Horse-Drawn Tool Crumbles, Levels And Rips
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Abram Zook’s horse-drawn, double-basket rolling harrow prepares seedbeds and controls emerging weeds in newly planted cornfields. Zook uses no-till row cleaners to leave the seed trench about an inch below the field’s surface. This gives him a few days after planting to hit emerging weeds.
“I can go in after plowing before the soil dries out and two to three days after planting without ripping out the corn seed,” says Zook. “It does a nice job crumbling the soil, leveling the surface and ripping out small weeds. If the field is a little grassy and lumpy, it rips out the grass clumps and breaks the soil off the roots.”
Zook notes that if left with soil on the roots, the clumps will quickly regrow with the first rain. The double-rolling baskets are extra aggressive due to their connecting chain drive.
The front basket has a 15-tooth socket and half the rebar of the rear basket with its 32-tooth sprocket. Spacing of the 1/2-in. rebar is 4 in. on the front basket and only 2 in. on the rear. With more rebar on the rear basket, the heavier weight drives the front basket. At the same time, the front basket puts a slight drag on the rear, so it rolls at slightly less than ground speed, adding to the crumbling it does.
“The front basket can appear not to be doing as much as the rear, but it spins twice as fast, so its rebar hits every 2 1/2 to 3 in.,” explains Zook.
Zook’s son David operates D.S. Zook, a fabrication shop on the family farm. He built and refined the prototype his father used on the farm for two years. It was demonstrated at the 2024 Horse Progress Days and later showcased in Rural Heritage magazine.
The tillage unit consists of three 6-ft. long dual basket sections fabricated from 1/2-in. rebar. Expanded metal platforms top each section, providing space for adding weight.
“The added weight determines the working depth,” says Zook. “Add too much, and it’ll penetrate the corn. I usually add around 400 lbs. of concrete blocks for adequate penetration.”
Chains with clevis hitches from two sections pin to extensions on opposite corners of the lead section. Moving the clevis hitches in and out on the extensions affects how much overlap occurs. The weights are removed for transit, and the sections are hitched in line.
“Even removing the weights, the sections can be hard on field lanes and scratch the grass out,” says Zook. “I’m considering putting wheels on the front of each section to raise them for moving them between fields or down a road.”
The crumbler/leveler/ripper is available in 36, 60 and 80 in. sizes. The 18 ft. shown at Horse Progress Days consists of two 80s and a 60 and is priced at $5,000.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, D.S. Zook, 486 Hensel Rd., Kinzers, Penn. 17535 (ph 717-682-5227).
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Horse-Drawn Tool Crumbles Levels And Rips LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Abram Zook’s horse-drawn double-basket rolling harrow prepares seedbeds and controls emerging weeds in newly planted cornfields Zook uses no-till row cleaners to leave the seed trench about an inch below the field’s surface This gives him a few days after planting to hit emerging weeds “I can go in after plowing before the soil dries out and two to three days after planting without ripping out the corn seed ” says Zook “It does a nice job crumbling the soil leveling the surface and ripping out small weeds If the field is a little grassy and lumpy it rips out the grass clumps and breaks the soil off the roots ” Zook notes that if left with soil on the roots the clumps will quickly regrow with the first rain The double-rolling baskets are extra aggressive due to their connecting chain drive The front basket has a 15-tooth socket and half the rebar of the rear basket with its 32-tooth sprocket Spacing of the 1/2-in rebar is 4 in on the front basket and only 2 in on the rear With more rebar on the rear basket the heavier weight drives the front basket At the same time the front basket puts a slight drag on the rear so it rolls at slightly less than ground speed adding to the crumbling it does “The front basket can appear not to be doing as much as the rear but it spins twice as fast so its rebar hits every 2 1/2 to 3 in ” explains Zook Zook’s son David operates D S Zook a fabrication shop on the family farm He built and refined the prototype his father used on the farm for two years It was demonstrated at the 2024 Horse Progress Days and later showcased in Rural Heritage magazine The tillage unit consists of three 6-ft long dual basket sections fabricated from 1/2-in rebar Expanded metal platforms top each section providing space for adding weight “The added weight determines the working depth ” says Zook “Add too much and it’ll penetrate the corn I usually add around 400 lbs of concrete blocks for adequate penetration ” Chains with clevis hitches from two sections pin to extensions on opposite corners of the lead section Moving the clevis hitches in and out on the extensions affects how much overlap occurs The weights are removed for transit and the sections are hitched in line “Even removing the weights the sections can be hard on field lanes and scratch the grass out ” says Zook “I’m considering putting wheels on the front of each section to raise them for moving them between fields or down a road ” The crumbler/leveler/ripper is available in 36 60 and 80 in sizes The 18 ft shown at Horse Progress Days consists of two 80s and a 60 and is priced at $5 000 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup D S Zook 486 Hensel Rd Kinzers Penn 17535 ph 717-682-5227
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