Rod Weeders

Summary of Edwards Model GN-R78-436 (11.1 m) Rod Weeder (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.90 MB)

Quality of Work: Overall functional performance of the Edwards GN-R78-436 rod weeder was good for light tillage operations such as seedbed preparation and light secondary summerfallow. Performance in hard soil was reduced due to insufficient penetration.

The spring cushioned rod shanks could lift 100 mm (4.0 in) to clear stones. This height was insufficient as rod and shank damage occurred. The front row of spring cushioned cultivator shanks could only lift 100 mm (4 in) to clear stones. No shank damage occurred.

Penetration was very good in soft soil and good in moderately firm to hard soils. In very hard soils, penetration was inadequate due to skidding of the drive wheels. Plugging occurred in heavy or damp trash. The Edwards GN-R78-436 buried less trash than most heavy duty cultivators, but buried slightly more than most blade cultivators. Sideways skewing was evident only in very hilly conditions. Weed kill was good but depended on tillage depth and soil moisture conditions.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: The Edwards GN-R78-436 could be placed in transport position in about 5 minutes. The 180 mm (7.1 in) rod to ground clearance, in transport position, was adequate. The Edwards GN-R78-436 towed well at transport speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph). However, this was unsafe, as the tire loads in transport position exceeded the Tire and Rim Association maximum rating by 30%. Caution had to be observed when towing on public roads due to large transport width and height. The 11.1 m (36.3 ft) wide test machine had a transport height of 4.9 m (16.1 ft) which was high enough for contact with many power lines in the three prairie provinces.

A hitch jack was provided for convenient hitching. Adequate adjustment was provided for both lateral and fore and aft levelling. Tillage depth was uniform when the depth control linkages were properly adjusted.

Average draft for the 11.1 m (36.3 ft) wide test machine in secondary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph), varied from 22.2 kN (4880 lb) at 25 mm (1 in) depth to 32.2 kN (7080 lbs) at 75 mm (3 in) depth. in secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed, at 8 km/h (5 mph), average draft varied from 15.5 kN (3410 lbs) at 25 mm (1 in) depth to 21.1 kN (4640 lbs) at 75 mm (3 in) depth.

Power Requirments: In secondary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph) and 50 mm (2 in) depth, a tractor with 104 kW (140 hp) maximum power take-off rating will have sufficient power reserve to operate the 11.1 m (36.3 ft) wide Edwards GN-R78-436. In secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed, at the same depth and speed, a 70 kW (94 hp) tractor is needed.

Operator Safety: The Edwards GN-R78-436 was equipped with transport lock pins for safe towing. No slow moving vehicle sign was provided. The operator's manual was clear, concise and well illustrated.

Mechanical History: Some mechanical problems occurred during the 160 hours of field operation. The rods and several rod shank holders bent and the centre section axle assemblies deformed. The centre drive assembly broke and several rod drive shank chain guards were replaced. The depth control pivot arms bent and the hitch link cotter pin sheared.

Summary of Leon 8200 (12.3 m) Rod Weeder (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.97 MB)

Quality of Work: The overall functional performance of the Leon 8200 rod weeder was very good for light tillage operations such as seedbed preparation and secondary summerfallow. Performance was reduced by excessive penetration of the rod drive shanks.

The spring-trip rod shanks could lift 250 mm (10 in), and the spring cushioned cultivator shanks could lift 260 mm (10.2 in) to clear stones. No shank damage occurred.

Penetration was good in most light tillage operations. The cultivator shanks aided penetration of the rod in firm soils. In hard soils the cultivator shank spacing was insufficient to loosen the soil for adequate rod penetration. The rod drive shanks penetrated 75 mm (3 in) deeper than the rod and produced deep surface furrows. Plugging occurred at the wheel locations in heavy or damp trash. Large quantities of trash accumulated in the mounted harrows in moderate trash conditions. The Leon buried less trash than most cultivators. Sideways skewing occurred only on hillsides. Weed kill was very good and depended on tillage depth and moisture conditions. In moist conditions with light trash, the mounted harrows were effective in exposing loosened weeds.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: The wings of the Leon 8200 were easily raised and locked into transport position. The transport locks for the centre section wheels were difficult to install or store. The rod shank ground clearance of 180 mm (7 in) and wheel tread of 4.1 m (13.5 ft) caused ground contact on rough roads, and difficult passage on narrow roads. The Leon 8200 towed well at normal transport speeds. The tire loads in transport position with mounted harrows exceeded the Tire and Rim Association maximum load rating for the tires supplied by 89%. The 12.3 m (40.4 ft) wide test machine had a transport height of 4.5 m (14.8 ft) which was slightly less than minimum power line heights for the three prairie provinces. Extreme caution was required to ensure safe passage under power lines.

A hitch jack was provided for easy hitching. A negative hitch load made hitching difficult when the machine was fitted with mounted harrows. Adequate adjustment was provided for both lateral and fore-and-aft leveling.

Average draft for the 12.3 m (40.4 ft) wide test machine with the cultivator shanks, in secondary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph), varied from 14.8 kN (3330 lb) at 25 mm (1 in) depth to 25.9 kN (5820 lb) at 75 mm (3 in) depth. In secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed at 8 km/h (5 mph), average draft varied from 11.1 kN (2500 lb) at 25 mm (1 in) depth to 19.7 kN (4430 lb) at 75 mm (3 in) depth.

Power Requirments: In secondary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph) and 50 mm (2 in) depth a tractor with 78 kW (101 hp) maximum power take-off rating will have sufficient power reserve to operate the 12.3 m (40.4 ft) wide Leon 8200 with the cultivator shanks. In secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed, at the same depth and speed, a 60 kW (78 hp) tractor is needed.

