Mechanical Stalk Chopper Saves Fuel, Works Fast
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“Chopping corn stalks or other root crop stalks doesn’t have to be done with a power hungry, pto-driven machine,” says Drew Lloyd of DL Industries. Lloyd invented a mechanical device called the Chopper Stalker that uses razor sharp blades and rolling disks to cut and size stalks.
Lloyd says the key to the Chopper Stalker operation is maintaining a field speed of 8 to 10 mph so the rolling blades can cut, tear and churn stalks into tiny pieces. Most pto-driven stalk choppers travel at 3 to 4 mph, so the Chopper Stalker has the potential to cover twice as much acreage.
Lloyd says he designed the machine with strip-till farmers in mind, people who want to cut and size their stalks, but not work up all the ground between the rows. The parallel linkage for each row unit is mounted on a rugged 6 by 6-in. rigid main frame. The Chopper Stalker hooks to a tractor with a 3-pt. hitch. Gauge wheels 18 in. from each end of the frame maintain the cutting depth.
Each row unit is a ‘gang’, which includes a 12-in. wide cutting reel in front with ultra-sharp blades. The reel is followed by two rolling disks angled to a “V”. Each disk has 12 sharpened metal cutting blades on the outside. Blades on the reel and the disks are replaceable. Two springs on each row unit and parallel linkage provide consistent down pressure and allow the disks to travel up and over rocks without damaging the machine. A rolling basket at the back of each gang breaks up soil clumps and smoothes the surface so moisture can penetrate evenly into the soil.
Lloyd used sealed bearings on the blade reels, disks and rolling baskets to provide long life and dependable service. The Chopper Stalker can be set to any common row crop width from 20 in. to 40 in. It’s available in 16-ft. and 20-ft. solid bar frames and folding frame models up to 40 ft. wide.
“We’ve had real good response to this machine in corn stalks and cotton ground,” Lloyd says. “It doesn’t pull nearly as hard as a pto machine and it does just as nice a job cutting up stalks and residue.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Drew Lloyd, DL Industries, FM 1958, Floydada, Texas 79235 (ph 806 983-5626; dlindustries@sbcglobal.net).
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Mechanical Stalk Chopper Saves Fuel Works Fast MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous “Chopping corn stalks or other root crop stalks doesn’t have to be done with a power hungry pto-driven machine ” says Drew Lloyd of DL Industries Lloyd invented a mechanical device called the Chopper Stalker that uses razor sharp blades and rolling disks to cut and size stalks Lloyd says the key to the Chopper Stalker operation is maintaining a field speed of 8 to 10 mph so the rolling blades can cut tear and churn stalks into tiny pieces Most pto-driven stalk choppers travel at 3 to 4 mph so the Chopper Stalker has the potential to cover twice as much acreage Lloyd says he designed the machine with strip-till farmers in mind people who want to cut and size their stalks but not work up all the ground between the rows The parallel linkage for each row unit is mounted on a rugged 6 by 6-in rigid main frame The Chopper Stalker hooks to a tractor with a 3-pt hitch Gauge wheels 18 in from each end of the frame maintain the cutting depth Each row unit is a ‘gang’ which includes a 12-in wide cutting reel in front with ultra-sharp blades The reel is followed by two rolling disks angled to a “V” Each disk has 12 sharpened metal cutting blades on the outside Blades on the reel and the disks are replaceable Two springs on each row unit and parallel linkage provide consistent down pressure and allow the disks to travel up and over rocks without damaging the machine A rolling basket at the back of each gang breaks up soil clumps and smoothes the surface so moisture can penetrate evenly into the soil Lloyd used sealed bearings on the blade reels disks and rolling baskets to provide long life and dependable service The Chopper Stalker can be set to any common row crop width from 20 in to 40 in It’s available in 16-ft and 20-ft solid bar frames and folding frame models up to 40 ft wide “We’ve had real good response to this machine in corn stalks and cotton ground ” Lloyd says “It doesn’t pull nearly as hard as a pto machine and it does just as nice a job cutting up stalks and residue ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Drew Lloyd DL Industries FM 1958 Floydada Texas 79235 ph 806 983-5626; dlindustries@sbcglobal net
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