Contents
- Choosing the Right Model
- How to plow with a walk-behind tractor with a plow
- How to plow with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
- How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter
- Do I need to plow the garden in the fall with a walk-behind tractor
- Why the walk-behind tractor does not plow: causes and how to troubleshoot
- Conclusion
Modern means of mechanization allow plowing quite large land plots. At the same time, such devices are highly mobile, which allows them to be used in places where access to tractors and other large agricultural machines is impossible. In addition, plowing with a walk-behind tractor allows you to carry out work independently, without depending on other persons.
Choosing the Right Model
Before buying a walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to determine for what work the unit will be used. The simplest devices are lightweight (up to 100 kg), equipped with 4–8 hp engines. With. and are equipped with a small set of working attachments.
They allow you to perform the minimum required list of works:
- plowing;
- disking;
- harrowing;
- combing.
Some devices are universal. They allow you to use additional equipment, for example:
- potato digger;
- snow blower;
- motor pump;
- lawnmower.
Small walk-behind tractors with a 4-5 hp engine. With. and a working area width of 0,5-0,6 m are suitable for plowing a small plot of land, not exceeding 15-20 acres in area. For larger plots, more serious equipment is needed. If the size of the plot exceeds 20 acres, it is more advisable to use a unit with a capacity of 7-8 liters. With. and a processing width of 0,7-0,8 m. Land plots up to 1 ha are processed by walk-behind tractors with 9-12 hp engines. With. and working area width up to 1 m.
When choosing a walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the parameters of the unit, but also to its manufacturer. High-quality models are equipped with engines from well-known manufacturers (Forza, Honda, Subaru), have a disc clutch and gear reducers. Such models are the most reliable and, when using high-quality fuel and oil, last quite a long time.
The better to plow: a walk-behind tractor with a plow or a cultivator
Plowing is the simplest tillage operation. If the area of the site is small, and the earth is loose enough, then you can use a cultivator. These devices are lighter and more maneuverable than walk-behind tractors with a plow, moreover, their less powerful engines consume less fuel. If the soil is heavy or you have to plow virgin soil, then you can’t do without a walk-behind tractor. Unlike motor cultivators, these self-propelled units can cultivate areas using attachments: a plow, disc, cutter.
Motoblocks, as a rule, are equipped with rubber pneumatic wheels, which makes it possible to use them as a tractor, for example, when towing a trailer.
Can a walk-behind tractor plow virgin soil
Unlike a cultivator that works only on loose soils, a walk-behind tractor can be used for plowing heavy soil, including virgin soil. The ability to use various attachments makes it possible to use a rotary plow, best suited for working neglected areas.
How to plow with a walk-behind tractor with a plow
If conditions permit, it is recommended to plow with a walk-behind tractor along the long side of the plot. Often the first furrow is plowed along a stretched rope, which makes it even. In the future, each subsequent furrow is plowed so that one wheel runs along the edge of the plowing of the previous row. This results in an even and uniform plowing of the entire area.
How to properly adjust the plow of a walk-behind tractor for plowing
The plow adjustment process consists of several stages:
- Depending on the required plowing depth, the walk-behind tractor is hung above the ground at the same height. To do this, you can drive it onto a stand made of boards or bricks.
- In accordance with the operating instructions, install a hitch on the unit. The plow shank must be vertical and the land board must be in contact with the soil along its entire length.
- If necessary, adjust the angle of the field board.
- Depending on the type of plowing, carry out one or two row furrows.
After the row furrow is ready, it is necessary to set the angle of the plow stance. Since one of the wheels will go along the plowed furrow, the walk-behind tractor itself will get a roll, but the stand must remain vertical. To adjust the angle of inclination of the rack, it is necessary to place a stand under the left wheel of the walk-behind tractor of the same height as it was when adjusting the depth.
After that, the plow leg must be set perpendicular to the ground.
