Simple New Rig Turns Tires Into Feedbunks

Simple New Rig Turns Tires Into Feedbunks LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment 7-1-27 A Nebraska farmer's uncomplicated new tire turner makes a virtually indestructible lightweight feedbunk out of any used tractor, truck or car tire. LaVern Hass, Wisner, built the machine at the encouragement of neighbors after turning tires for years using hand tools and a pair of tractors. He has a patent pending on his design and travels extensively throughout Nebraska and neighboring states turning tires for farmers. Once his patent is approved, however, he plans to begin selling the machine itself. Hass says turning tires increases their capacity 30%. Tire feedbunks are at a convenient height for cattle of any age but low enough so older animals can completely clean out all the feed. They're portable and it's virtually impossible for animals to get cut or injured on one of them, he points out. Hass can turn a tractor tire ù start to finish ù in 8 or 9 minutes. The entire operation is automatically performed by his machine, which is self-contained on a 2-wheeled trailer. "The machine is completely hydraulic, powered by a 10-hp. Briggs and Stratton engine, and is equipped with more than 80 ft. of hydraulic hose. A winch-operated boom mounted on the trailer helps handle the tires, setting them on the machine's tire turning die," Hass explains. The tire is clamped into place on the die. An orbit motor turns the die while a knife automatically cuts off the top bead and about 3 in. of rubber. Once the bead is cut off, several J-shaped hooks, attached by chains to the base of the machine, are hooked over the cut edge of the tire. The die, clamped tightly to the lower tire bead, is mounted on a scissor-type frame that's lifted by one large hydraulic cylinder, pushing the die up through the tire. The anchored chains pull the top edge of the tire back down and under, flipping it inside out in seconds. "The cylinder exerts as much as 39,000 lbs. of pressure, enough to turn any tire that'll fit the machine,"says Hass, noting that he has turned as many as 68 tires in one day. Four dies cover the whole range of tires from car to tractor. The largest, for example, can be used to turn tractor tires from 30 to 38 in. in dia. Hass charges $15 to turn a tractor tire, $10 for truck tires and $5 for car tires. In order to travel to an area, he needs to line up a minimum number of jobs in order to pay for expenses. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, LaVern Hass, Rt. 1, Box 56, Wisner, Neb. 68791 (ph 402 529-6846).

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