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Tractor-Mounted "Stalk Stomper" Saves Tires
After losing two sets of tractor tires to corn stalk wear in less than 200 hours, Dick Swank of West Point, Indiana, decided he had to find a way to eliminate the problem. He came up with a "stalk stomper" attachment that mounts on front of the tractor.
The patent pending device knocks stalks down before tra
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Tractor-Mounted "Stalk Stomper" Saves Tires TIRES/WHEELS Miscellaneous 25-1-9 After losing two sets of tractor tires to corn stalk wear in less than 200 hours, Dick Swank of West Point, Indiana, decided he had to find a way to eliminate the problem. He came up with a "stalk stomper" attachment that mounts on front of the tractor.
The patent pending device knocks stalks down before tractor tires reach them.
The device consists of a hinged pipe that runs across the front of the tractor. The pipe is fitted with a series of 3-in. wide channel irons that angle back down toward the tires. Two sets of 2 by 3-in. angle irons are suspended by chains from the channel irons and run the width of the tires. The angle irons ride right on the ground and simply bend the stalks forward so that they point away from the tires. The pipe is rotated by a single 4-in. dia. hydraulic cylinder to raise or lower the angle irons.
Swank, along with Marvin Moffett and Scott Miller, have formed a company and plan to manufacture the unit. Deere Co. has expressed interest in it.
"It solved my tire problems - I couldn't be happier with it," says Swank. "I used it last spring and fall on more than 3,000 acres and noticed far less wear on the tires than before. The problem started when I bought a new tractor with dual wheels, and the Firestone tires wore through after only about 60 hours of use. The tires cost about $2,500 apiece. The company replaced the tires under warranty but the new ones wore out right away again. Firestone replaced them again but said I'd have to come up with something on front of the tractor to reduce wear. I couldn't find anything on the market.
"I think the tires made today are softer because tire manufacturers are developing wider tires with less air pressure to reduce soil compaction. The unit bolts on using existing holes in the tractor frame. It takes only about 20 minutes to remove the unit."
The company plans to manufacture the "Stalk Director", as they call it, and will exhibit it at the Farm Progress Show next fall in Indiana. Swank estimates it will sell for about $2,500.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, MSM Implement Systems, 9732 South 550 West, Lafayette, Ind. 47909 (ph 765 538-2090; fax 2332; E-mail: msmimplement@ altavista.com).
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