With which wheels is it better to plow a walk-behind tractor
Most walk-behind tractors are equipped with rubber pneumatic wheels. This allows the unit to move on the ground and roads without damaging them. For normal movement and even for transporting a trailer with a load, the adhesion of rubber wheels to the road is quite enough, but the plow has much more serious resistance when plowing. Therefore, at the site, rubber wheels are usually replaced with lugs – all-metal cylinders with a welded Christmas tree made of metal plates. These devices significantly increase the weight of the walk-behind tractor, due to which such wheels literally bite into the ground.
Practice shows that the use of lugs as a mover significantly improves traction and increases traction, while rubber wheels, even with a large pattern, are prone to slipping. This is especially noticeable when plowing heavy soil or virgin soil. Another danger of using pneumatic rubber wheels when plowing is that the rim can simply “turn” and the wheel chamber will become unusable.
How to adjust the depth of plowing on a walk-behind tractor
You can adjust the depth of plowing by raising or lowering the plow. The design of the plow leg provides several holes into which the adjusting bolt is inserted. The holes are at different heights. To ensure the desired plowing depth, the adjusting bolt is threaded through the desired hole and fixed with a nut.
What speed to adhere to when plowing with a walk-behind tractor
As a rule, the walk-behind tractor gearbox allows you to change the speed of movement. This is done so that the unit is more versatile and can move in transport mode at a higher speed. However, for plowing, especially when working manually on dense and heavy soils, the transport speed is too high and will not provide the effort necessary to operate the plow at the desired depth.
The normal plowing speed in manual mode is 5 km/h. This allows the plowman to follow the walk-behind tractor at a calm pace. However, this speed can be doubled if you use not the frame of the walk-behind tractor, but the transport and arable module for attaching the plow.
How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor
Depending on the season and the goal, there are two ways to plow the land in the garden with a walk-behind tractor.
- waddle. With this method of plowing, the layers are turned in opposite directions relative to the central axis of the plot. Work begins from the right edge of the field, passes it to the end, then the unit is driven to the left edge and returns to the starting point along it. Then, with the right wheel, the walk-behind tractor is installed in the furrow and plowing of the second row begins. The cycles are repeated until the last furrow is plowed, which should run exactly along the central axis of the plot.
- vsval. Plowing a plot with this method begins with plowing a central furrow running along the axis. Then the right lug is installed in the furrow and returned to its original place. Then the cycle repeats. Plowing is carried out in both directions from the central axis, gradually filling the entire area. In this case, the layers are inverted towards each other relative to the central axis of the site.
The first method is most often used during spring plowing, it allows you to evenly plant fertilizers spread or scattered over the surface into the soil. When plowing in the second way, deeper furrows remain, so they are often plowed before winter. In this case, the earth freezes more strongly, which kills pests, and snow remains in deep furrows longer, retaining soil moisture.
How to plow virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor
Plowing virgin soil with a plow is a rather serious test, both for a walk-behind tractor and for its owner. Heavy compacted earth, intertwined with grass roots, creates a very large resistance, often this leads to breakage of the hitch and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, it is better to develop virgin soil after all with heavy equipment, namely a tractor. If the site does not allow this to be done and the only option left is to dig up the ground with a walk-behind tractor, then it is better to choose the following work procedure:
- Clean the area as much as possible from weeds, dry grass, from everything that can interfere with the walk-behind tractor.
- Go through the area with cutters with a slight depth to destroy the top layer of turf.
- Set the plow to a small depth (about 5 cm), plow the area.
- Increase the depth of the plow. Re-plough the area.
It should be noted that the concept of “virgin land” is rather arbitrary. This is usually called uncultivated soil, however, in terms of density and composition, it can differ significantly. Therefore, not every virgin land can be plowed with a plow. Sometimes it is more expedient to use cutters for this purpose, if you go through the area 3-4 times with them, then even serious dense earth can be literally smashed into fluff.
Video on how to plow with a walk-behind tractor with a plow:
How to plow with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The appearance of cutters for walk-behind tractors has greatly simplified the procedure for cultivating the land for many gardeners. Instead of traditional work, such as plowing with a plow and harrowing, a complex operation has appeared that allows you to get a loose soil structure suitable for sowing at a time. This significantly reduced labor costs and gave a significant gain in time.
