First ATV Rockpicker

First ATV Rockpicker ATV'S ATV'S 12-3-3 "I needed a rockpicker that I could take into seeded fields without tearing them up," says Roland Beaulieu, Vonda, Sask., who built a nifty self-dumping ATV rockpicker that leaves fields smooth and without ruts. Pulled by a Honda 250 4-wheeler, it'll handle rocks up to 500 lbs. A front fork lifts the rocks up and into a self-dumping rear rock box. "It leaves fields smooth and without ruts. That's especially important in my lentil fields because we have to go in to pick rocks turned up by seeding but when we harvest we need to work close to the ground," says Beaulieu, who built the picker from the ground up. Power is supplied by a 12-volt battery hooked to a Ford starter motor. The starter motor drives a 3,000 psi hydraulic pump that supplies two 2-in. lift cylinders. One cylinder raises the rock fork and the other dumps the rear box. The battery is re-charged by the alternator on the ATV, which Beaulieu says has excess charging capacity. The fork and rock box can both be dumped on the go. Both hydraulic cylinders are one-way so the fork and rock box lower from their own weight. Beaulieu says he picks small rocks traveling at speeds as high as 8 to 9 mph. The fork can be set to run 1 to 11/2 in. below the surface. The 3-ft. wide fork is made up of 3/ 4-in. hardened carbon steel. Beaulieu spent a total of about $1,600 for materials. He says any car or pickup starter would work to drive the hydraulic pump but he chose a starter from a 1954 Ford because it has a long drive shaft. He's used the picker on more than 600 acres and a neighbor used it for 1,000 acres. He has patented the rockpicker and is looking fora manufacturer. For more information, contact FARM SHOW Followup, Roland Beaulieu, Box 265, Vonda, Sask. SOK 4N0 Canada (ph 306 258-2185).

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