Implements Exhibition

Bale Spike

Perfect for handling round bales, the bale spike includes one longer tine to ensure safe bale transport and a shorter tine to maintain control of the bale to keep it from wobbling and turning while stacking.

Bale Fork

This simple, robust implement can be used effectively for both round and large square bales by installing the tines at either 31 or 51 in. to match bale size. The optional U-shaped vertical rear extension provides added support if needed.

Universal Bale Grip

The universal bale grip allows you to grab, squeeze, stack and move round or square bales. You can stack bales closely and tightly to prevent air and moisture from damaging the bales. Using a tested design with low net weight, the universal bale grip arms distribute pressure evenly while the smooth tube design has no sharp edges to damage plastic bale wrap. Two models handle maximum bale sizes of 51 and 63 in.

Heavy-Duty Round Bale Bucket and Grapple

This heavy-duty bucket includes teeth bolted to the bottom of a heavy-duty bucket and a powerful grapple designed to distribute the stresses of rough work through the entire bucket construction. An optional mesh screen prevents loose material from dropping onto the tractor hood or getting pushed back into the tractor grille. Both grapple and teeth can be removed easily so you can use the bucket to work with other materials.

Hydraulic Bale Split Attachment

Splitting bales can entail hard work. If your tractor has a loader with dual-action lifting cylinders, you can solve the problem with a bale split attachment. This attachment can both transport and split bales to make it easier to handle the material. When you have positioned the bale where it is to be split, you place the blade against the bale and press down. Both straw and silage bales fall apart in two places, simply and smoothly without extra hydraulics. An easy-to-use blade guard provides protection from the sharp blade edge.

Pallet Forks with Attachments

The pallet forks for front-end loaders should be designed to distribute weight evenly over the entire implement, so they can be used to move a variety of material, as well as to move bales. The stable fork attachment means the forks do not “dangle.” For added versatility, optional attachments include a bale spike (with one long tine and one short tine) and a log grapple that installs on the pallet fork sub-frame.

Jerry Dieker is a New Holland marketing manager of loaders and implements, based in New Holland, Pa.

Compact Tractor Tiller Implements Turn Hard Earth into Usable Soil

Preparation for planting crops or landscape site work often involves a fist full of good tilled earth, slipping through your hand. But before this final finger quality test can be achieved, a tiller attachment needs to break ground.

PTO-driven, rear-mounted tiller implements on a compact tractor are handy tools for landscapers, homeowners with acreage, farmers and others who need to prepare soil for planting, amend earth with fertilizer, manure or mulch and remove weeds between tree rows. While this implement can make the above applications easier to accomplish, Bryan Zent, marketing manager for Bobcat Co., says that there are a number of considerations compact tractor owners need to keep in mind when renting or purchasing a tiller. First, many manufacturers offer different sizes of tillers. Compact tractor owners should use a tiller large enough to cover the full width of the tractor tracks.

“When the tiller covers the width of the track, the implement creates a more complete finish and reduces the need for more than one pass to complete the work,” says Zent. The second consideration is which type of drive to purchase. Tiller implements are driven by a chain or a gear. “Both work well in rugged conditions. Chain models are great for occasional use. (For example, a property owner who wants to till their garden a couple times per year.) But if someone is looking to use a tiller in high-hour applications, such as a landscaper preparing seedbeds on a regular basis, it would be better to have a gear-driven tiller,” says Zent.

Tiller implements have four or six blades per flange, depending on the model. Models with six blades, such as those manufactured by Bobcat, will work soil and vegetation more quickly. When operating a tractor, the operator should make use of the adjustable skid shoes on the tiller. The tiller will dig about 4 in. below grade, but it will turn those 4 in. of compacted material into 7 in. of fluffy, workable soil.

Maintaining a tiller implement is simple. Before using a tiller, Zent recommends that the tines are checked to make sure they’re clear of any debris, are not bent and are fastened tightly. Depending on the model, there is typically only one grease zerk that needs to be attended to. Occasionally check the gearbox/transmission fluid level and lubricate the PTO shaft, which are the only precautions needed to help ensure longevity of the implement.

Compact tractor tiller implements are easy to operate and maintain and are helpful tools in breaking, amending or preparing soils. Tractor owners should keep in mind how the tiller will be used and the size of the tractor as they consider tiller models. This will help owners determine which tiller is best for the task at hand.

Eric Morse is a public relations representative with Two Rivers Marketing, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

By Keith Gribbins

CE: What are the major categories and sizes of trencher attachments for compact tractors?

Peters: There are dedicated trenchers, machines that operate by themselves, there are walk-behind trenchers, trenchers for skid steer loaders and trenchers for compact tractors. Specifically on the compact tractors, we offer four sizes of trenchers: 30-in. depth by 6-in. width; 36-in. depth by 6-in. width; 48-in. depth by 6-in. width; and 60-in. depth by 6-in. width.

CE: How much do these types of implements typically cost? Give us a good range.

Peters: Costs for tractor trenchers range from $6,400 to $7,100, based on size.

CE: What kind of buying tips can you offer when purchasing a trencher implement for your compact tractor?

Peters: Trenchers need to be sized to the tractor that will be used. For instance, the tractor will need 20 to 45 hp and hydrostatic drive with rear hydraulic remotes to run the depth cylinder on the trenchers. Also, if there are wet ground conditions, a tractor with four-wheel drive will provide better traction and control.

CE: What types of capacity ranges do these attachments have — compared to tool carriers like skid steers and compact utility loaders?

