1995 - Volume #19, Issue #1, Page #28
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Stalk Bar Saves Tractor, Combine Tires
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Oriska, N. Dak., neighbors Maynard Satrom and Steve Winters say they've only had to change tractor or combine tires once in the nearly 15 years since they started protecting their tires from sun-flower stalks, which they cut short .
"I've seen tires that have grooves cut in them after five years," says Winters. "We haven't had anything like that. With our invention, it's just like going through a small grains field as far as stalk dam-age is concerned."
Satrom figures he's saved at least one set of tires every five years.
Satrom and Winters simply hang a pipe in front of tractor and combine tires, suspended by brackets on front of the ma-chines.
"There's not much to it, really," says Winters, "other than that it works great."
The men hang thick, heavy chains, from the brackets to support 4 to 5-in. dia. well pipe running the width of the tractor and tires - duals or triples.
The pipe can be filled with sand or gravel for extra weight. It runs 3 to 5 in. off the ground. Because it hangs from a chain it's flexible enough to bump up if a tractor enters a low spot and the pipe hits the ground.
Satrom and the Winters take the pipe off tractors when not tilling or seeding into standing sunflower stubble.
On combines, the pipes are shorter than the ones used on tractors, but still hang 3 to 5 in. off the ground.
In either case, the farmers say they've seen nothing but usual tire wear in the last 10 or 15 years.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Maynard Satrom, R.R. 1, Oriska, N. Dak. 58063 (ph 701-845-1310) or Steve Winters, R.R.l, Oriska, N. Dak. 58063 (ph 701-845-5813). Photos courtesy The Sunflower.
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