Homemade Chemical Applicator

Homemade Chemical Applicator SPRAYING New Sprayers 6-1-7 Kentucky soybean grower Jerry Hudnall, of Bowling Green, and his neighbors are getting good control of johnsongrass, thanks to a home-made chemical applicator built from salvage parts. "It's simple, economical, self-propelled, and adjustable to variable plant height. Operates on a 10 hp gas engine," explains Hudnall who put it together in conjunction with three neighbors who share in using it. The 6-row applicator, which Hudnall calls the Hi-Wiper, is built on three motorcycle wheels (two in back and one in front), a rototiller mechanism, and other old machinery parts. The only new parts on it are a wick-bar, the gasoline engine, and the battery. "It's designed to move through soybeans of any height without injuring them," says Hudnall. "The small machine can turn around in the middle of a row without running over a lot of plants. And, it uses much less fuel than a tractor." The Hi-Wiper has several other unique features. The wick-bar can be raised to a height of 4 ft. with the simple turn of a wheel. The wick-bar can also be tilted forward to put on more herbicide, or backward if the bar is getting too wet. A single lever serves as the clutch, gears, accelerator, and brakes ù all in one. As the lever is pushed forward, the vehicle goes into gear and accelerates up to 6 mph. "With the Hi-Wiper, we can go into fields early and keep working them all season, even after the beans are full height," says Hudnall. "And, the machine is easy to transport in a pickup truck. The rear wheels straddle the truck and the front wheel sits in the box." Hudnall, a former tool and die maker who still enjoys experimenting in his machine shop, says he has no plans to produce and sell the Hi-Wiper commercially. For more information contact FARM SHOW Followup; Jerry Hudnall; Rt. 10, Box 241; Bowling Green, Ky. 42101; (ph 502 777-3322).

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