Hydrostatic Weeder Makes Crop Work Easier

Hydrostatic Weeder Makes Crop Work Easier CROPS Weed Control 29-1-28 Shayne Herr made his wife and his back happy when he put together what he calls his "G-Whizz" hydrostatic weeder. To build it, he married the back end of a 3-wheel Toro utility tractor to the front end of an Allis Chalmers G tractor. A 4 hp Briggs and Stratton powers the hydrostatic motors on the wheels. The combination, when equipped with a platform and foot pedals, lets the Herrs weed their organic vegetable fields without bending over. "Any hydrostatic drive unit would work," says Herr. "It allows me to mount foot pedals on the deck so I can operate it laying down. It has infinite speeds, and I can raise the deck as the crop grows." The first step after welding the frames of the two machines together was to widen the rear wheels with a piece of square tubing. Herr then welded a piece of square tubing vertically from the front end and two from the rear frame. A horizontal framework of square tubing welded to these uprights supports a corrugated tin sun and rain shield. It also supports three lengths of irrigation tubing that run the length of the roof, one to each side. Warehouse racks from a local store form the deck, which hangs by chain from the irrigation pipe overhead. When traveling to and from fields, the original Allis steering wheel is used to control it. In the field they use the foot controls. Their older kids can ride on the tractor platform while a safety seat for their toddler hangs from the roof frame. "My wife Sherry is happy with the G-Whizz," says Herr. "Before this, we would crawl miles on our hands and knees, and they would ache at the end of the day. She thinks it's way more awesome than I do, but then she uses it the most." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Shayne Herr, P.O. Box 9301, Palmer, Alaska 99645 (ph 907 746-6162).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.