3-Point Mounted Cable Layer

3-Point Mounted Cable Layer LIVESTOCK DOGS Indiana handyman Don Myers built a 3-point hitch attachment for his Deere lawn tractor that works slick for installing invisible dog fencing With a few simple add-ons and take- offs the hitch also works as a subsoiler a chisel plow and a rack to hold tractor weights     Myers says he came up with the idea because installing invisible fencing with a self-propelled spade was difficult and time consuming His invention lets him drive the tractor while the shank digs a trench and the invisible fence wire is smoothly placed in the ground through a curved stainless steel pipe     “It works on the same principle as a tiling machine installing perforated drainage pipe in a farm field ” says Myers “It doesn’t require much power because the cable is only going 2 to 3 inches deep in the ground ”     The foundation for the device is a Cat I 3-pt hitch that mounts on the back of his garden tractor Myers bolted a 24-in long piece of 1 1/2-in angle iron to each side of the hitch frame and extended a 1/2-in stainless rod between the top of the 2 pieces The rod provides lateral support and holds a spool of invisible fence wire     For digging trenches Myers bolted an 18- in long piece of metal bar to the back of the 3-pt hitch frame It has 3 holes to adjust the depth The 1/2-in by 2-in bar is curved forward at the base to create a pointed shank that automatically pulls itself into the ground as the tractor moves forward     Myers bolted a curved piece of 1/2-in tubing to the back of the shank to route the cable into the ground behind the trench “It’s simple and effective and works like a charm ” says Myers “Sure beats the heck out of walking behind a self-propelled trencher ”     Using the device for subsoiling or chisel plowing simply requires unbolting the curved install tube from the shank then removing the vertical support bars and spool from the hitch frame Removing the shank allows wheel weights to hang from the hitch frame if a snowblower or other implement is mounted to the front of the tractor Myers can make plans available if others are interested in building one like it He says the device should fit other brand garden tractors with 3-pt hitches     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Don Myers 3221 W 700 S Berne Ind 46711 ph 260 589-2080; Don55myers@gmail com

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