behind tractors and cultivators. Light gardening equipment is not always able to work on dense, heavy soil. In order to improve the stability of the unit, weights are used for mini tractors.
In this article, we will consider the criteria for choosing weighting materials, advice and recommendations from specialists, indicating what to look for in order not to make mistakes when choosing.
Content
These devices are used in the following cases: to improve traction with the soil, to facilitate vehicle control, for better axle weight distribution.
Such products are used in order to develop virgin soil, on heavy soils and on slopes. Weights facilitate fast and efficient soil cultivation. Many farmers also use extra weights when transporting loads to better grip the tractor on the road.
For wheels, disk weights are used, which are rings with a hole for mounting in the middle. The number of discs in a set depends on the required weight, in one package there are usually at least two pieces - one for each wheel. The disks are fastened in two ways - welding (used in cases when the equipment is constantly used in difficult working conditions, and disassembly of the disks is not provided) and bolted connection (it is convenient that with light work it is possible to easily disconnect the disks and not increase fuel consumption).
If you need to balance the tractor in the direction of travel, it is more convenient to buy lamellar weights-weighting agents. They are bars made of metal. They are most often attached to the body of a minitractor by welding a bolted joint.
Lug discs are installed in the same way as wheel discs. The cost of weighting goods depends on their type and weight and can vary from 1,000 to 15,000 rubles. For a large farm, this is a small amount, and for a private person it is not always lifting, so many craftsmen make goods on their own.
In order to make a weighting agent with your own hands, you will need the following consumables - weights or pancakes from a bar, metal profiles, metal beams, car parts and other small heavy steel products. You will also need the following tools - a grinder, a screwdriver (drill), a welding machine, paint (to give an aesthetic appearance upon completion of all work).
Step-by-step instructions: from a metal profile, you need to cut a plate with a width of at least 5 centimeters, drill holes in it for bolts. Then, using a welding machine, metal weights are welded to the plate.To give an attractive appearance and prevent rust, after welding the structure is painted. When manufacturing cargo, you need to carefully calculate its overall dimensions, taking into account the place where it will be attached.
Some craftsmen make body weights. To do this, a body of metal plates is welded, after which the internal space is filled with concrete, metal plates and other heavy objects.
Technologists warn that the total weight of the weights should not exceed 100 kilograms, and the continuous plowing time should not exceed 1 hour, as this can lead to clutch breakage and increased engine wear.
Before installing the weighting device, you need to make sure that its weight does not exceed the manufacturer's maximum allowable weight. Despite the fact that the purchase of such a product requires large financial costs, the unit will subsequently help to facilitate hard physical labor at the summer cottage, and the correct use of a weighted cultivator (selection of the optimal weight, breaks in work) will allow you to quickly achieve the required result, while spending a minimum of effort.
Before choosing weighting weights for garden equipment, you need to decide on the technology for their installation, because you need to understand where to install them in order to achieve the desired effect. Weighting agents can be placed to affect equipment such as:
This is one of the most popular garden equipment weights. It is used for motoblocks of Russian production Neva, Ugra, Oka. The main purpose of the product is to strengthen the adhesion mass for better movement on the ground, prevent slipping, increase productivity when working in difficult conditions - on rough terrain, unevenness and slopes. The mass of one disc is 10 kilograms.
The weight-weighting agent is recommended to be installed on pneumatic rims, lugs or on the front pin. The design of the model allows you to put up to 4 discs on one wheel, depending on the working conditions.Discs are placed in pairs on both wheels, while they can be located both on the outside and on the inside. When installed on lugs, weights can be secured without a rigid connection (when used from the inside in relation to the rig).
The specific place of attachment of the weighting load is determined based on the type of work performed. So, for plowing the field, the best place to install is the front pin. Weights with a total weight of no more than 30 kg can be installed here. If it is planned to cultivate the soil using a hiller or potato digger, it is better to attach the discs to steel wheels. This action will increase the force of adhesion of the unit to the ground and will not allow slipping or "jumping out" of the furrow. When carrying out such works as snow clearing, transportation of goods, disks are installed on pneumatic wheels. Technicians recommend reinforcing the wheels on both sides (outer and inner) to give the vehicle additional stability.
The delivery set includes instructions with a detailed description of the process of installing the weights: first you need to remove the wheels from the walk-behind tractor, removing the standard wheel bolts and installing the elongated ones that come with the weights, attach weights, put on washers and tighten the nuts, and then install the entire structure in place making sure all connections are tight.