Operator Safety: No slow moving vehicle sign was provided with the Leon 8200. The operator's manual was clearly written and well illustrated.

Mechanical Problems: Some mechanical problems occurred during the 138 hours of field operation. A wing lift cylinder yoke broke, the hitch jack was damaged, and a rod drive pillow block failed.

Summary of Rite-Way RD-9600 (11.3 m) Rod Weeder (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.78 MB)

Quality of Work: The overall functional performance of the Rite-Way RD-9600 was fair for light tillage operations such as seedbed preparation and secondary summerfallow. Performance was reduced by poor rod shank trip performance in stony conditions, and uneven penetration caused by drifting of the depth control cylinders.
The spring-trip rod shanks could lift 190 mm (7.5 in) to clear stones. Although this trip height was adequate, high trip forces caused some rod shank damage. The spring and rubber cushioned cultivator shanks could lift 170 mm (6.7 in) to clear stones. No shank damage occurred, but some damage occurred to the shank holders.

Penetration was good in most light tillage operations. The cultivator shanks aided penetration of the rod in firm soils. In hard soils, the cultivator shank spacing was insufficient to loosen the soil for adequate rod penetration. Uniform penetration was obtained only when the depth control cylinders were frequently synchronized. Plugging occurred in heavy or damp trash between the rod shanks and wheel locations. Large quantities of trash accumulated in the mounted harrows in moderate trash conditions. The Rite-Way RD-9600 buried less trash than most cultivators. Sideways skewing occurred only in hilly conditions. Weed kill was very good and depended on tillage depth and moisture conditions. In moist conditions and light trash, the mounted harrows were effective in exposing loosened weeds.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: The Rite-Way RD-9600 could be easily placed into transport position in less than five minutes. The ground clearance of 135 mm (5.3 in) and the wheel tread of 3.2 m (10.5 ft) were adequate for safe transport. The Rite-Way RD-9600 towed well at normal transport speeds. The tire loads in transport position with mounted harrows exceeded the Tire and Rim Association maximum rating for the tires supplied by 80%. The 11.3 m (37 ft) wide test machine had a transport height of 4.4 m (14.3 ft) which was slightly less than the minimum power line heights for the three prairie provinces. Extreme caution was required to ensure safe passage under power lines.

A hitch jack was provided for easy hitching. Adjustment at the hitch provided adequate fore-and-aft leveling. No adjustments were provided for lateral leveling.

Average draft for the 11.3 m (37 ft) wide test machine with the cultivator shanks, in secondary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph), varied from 13.5 kN (3040 lb) a 25 mm (1 in) depth to 23.6 kN (5310 lb) at 75 mm (3 in) depth. In secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed, at 8 km/h (5 mph), average draft varied from 10.1 kN (2270 lb) at 25 mm (1 in) depth to 18.0 kN (4050 lb) at 75 mm (3 in) depth.

Power Requirments: In secondary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph) and 50 mm (2 in) depth, a tractor with 71 kW (92 hp) maximum power take-off rating will have sufficient power reserve to operate the 11.3 m (37 ft) wide Rite-Way RD-9600 with the cultivator shanks. In secondary tillage with the cultivator shanks removed, at the same depth and speed, a 55 kW (71 hp) tractor is needed.

Operator Safety: The Rite-Way RD-9600 was equipped with wing transport locks for safe towing. Transport locks were not provided for the centre section depth control wheels. A slow moving vehicle sign was provided. The operator's manual required more detailed operating and safety information.

Mechanical Problems: Some mechanical problems occurred during the 133 hours of field operations. Several rod shank springs were permanently stretched. A lower chain sprocket broke and a rod shank bent. Several cultivator shank holders cracked, and the hitch link failed.

Summary of Morris Shank Mounted Ground Rod (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.53 MB)

Quality of Work: Penetration of the Morris shank mounted ground rod was very good. A minimum tillage depth of 3 in (76 mm) was required for proper operation in primary conditions. Uniform penetration produced even and smooth flow of soil and trash over the ground rod.

Operation of the ground rod in stony conditions was very good. No damage occurred to the rod when working in stony conditions.

When the cultivator was properly leveled the rod was very good in clearing large amounts of trash. Operation of the ground rod at a shallow depth caused plugging in heavy secondary trash conditions.

Soil finishing of the ground rod was very good. The rod left a level soil surface with the majority of the straw remaining on the surface. Working 1 in (25.4 mm) above the furrow bottom the rod packed soil around the seed creating a firm seedbed. The rod was also effective in eliminating soil ridges in summerfallow conditions. Weed kill of the ground rod was very good. The 3 in (76 mm) overlap between rods ensured weeds were not missed in the field.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of transporting the ground rod was very good. With each rod rigidly secured to two shanks there was sufficient clearance between the rod and the ground when the cultivator wings were raised, Ease of changing the depth of the ground rod was very good. The supplied spacer changed the depth of the rod by 0.5 in (13 mm).

Ease of Installation: Ease of installing the ground rod was very good. Initial installation onto the 37 ft (11.3 m) Morris 8900 floating hitch cultivator was 4 hours. Removing or re-installing just the rod took 10 minutes.

Power Requirements: Power take-off horsepower requirements per foot of ground rod at 5 mph (8 km/h) and a working depth of 2.5 in (64 mm) in loam soil ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 hp/ft (1.2 to 1.7 kW/m). Overall tractor size needed to pull the 37 ft (11.3 m) working width of ground rod ranged from 18.5 to 25.9 hp (13.9 to 19.4 kW).

Operator Safety: The ground rod was safe to service if normal safety precautions were observed.

Operator's Manual: There was no operator's manual supplied with the ground rod. Assembly instructions were included with the ground rod.

Mechanical Problems: The set screws on the locking collars wore.