Detasseler Rebuilt To Side-Dress Fertilizer

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #5, Page #38

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Larry Klahn turned a detasseling machine into a highboy for side-dressing liquid fertilizer. His first concept didn’t make it past the drawing board, but with more than a few changes, he made it happen.
“I picked up a liquid side-dress coulter bar at a farm sale for only $250,” explains Klahn. “It came complete with a rate controller. However, I have some bottom ground that can get wet, and the corn can get too tall before I get in to side-dress. I started looking for a detasseler to mount the bar.”
He found a used 4-WD detasseler, but when he asked the company that makes the detasselers about his idea, they dumped cold water on it. “They advised against it, as it didn’t have the horsepower needed and the stress would be too much for the wheel motors,” says Klahn.
When Klahn saw several companies with drop tubes at a farm show, he did a redesign. He ordered 12 sets of Y-style drop tubes from C&R Supply, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Now the challenge was to modify the detasseler. He started by stripping away the tassel pullers, hydraulic lines, and a bunch of wiring and valving. He added a subframe to the frame for added strength and replaced the OEM engine with a 6-cyl. Ford 300, industrial gas engine.
“It was set up to straddle three 30-in. rows or hydraulically widen to straddle three 36-in. rows,” says Klahn. “Neither would let me follow my 12-row planter track.”
He widened the front stationary axle to straddle four 30-in. rows and built a new pivoting axle for the rear to do the same.
“I recycled a toolbar from an old Go Devil cultivator to make the axle,” says Klahn. “The 3/8-in. thick, 4-in. by 6-in. rectangular tube was probably 50 years old, but still solid.”
He fabricated mounts for saddle tanks to carry 400 gal. of liquid fertilizer. The tanks sit on 2 by 6-in. rectangular tubes that attach to the subframe. That left making a toolbar for the Y-drops. He used a repurposed 8-row, 36-in. White Planter with a folding frame.
“I turned it a quarter turn, so when it folds, the wings fold alongside the detasseling machine,” says Klahn. “I was able to use the rate controller and hydraulic pump from the side-dressing coulter bar. If I want to use the bar, I just move the controller back.”
In the past, Klahn has used his local co-op to side dress his corn, but they don’t have a highboy. This was an economical way to get the option he needed.
“I have about $7,000 in the entire machine, $4,000 of that in the drops,” he says. “That’s still less than half the cost of another brand, and the folks at C&R worked with me the whole way. I called up numerous times to resolve orifice and plumbing problems.”
Klahn is no stranger to fabrication work, the side-dress coulter bar he originally bought was one he had built for a local farmer 6 years earlier.
After his first season using the machine, Klahn is satisfied with his investment. “With the hydrostat in low range, I have a maximum speed of 8 mph and can run with the full 400 gal. of liquid fertilizer,” says Klahn. “I’m no longer in a big rush to get side-dressing done.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Klahn, P.O. Box 236, Hooper, Neb. 68031 (ph 402-720-1032; redswelding@gmail.com).

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Detasseler Rebuilt To Side-Dress Fertilizer FERTILIZER APPLICATION Larry Klahn turned a detasseling machine into a highboy for side-dressing liquid fertilizer His first concept didn’t make it past the drawing board but with more than a few changes he made it happen “I picked up a liquid side-dress coulter bar at a farm sale for only $250 ” explains Klahn “It came complete with a rate controller However I have some bottom ground that can get wet and the corn can get too tall before I get in to side-dress I started looking for a detasseler to mount the bar ” He found a used 4-WD detasseler but when he asked the company that makes the detasselers about his idea they dumped cold water on it “They advised against it as it didn’t have the horsepower needed and the stress would be too much for the wheel motors ” says Klahn When Klahn saw several companies with drop tubes at a farm show he did a redesign He ordered 12 sets of Y-style drop tubes from C&R Supply Sioux Falls S D Now the challenge was to modify the detasseler He started by stripping away the tassel pullers hydraulic lines and a bunch of wiring and valving He added a subframe to the frame for added strength and replaced the OEM engine with a 6-cyl Ford 300 industrial gas engine “It was set up to straddle three 30-in rows or hydraulically widen to straddle three 36-in rows ” says Klahn “Neither would let me follow my 12-row planter track ” He widened the front stationary axle to straddle four 30-in rows and built a new pivoting axle for the rear to do the same “I recycled a toolbar from an old Go Devil cultivator to make the axle ” says Klahn “The 3/8-in thick 4-in by 6-in rectangular tube was probably 50 years old but still solid ” He fabricated mounts for saddle tanks to carry 400 gal of liquid fertilizer The tanks sit on 2 by 6-in rectangular tubes that attach to the subframe That left making a toolbar for the Y-drops He used a repurposed 8-row 36-in White Planter with a folding frame “I turned it a quarter turn so when it folds the wings fold alongside the detasseling machine ” says Klahn “I was able to use the rate controller and hydraulic pump from the side-dressing coulter bar If I want to use the bar I just move the controller back ” In the past Klahn has used his local co-op to side dress his corn but they don’t have a highboy This was an economical way to get the option he needed “I have about $7 000 in the entire machine $4 000 of that in the drops ” he says “That’s still less than half the cost of another brand and the folks at C&R worked with me the whole way I called up numerous times to resolve orifice and plumbing problems ” Klahn is no stranger to fabrication work the side-dress coulter bar he originally bought was one he had built for a local farmer 6 years earlier After his first season using the machine Klahn is satisfied with his investment “With the hydrostat in low range I have a maximum speed of 8 mph and can run with the full 400 gal of liquid fertilizer ” says Klahn “I’m no longer in a big rush to get side-dressing done ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Larry Klahn P O Box 236 Hooper Neb 68031 ph 402-720-1032; redswelding@gmail com

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