The outer diameter of the product is 220 mm, the bore is 40 mm, and the width is 30 mm. The product is applicable for pneumatic wheels 4 * 10, 4.5 * 10. The manufacturer gives a 2-year product warranty. The average price is 1,400 rubles.
This weight is of limited use as it is designed exclusively for attachment to the front post. The product has a cylindrical shape and two lugs, painted black. The weight of the cargo is 19 kilograms. Such a weighting agent is used most often when plowing the soil, working with a hiller, potato digger, snow plow, and when transporting goods. Like the previous model, the weight-weighting material is manufactured at the Russian plant Neva, which specializes in the production of motoblocks and accessories for them. The average price is 1,300 rubles.
This product has limited functionality - it is suitable only for a specific modification of the walk-behind tractor - Eurosystems R-70. This technique of the Italian manufacturer is popular in Russia, which is why the weight-weighting agent for it is included in the rating under consideration.
The weight-weighting agent is an elongated cylinder with a steel knob. The product is fastened to a specially provided place on the walk-behind tractor frame. The load is colored red, just like the equipment itself, and is practically invisible on the unit. The device is designed in such a way as to create minimal disturbance to the operator during operation.
The weighting agent has shown itself best in such works as plowing with a hiller, loosening, digging out potatoes, transporting a trailer.The product is designed in such a way as to move the center of gravity down the machine to give it more stability, increase traction with the soil surface in order to increase traction. The average price is 6,300 rubles.
The model in question can be used for most Caiman walk-behind tractors, and is a black metal disc. One disc weighs 34 kilograms. The package includes a pair of discs. Weights can be installed on both pneumatic and steel discs (for Atletico 328P / Atletico 338P models, it is possible to use only in combination with pneumatic wheels). Weights are recommended for use when working with a hiller, plow and other similar devices. The average price is 28,000 rubles.
The weight-weighting agent is installed on the front drawbar, suitable for such Russian-made garden equipment as Mobile, Luch, Neva, Oka, Ugra, Kaskad. The use of a weighting weight makes it possible to increase the stability of the motor cultivators, as well as to improve the adhesion of working mechanisms to the ground. The weight-weighting agent is a black rectangular shape with two lugs. The drawbar is fastened with a bolt connection, installation does not take much time.
Product weight is 17 kilograms, overall dimensions (l * w * h) - 380 * 200 * 249 mm. The average price is 1,300 rubles.
The model under consideration consists of metal plates, which are attached to the lugs, and fasteners (bolts, nuts, washers). According to the manufacturer's instructions, before weighting the walk-behind tractor, you need to drill holes in the lugs for the bolts, then connect the elements and tighten the fasteners. To install weights, you need to have a lug extension (purchased separately).
Weighting weights allow for plowing on heavy soils. In the case of cultivating the soil on slopes, it is possible to place the pancake on only one side to give the technique the required slope. Each disc weighs 10 kg. The average price is 5,150 rubles.
The products are made of steel, the delivery set includes 4 round plates of 6 kilograms each, as well as a set of fasteners to them. The diameter of each plate is 40 cm. The plates are suitable for the models Neva, Oka, Cascade, Luch, etc. The manufacturer provides a one-year warranty for products.
Each plate has a central bore hole, as well as 4 additional ones for attaching to the lugs.The plates have shown themselves best when working in tandem with lugs, but it is possible to install them on transport wheels or on a drawbar. The light weight of each plate allows for varying placement and optimal balance. The cost of the kit is 3 400 rubles.
As the name implies, this model is a square plate. In the center of each square, a landing hole is made for setting garden equipment on the wheel axle. Mounting holes are drilled along the perimeter at an equal distance from the center. The plates are painted brown, suitable for the same motoblocks as the previous model.
The plates are best suited for use on lugs and transport wheels and are recommended to be installed from the inside so that they do not interfere with the operator during operation. If you wish, you can try to install them on the front drawbar, but you will have to tinker with it. Compared to the previous model, these plates cost about 1,000 rubles less, which is significant for many summer residents and pensioners. The average price of pancakes is 2,450 rubles.
The review continues with an unusual model with a weight change function - filling weights from the Russian manufacturer Celina. The products have a cylindrical hollow design. A sand-gravel mixture is poured inside. Depending on the specific situation, the amount of ASG can vary, so that even an experienced summer resident (farmer) can easily adjust the optimal balance. The mass of the empty cylinder is 6.3 kilograms, the approximate weight of the filled one is 22.8 kg.
