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Ridge Kicker Reworks Gravel On Country Roads
"I got this idea while serving as a township supervisor when I realized we were spending $5.00 a ton for gravel by the time it got delivered and spread. I decided to reclaim the 150 to 200 tons of gravel per pile from the ridges and shoulders of the roads," says Jim Laskowski, Minot, N. Dak.
Laskowski says the idea is to reclaim grassy ridges at the side of roads that normally can't be reclaimed because of clumps of vegetation that take root in them. Ordinarily such ridges are simply left unused.
To use the Ridge Kicker, first the sides of the road are scraped clean with a road grader, pushing all material into a ridge in the middle of the road that Laskowski says can contain as much as 200 tons of gravel per mile. Then the Ridge Kicker is run down the ridge, throwing gravel and weeds alike into the air. The gravel comes down first so the vegetation is left on top to dry out. The next day the operator makes another pass distributing the gravel over the entire road, breaking up clumps and blowing weeds off the road.
The 7-ft., 7-in. wide Ridge Kicker has two beaters driven by the front set of wheels. The front beater runs about 4 in. off the ground and knocks down the top of ridges while the back beater is fitted with 96 slanted teeth that run next to the ground and pulverize any clods and vegetation, throwing everything 5 to 8 ft. into the air. Working height of both beaters can be adjusted.
"It works best in the spring or fall when the vegetation is dead because it's easier to separate out. Once you've done it, it makes it easier to drive down both sides of the road. It pays for itself in just 6 to 10 miles," says Laskowski, noting that the unit pulls behind a pickup at 8 to 10 mph.
By removing one pin, and a tension spring, it'll fit in the back of a pickup.
Laskowski says he has sold initial units to individual townships or pairs of townships that buy it together.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Laskowski, Rt. 1, Box 46, Minot, N. Dak. 58701 (ph 701 838-7142).


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1986 - Volume #10, Issue #2