Peters: A 20-hp tractor would be needed for the 30-in. depth size trencher, 30-hp tractor for a 36-in. trencher, 38-hp tractor for a 48-in. trencher and 45-hp tractor for the 60-in. trencher. All of the trenchers run off of the 540 rpm PTO, designed to work with Cat 1 and 2 tractors with a three-point hook-up. Tractor trenchers can go up to a 6-in. width, where a trencher attached to a skid steer may trench up to a 12-in. width. The maximum depth of the trench is still 60 in. whether on a tractor or a skid steer loader. Compact tractor trenchers offer 2-in. double standard chains with dirt teeth. When running a trencher attachment on a tractor, you are able to drive forward, where you would need to pull the trencher backward on a skid steer loader.

CE: What type of operational tips can you share when using a tractor trencher attachment?

Peters: The PTO shaft assembly may need to be shortened to fit up to your tractor correctly. The shaft assembly is shortest when the trencher is engaged into the ground and the shaft is straight in line with the trencher gearbox. A front counterweight may be necessary for proper transportation and operation of the tractor and trencher. Industry recommended practice states that 20 percent of the gross vehicle weight should remain on the front axle during transport conditions. Trencher depths are given with the digging boom at an optimum 65-degree digging angle with the auger touching the ground. You should use a hydrostatic drive tractor and will want to move ahead very slowly when trenching. If you go too fast when driving the tractor, you might stall the trencher.

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment, based in Peninsula, Ohio.

Units, Implements and Brands for Buyers on the Shopping Block

Bobcat Mid-Mount Mowers

Bobcat Co. has released a new implement for use on compact tractors — a mid-mount mower. Homeowners with acreage, landscape companies and others use mid-mount mowers to cut grass in areas where maneuverability is tight. The Bobcat mid-mount mower has six anti-scalping wheels that protect the mower blades and turf from damage. The anti-scalping wheels touch the ground first when mowing over uneven terrain and prevent the mower deck from scraping the ground, resulting in longer blade life and a consistent cutting height. The anti-scalping wheels are fixed to the mower deck and can be adjusted when an extremely low cutting height is desired. RS#60

Case IH Farmall Tractors

Case IH is upgrading the Farmall compact tractor lineup in 2008 — the 85th anniversary of the famous Farmall name. All Farmall compacts now come equipped with fuel-efficient, clean burning Tier 3-compliant engines. Transmission options include hydrostatic, synchro or power-shuttle, depending on the model. Five Class 2 and Class 3 Farmalls are available with PTO horsepower ranging from 25 to 43 hp; plus two Class 4 Farmall models with PTO hp ratings of 47 and 51 are available. For mowing, snowblowing, grading, landscaping, material handling and all-around farm use, there’s a flexible Farmall compact tractor ready to tackle any job. RS#61

EDGE Cement Mixer and Log Splitter

CEAttachments now carries cement mixers for your compact utility tractor. Mix everything from cement to grain or fertilizer with your compact utility tractor. This versatile attachment features a 5-cu ft mixing capacity, sealed bearing for reduced maintenance and a hydraulic top link cylinder for positive dump control. Internal paddles ensure even mixing of material. This is just one item in CEAttachment’s line of attachments for compact utility tractors. The EDGE Log Splitter will split through tough hardwoods and odd-shaped logs up to 24 in. long in a matter of seconds. More unique and interesting attachments are also available. RS#62

KIOTI CK27 Series Compact Tractors

KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong Industrial Co. Ltd., recently announced the addition of the CK27 Series to its already extensive line of compact tractors. The CK27 Series has just been released to the public as one of KIOTI’s new tractors for 2008. These compact tractors make it easy to get in tight spots where there isn’t enough room for a larger tractor. They can be used for many different applications by homeowners, estate owners, hobby farmers, landscape contractors and others. The CK27 Series comes with many standard features: a telescopic three-point hitch; a joystick loader control; foldable ROPS; tilt steering; wet disc brakes; hydraulic steering and rear PTO. RS#63

Steiner 430 Max Articulating Tractor

A Steiner tractor can do most applications. Start with the features that established its reputation for excellence over 33 years ago: full-time four-wheel drive, articulated frame, hydrostatic transmission and power steering. Choose from air- and liquid-cooled engines ranging in output from 21 to 33 hp. Mix in comfort features like an ergonomically designed deluxe seat. Add over 20 attachments, from mowers and blades to scoops and blowers. The Steiner 430 Max four-wheel drive articulating tractor is designed to be a performer on yards, grounds and estates. But routine maintenance tasks are only the beginning of a Steiner’s many time and effort saving capabilities. RS#64

Venture Contour Mower

The new Ventrac MJ840 contour mower by Venture Products Inc. will give your rough areas a finished and manicured look. The MJ840 is designed to cut uneven ground, green surrounds and other similar areas. The front mount, three-deck wing system has four front flat-free tires and three full rear rollers and is capable of 40-degree motion. The wing system allows the operator to follow the contour of the land more closely for a smoother overall cut, as each cutting unit is able to move independently of the other units. Front rollers are used for anti-scalping and full rear rollers for even cutting and striping. Cutting width is 84 in. and cutting height is ¾ to 3 ½ in. with 12 cutting positions. RS#65

Kubota L4400 Compact Tractor

Kubota’s powerful L4400HST standard tractor tackles everything smoothly — from small chores to commercial applications. The Kubota L4400 comes standard with a powerful and clean-running 36-PTO hp diesel engine and three-point hitch. The Feather-Step Hydraulic Servo Mechanism reduces shock, vibration and noise, providing smoother operation than ever before. The Kubota L4400 offers a newly designed, curved hood, giving the tractor a sleek, modern look with excellent visibility. Kubota’s performance-matched implements — such as the single-lever joystick control, powerful backhoe and front loader — all work to enhance the L4400’s capabilities with quick-attach and detach features. RS#66