Self-Propelled Bale Shredder Built Out Of Old Combine

Self-Propelled Bale Shredder Built Out Of Old Combine COMBINES Conversions 29-1-43 Dave Grajczyk, Mortlach, Sask., recently sent FARM SHOW photos of a self-propelled bale shredder built out of an old combine by his hired man, Al Barber. "It frees up a tractor and cost a lot less than any commercial machine," says Grajczyk. The bale shredder mounts on back of an old C.C.I.L. combine powered by a Perkins 85 hp diesel engine that's equipped with a hydrostatic transmission. Barber stripped away the grain tank and straw choppers and lengthened the frame by 18 in. The combine was originally equipped with a 16-gal. per minute hydraulic pump. Barber boosted the pump's capacity by using a splitter valve to isolate the single acting cylinders from the double acting cylinders. The bale shredder is entirely home-built and is designed to handle both small and large round bales. Barber studied the design of several different commercial models before building the machine. The bale chopping hammers are belt-driven off the combine's main drive pulley. A bale lifter with two clamping paddles mounts on back over the rear steering wheels. A unique linkage system with four hydraulic cylinders, working in series, was used to build the bale lifter. A 10-ft. snow plow blade - the same width as the front drive tires - mounts on front of the combine in place of the feederhouse. The blade is used not only to push snow but also to clear away manure in the feedlot as a bale is being fed to cattle. Grajczyk says the machine is for sale. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dave Grajczyk, P.O. Box 190, Mortlach, Sask., Canada S0H 3E0 (ph 306 355-2229).

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