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Go Anywhere Soil Sampling Machine
Latest new development in automated soil sampling is a home-built "go anywhere" portable rig developed by Dean Williams, owner of Agri-Labs, Bremen, Ind.
Built mainly from junked car parts, it's equipped with narrow wheels which allow it to be driven into standing corn, soybeans, small grain and other crops ù in
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Go anywhere soil sampling machine MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 9-2-6 Latest new development in automated soil sampling is a home-built "go anywhere" portable rig developed by Dean Williams, owner of Agri-Labs, Bremen, Ind.
Built mainly from junked car parts, it's equipped with narrow wheels which allow it to be driven into standing corn, soybeans, small grain and other crops ù in any direction except directly down the rows ù with virtually no damage to the crop. For fall and winter sampling, the large narrow wheels are replaced with rubber (48 by 25 in.) flotation tires for "go anywhere" sampling of stalk or stubble fields.
A hydraulically-operated soil sampling probe allows the operator to go into unharvested fields in summer, or over frozen stubble and cornstalk ground in fall or winter, to collect soil samples without leaving the driver's seat.
The narrow wheels are 5 ft. in dia. and 1 1/8 in. thick at their outer circumference. They're made of solid plywood. "I took them to an Amish buggy shop and had them equipped with hard rubber buggy tires," explains Williams. The wheels are spaced about 7 ft. apart.
Other key features of the rig, which retired local mechanic Dewey Balsley helped build, include:
•Crab steering. When the front wheels are turned to the right, for example, the rear wheels turn left to follow in the same tracks.
•Power is provided by a used 4 cyl. Chevette engine, selected primarily for its high horsepower and comparatively light weight.
•Four wheel drive. The front and rear axles were salvaged from wrecked Pinto cars. The rig has reverse and moves forward at an infinitely variable speed of 0 to 25 mph.
•The regular disk wheel brakes are equipped with vacuum assist to handle the large diameter wheels.
•The rig is transported to the site on a flatbed trailer, then driven down the road as needed in the immediate vicinity to sample a customer's fields.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Agri-Labs, Dean Williams, Owner, 204 E. Plymouth, Bremen, Ind. 46506 (ph 219 546-2606).
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