How to adjust the depth of plowing with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The maximum cultivation depth with a walk-behind tractor (this is how it is more correct to call the plowing process with cutters) to the greatest extent depends on the diameter of the cutter and is usually half this value. Attempting to plow deeper will cause the cultivator to simply dig in. It is necessary to regulate the penetration into the soil within the required limits using the coulter.
How to dig a garden with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The standard process of cultivating the land with a walk-behind tractor is usually carried out in 2 stages.
- Set the coulter to a small depth. They process the site over the entire area, bypassing it in a circle and gradually moving towards the center. In this case, the cultivator works at low speeds or in first gear.
- Set the coulter to the required cultivation depth. The site is processed over the entire area at high speeds or at 2 speeds.
As a rule, in order to dig up a previously cultivated area with a walk-behind tractor, 2 passes are enough.
How to plow virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
Plowing of virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor with milling cutters is carried out in several steps. The first pass at low speed with minimal penetration violates the integrity of the turf, destroys the strongest surface layer. On the second and subsequent passes, the depth is increased, and the engine speed is gradually increased. In total, 3-4 treatments may be required, this greatly depends on the density and structure of the soil.
Land cultivation with a walk-behind tractor on video:
How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter
The use of the front adapter, in fact, turns the walk-behind tractor into a mini-tractor with all the ensuing consequences. Such units can be used for a variety of agricultural work, as well as for the transport of goods. It is much easier to control a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter, and due to the additional weight, the traction force of the unit with the ground increases.
The convenience of the design allows the machine operator not to waste energy on following the plow and constantly directing it. A walk-behind tractor with a front adapter allows you to process large areas, but it is not as maneuverable as a conventional power unit with manual control. Therefore, in conditions of limited space, the use of such units is difficult.
The procedure for plowing the site is no different from the usual one. Many adapters are equipped with a special hitch that allows you to control the depth of the plow with the help of levers. The plowman only needs to drive his mini-tractor with one wheel along the furrow, maintaining speed and rectilinear movement. Upon reaching the boundary of the plot, the machine operator will raise the hitch with the plow to the transport position, make a U-turn and again lower the plow to the working position. So the whole area is gradually processed.
Do I need to plow the garden in the fall with a walk-behind tractor
Autumn plowing is not mandatory, but this procedure has many positive effects.
- The depth of soil freezing increases, while weeds and wintering pests and their larvae die.
- Plowed soil retains snow and water better, staying wet longer.
- The structure of the soil improves, so spring plowing is faster and less labor intensive.
In addition, during the autumn plowing, many gardeners plant organic fertilizers into the soil. During the winter, they partially decompose, which will increase the fertility of the soil.
Why the walk-behind tractor does not plow: causes and how to troubleshoot
The walk-behind tractor has a certain power and is designed to work with a certain type of attachment. Attempts to independently change something in the design of the unit often lead to a negative result. In addition, there may be several reasons for the poor performance of a walk-behind tractor with a plow.
- The wheels are turning, the plow is standing still. This indicates insufficient grip of the wheels with the ground or too much deepening of the plow. It is necessary to reduce the depth of plowing, as well as replace the rubber wheels with lugs. Additional traction with the ground can be provided by increasing the weight of the walk-behind tractor; for this, additional loads are hung on the wheels or on the front.
- The plow digs into the ground or pops out of the ground. Most likely, the angles of inclination of the rack or field board are incorrectly set. It is necessary to hang out the walk-behind tractor with a plow and make the necessary settings.
- Wrong choice of plowing speed. Selected by experience.
In addition to these reasons, malfunctions with the walk-behind tractor itself are also possible, it may not develop the necessary power, it may have a breakdown in the transmission or chassis, the frame or hitch may be bent.
Conclusion
Plowing with a walk-behind tractor has long become commonplace for modern gardeners. These units save a lot of time and effort, allow much more efficient work on tillage. An important property of such devices is their versatility, which allows not only to plow the garden with a walk-behind tractor, but also to use it for other equally important work.