Mini Earthmover Pulled By Small Tractor
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When you first see Dave Odom’s two-yard pull-type scraper, you’d think it just came out of a Deere factory. In fact, it’s a patented invention that Odom designed and had built by a local machine shop. “I designed the scraper so it easily hooks up to a Category 1 or 2 quick hitch,” Odom says. “I pull it with my 50 hp 4-WD Kubota and it works just like a big scraper on a road crew.”
Odom has used his custom-designed rig for nearly 300 hrs. moving dirt and gravel around his hobby farm. He says it can scrape as little as 1 in. of dirt or cut as deep as the tractor can pull. The machine frame is nearly 11 ft. long and 5 ft. wide, so it’s easy to maintain a constant cutting depth and produce a smooth finished surface.
“I’ve had a Kubota tractor and loader for quite a few years and looked all over for a dirt moving attachment,” Odom says. “I found bigger ones, but not one my tractor could pull. That’s when I decided to build one myself.”
Odom’s dirt and gravel scraper is built to handle tough conditions. The box frame that supports the scoop is made of 1/4- in. by 2-in. by 6- in. tubing. The welded corner butt joints are reinforced with 3/8- in. plate steel. Diagonal steel tubing provides extra support to the hitch pole, which connects to Odom’s tractor quick hitch through a swivel with a large 2- in. draw pin.
“I designed the hitch so it connects solid to the tractor and it’s easy to hook up,” Odom says. “The pin swivel between the hitch bar and the hitch pole takes stress off the scraper frame when I’m turning.”
The scraper rides on two 8-ply tires mounted on 2,500-lb. agricultural equipment axles. A steel support between the wheels contributes to a strong frame that doesn’t twist and turn when the scraper is working. Two dual-acting 1-in. cylinders have 2,500-lb. lift capacity to lower, raise and dump the scoop. They mount on reinforced eyes welded to the top of the main frame and the sides of the scoop. Hydraulic hoses run through a tunnel across the top of the frame to protect them as the scraper digs, fills and unloads.
The machine has an adjustable buster bar with 2-in. teeth to loosen soil in front of the scoop. The leading edge of the scoop has a straight edge so Odom can use it for grading a smooth surface.
“This prototype scraper has worked exactly like I hoped it would,” Odom says. “I’d like to find a manufacturer to produce it in 1, 2 and 3-yard sizes because there’s nothing out there like it in the marketplace.” Odom says he has engineering drawings available and welcomes a prospective manufacturer to contact him.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, David Odom, 1997 Bessie Rd., Benton, Ill. 62812 (ph 618 942-5581; cell 618 927-1909; laborspec@frontier.com).
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Mini Earthmover Pulled By Small Tractor FARM HOME Miscellaneous When you first see Dave Odom’s two-yard pull-type scraper you’d think it just came out of a Deere factory In fact it’s a patented invention that Odom designed and had built by a local machine shop “I designed the scraper so it easily hooks up to a Category 1 or 2 quick hitch ” Odom says “I pull it with my 50 hp 4-WD Kubota and it works just like a big scraper on a road crew ” Odom has used his custom-designed rig for nearly 300 hrs moving dirt and gravel around his hobby farm He says it can scrape as little as 1 in of dirt or cut as deep as the tractor can pull The machine frame is nearly 11 ft long and 5 ft wide so it’s easy to maintain a constant cutting depth and produce a smooth finished surface “I’ve had a Kubota tractor and loader for quite a few years and looked all over for a dirt moving attachment ” Odom says “I found bigger ones but not one my tractor could pull That’s when I decided to build one myself ” Odom’s dirt and gravel scraper is built to handle tough conditions The box frame that supports the scoop is made of 1/4- in by 2-in by 6- in tubing The welded corner butt joints are reinforced with 3/8- in plate steel Diagonal steel tubing provides extra support to the hitch pole which connects to Odom’s tractor quick hitch through a swivel with a large 2- in draw pin “I designed the hitch so it connects solid to the tractor and it’s easy to hook up ” Odom says “The pin swivel between the hitch bar and the hitch pole takes stress off the scraper frame when I’m turning ” The scraper rides on two 8-ply tires mounted on 2 500-lb agricultural equipment axles A steel support between the wheels contributes to a strong frame that doesn’t twist and turn when the scraper is working Two dual-acting 1-in cylinders have 2 500-lb lift capacity to lower raise and dump the scoop They mount on reinforced eyes welded to the top of the main frame and the sides of the scoop Hydraulic hoses run through a tunnel across the top of the frame to protect them as the scraper digs fills and unloads The machine has an adjustable buster bar with 2-in teeth to loosen soil in front of the scoop The leading edge of the scoop has a straight edge so Odom can use it for grading a smooth surface “This prototype scraper has worked exactly like I hoped it would ” Odom says “I’d like to find a manufacturer to produce it in 1 2 and 3-yard sizes because there’s nothing out there like it in the marketplace ” Odom says he has engineering drawings available and welcomes a prospective manufacturer to contact him Contact: FARM SHOW Followup David Odom 1997 Bessie Rd Benton Ill 62812 ph 618 942-5581; cell 618 927-1909; laborspec@frontier com
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