Self-Propelled Weed Wiper Covers Up To 50 Ft. At A Time

Self-Propelled Weed Wiper Covers Up To 50 Ft. At A Time ROPE WICK APPLICATORS Rope Wick Applicators 25-5-42 "Our new self-propelled weed wiper covers up to 50 ft. at a time. There's nothing like it on the market and it's affordably priced," says Ron Kloefkorn, Manchester Mfg., Manchester, Okla. The 2-WD, hydrostatic-drive weed wiper is powered by a 21 hp Briggs & Stratton gas engine and has three front-mount booms that can be hydraulically raised or lowered. The booms are fitted with Speidel canvas-wrapped applicator tubes that hold a total of about 8 gal. of mixed chemical. There's no chemical tank. The rig is equipped with four narrow motorcycle wheels. The front wheels are spaced 90 in. apart while the rear wheels are standard on 30-in. centers. The machine can be ordered to adjust to different row crops. Row dividers separate the crop ahead of the wheels. Standard equipment includes an air or suspension seat, buggy top, stereo radio, and adjustable foam marker. "It's an economical way to control weeds without knocking down much of the crop," says Kloefkorn. "It works great for controlling wild rye in wheat, as well as weeds in grain sorghum, soybeans, or cotton. A fully equipped model sells for about $11,000. By doing custom work you could pay for the rig in just one season. "I came up with the idea because so many farmers are having problems with wild rye in wheat. It can result in big dockage at the elevator. A lot of farmers in our area save money by using wick wipers they build out of old swathers. However, the machines are equipped with big automobile tires that knock down a lot of the crop. The motorcycle wheels on our machine knock down very little of the crop, and the row dividers in front of the wheels separate the standing crop and peel it out of way. A few days later you can hardly tell you were ever in the field." Each boom on Kloefkorn's machine can be independently raised or lowered, allowing you to use the machine on terraces and contoured ground. "The flow rate of each tube can be controlled on-the-go by opening or closing a valve on the operator platform. We use the Speidel applicator because the tube has a non-pressurized, canvas wrap design that's very efficient. It works even when the tube is tilted at an angle, allowing it to be used on terraces and contoured ground," says Kloefkorn. The flow rate of each tube is controlled by a valve on the operator's platform. The farther you open the valve, the more chemical drips out. "Last year I used the rig to wick wipe 160 acres of wheat heavily-infested with rye. I used only 2 1/2 gallons of Roundup, at a total cost of less than $100," says Kloefkorn. "Every oil component on this machine has its own separate oil cooler including the engine, hydrostatic drive transmission, and hydraulic system. Most of the components are available at industrial supply stores," he notes. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Manchester Mfg., Hwy. 132 & Main, Manchester, Okla. 73758 (ph 580 694-2292; Website: www.manchestermfg.com).

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