Weights are mounted on rims (transport or lugs), and are fastened using five standard 5 * 120 mm bolts. The outer diameter of the cylinders is 265 mm, the height is 180 mm. When choosing which company to buy weighting weights, many buyers prefer this brand due to the versatility of use and the low cost of a pair of cylinders. With a little modification, it is possible to install the cylinders not only on the wheels, but also on the front drawbar. The average price of a set is 2,500 rubles.
Another representative of the bulk cargo weighting agent. As the name implies, it is attached to the front pin of the cultivator. The product is a hollow rectangle with steel walls. The weight of the empty tank is 6.7 kg, the approximate weight of the filled one is 24.3 kg. It is recommended to use a sand and gravel mixture to fill the container. To fill the container, it is necessary to unscrew the cap from the filling hole, which is fastened with a bolted connection.
The reservoir is attached to the pin using a connecting sleeve with a diameter of 30 mm. The overall dimensions of the tank (l * w * h) are 20.3 * 35.2 * 23.4 cm. According to buyers, this weighting agent allows you to select the required weight for any equipment, from a small cultivator to large-sized walk-behind tractors. The average price of the product is 1,700 rubles.
This French weight-weighting agent is used on cultivators of the Pubert, MasterYard, Caiman brands. It is designed to be mounted on the front drawbar of the implement. The product has a non-standard mount, so it can be used for equipment of other brands only after revision. The cargo has a non-standard shape, with a beveled surface on one side. The delivery set includes not only the weighting agent itself, but also special fasteners to it.
The model showed itself best of all when working with a hiller and a plow. Fitting to the front of the cultivator keeps the machine out of the furrow and enables efficient plowing with less operator effort. The average price of a set is 8,000 rubles. When ordering from Pubert branded stores, you can get a good discount.
This model combines the characteristics of not only weighting materials, but also lugs. This configuration allows you not to hang additional structures on the walk-behind tractor, and simplifies assembly and disassembly, as well as preparation for work of garden equipment. Grousers are suitable for motoblocks of Russian manufacturers, such as Oka, Kaskad and Neva. The pair of wheels weighs 16.9 kilograms. The bore diameter is 30 mm. The diameter of the discs is 450 mm, the width is 120 mm. Products are painted black, equipped with projections around the perimeter for better grip.
The amount of sand and gravel mixture to be filled in can be adjusted depending on the type of plowed soil, as well as the volume of work performed. The more sand is poured into the wheels, the less chance of slipping. The average price of a set is 3,100 rubles.
It is used for small tractors on which attachments are mounted on the front frame. The load balances the device and maximizes efficiency when plowing heavy soils on rough terrain. Buyers note the ease of installation and small dimensions of the product, as well as its attractive appearance.
The weight of the product is 25 kilograms, the overall dimensions (l * w * h) are 52 * 21 * 32 cm. The device is fastened with a bolted connection through four holes. The delivery set also includes connecting strips. The average price of a product is 13,000 rubles.
As the name implies, this cargo is suitable only for one model of the walk-behind tractor - Belarus 09N.It consists of two steel discs with a special recess and four mounting holes. The product is installed on pneumatic discs or lugs. The weight of one weighting agent is 16 kilograms. The round surface without protrusions allows you to place the discs so as not to interfere with the operator when driving the walk-behind tractor. The mounting screws are not included in the scope of delivery. The average price of a set of two discs is 6,500 rubles.
Before choosing a weighting agent for a walk-behind tractor or cultivator, you need to decide for what purposes the equipment will be used most often, and also find out what types of cargo are. As it turned out, many buyers are unaware that weighting materials can be attached not only to wheel rims, but also to the front drawbar, and often after the transaction they regret their choice.
For garden equipment used on a personal plot, bulk models of weights are best suited. They allow you to adjust the total weight of the machine, and, when working on slopes, create the necessary balance to improve the efficiency of soil processing.
For most Russian-made units, a lot of mounted weights are produced, and it is not difficult to choose the one suitable for a particular model. There are also universal weights that, with a little modification, can be compatible with popular models of motoblocks and cultivators.
Recently, universal weighting materials are gaining popularity, which are combined with lugs or wheel disks. In this case, the user does not need to engage in the installation of additional devices, and if such loads are also bulk, the possibilities for selecting the optimal balance and weighting the equipment become limitless. We hope that our article will help you make the right choice.