Selection recommendations
Every gardener, having made a purchase decision, must take into account several nuances. Relying on them, you can purchase a really high-quality device that is suitable specifically for the specific features of the site.
The level of soil density on the surface of the potato plot. If the soil of the garden is loamy, that is, it contains a small amount of clay and quite a lot of sand, then it is strongly recommended to give preference to powerful heavy aggregates.
- Owners of large potato plots will need a powerful walk-behind tractor. The fact is that the operational life of the walk-behind tractor partly depends on the amount of horsepower. For example, if you use a weak walk-behind tractor, the power of which barely reaches three and a half horsepower, on a site with an area of 1-5 hectares, the device will not work even for three months. The best option for such a large garden area would be a walk-behind tractor, the power of which will be equal to 9-10 horsepower.
- Labor productivity is also influenced by such a factor as the coverage of the soil. The choice of a walk-behind tractor in this case is determined by the area of the site on which the potatoes are planted. The standard width of the walk-behind tractor of 60 centimeters is perfect for areas not exceeding 15-20 acres.
PIPING POTATOES WITH THE MOTORBLOCK
After some time after planting, the potatoes will sprout, grow up.
During this period, it needs to be hilled, that is, sprinkled on the soil tubers. Again we will use a two-row hiller. As written earlier, we will put lugs on the cultivator, maximize the working width and, at the first speed, let the walk-behind tractor between the beds.
Since the distance between the ridges and the hillers is the same, the wheels go exactly along the beds, without touching the potato stalks, and the hiller brings the soil to the tubers.
In this way, we will spud the whole garden. If you use a single-row hiller, the equipment must be put on rubber wheels and run between the ridges.
70 cm wide enough not to touch potato bushes
Important note: you need to sprinkle potatoes with a walk-behind tractor after rain, when the soil dries out and becomes slightly damp. The benefits of this operation are enormous: the potatoes gain access to air, weeds are removed, and the soil falls to the tubers.
CULTIVATION OF THE EARTH WITH A MOTORBLOCK
Before planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, the soil must be processed so that it is loose and soft. Previously, it was dug up with a shovel, which took a lot of time and effort. Now, by attaching cutters to the machinery instead of wheels, we cultivate it quickly and efficiently.
In our use is the Neva-MB2 walk-behind tractor, the equipment is reliable and unpretentious, regularly serving us for several years. With its help, we carry out all garden work. Cultivation is carried out at the 2nd speed. We start work from the edge of the site. Having reached its end, we cultivate 2 meters of land perpendicular to the furrows, this will be the place to turn around. On the other side of the site, we do the same.
Now we cultivate the area along the beds.
Small depressions remain in the soil from the cutters. In order for the garden to be processed efficiently, when you go in the opposite direction, with one cutter, follow the trail left by the other cutter. Then the ground will be cultivated to the depth of the shovel bayonet, which is optimal for planting potatoes. There are times when someone asks the mercenaries to plow the garden with a cultivator, and they, in order to do this faster, do not put the cutter in the furrow left by another cutter. From this, the depth of processing decreases, it becomes difficult to plant potatoes in such a garden.
Some summer residents cultivate a garden in a circle, starting from the edge, spiraling to the center of the site. The disadvantage of this method is that the soil must then be leveled with a rake, which also requires some effort.
When you cultivate a plot along the beds, the plowing turns out to be even, with a rake it is necessary to level the ground only in the places where the equipment is turning.
How to use a walk-behind tractor?
As mentioned earlier, the walk-behind tractor is not as difficult to control as it might seem at first glance. Before starting the device, it is imperative to check the engine oil level. Otherwise, the unit can be damaged without even starting to use it. In turn, you will regularly need to fill the walk-behind tractor with gasoline. Moreover, the liquid must be of good quality. It is desirable that the gasoline is of the same brand as the engine.
Only after all the above manipulations have been performed, you can start launching this device. When starting the walk-behind tractor for the first time, it is strongly recommended to do this, coordinating your actions with the instructions.
Despite the fact that the principle of operation of walk-behind tractors is quite similar, some differences in operation may still be present.
There are two types - disc and plow walk-behind tractor. On the disc hiller, the position of the discs can be adjusted using stands. Thus, the ground coverage can vary from 30 to 70 centimeters.
The device is installed in the furrows, so that the potato row is at the ground of the hooks. Having started the walk-behind tractor, it remains only to make hilling, driving the device exactly along the furrows. For additional loosening of the soil, it is recommended to tighten the discs and install a rotating roller.
When working with a walk-behind tractor, it will take some time to set up the plow. Its optimal position is in the middle between two rows of potatoes. After setting it is necessary to deepen the plow into the soil so that it is at the required depth. Then set the axis of the walk-behind tractor vertically to the ground surface. This will allow you to carefully sprinkle the potato stalks with loose soil.
Features, dimensions and engine
The Husqvarna TF338 motoblock is equipped with a 4-stroke single-cylinder 5 horsepower engine. Its working volume is 0.2 liters. The unit works with a three-speed manual gearbox, in which two speeds are responsible for moving forward. There is support for 92 gasoline, as well as the more modern AI-95.
Among other parameters, let us pay attention to the permissible working depth of 300 mm, and the working width can reach 950 mm. The gearbox is mechanical, the clutch is belt, and the gearbox is chain
The diameter of each of the six cutters is 360 mm.
The mass of the device is 93 kg excluding attachments.
Popular models of motoblocks
The Russian-made motoblock, bearing the name "Salute", managed to gain love and popularity among gardeners and summer residents of our country. It is multifunctional and can run on a gasoline engine of almost any manufacturer. It not only makes the hilling process convenient and comfortable, but also has a long service life.
In addition to hilling potatoes, this device can also be used for cleaning snow, grass and transporting heavy loads. High-quality hilling of potatoes with the Salyut unit depends on the depth of installation of the plow into the ground. The deeper the plow is, the better the quality of the potatoes will be.
The second most popular walk-behind tractor in Russia is the Husqvarna TF-338 model. This device is reliable, maneuverable and easy to transport. Easy operation due to mechanical transmission, two gears (forward and reverse) and gearbox.
This device allows you to install up to four pairs of blades, the gardener has the ability to adjust the width of the soil. Thanks to the reverse gear, the walk-behind tractor can perform hilling even in extremely narrow areas. This model provides for the installation of additional elements, such as a hiller and a baking powder.
Hilling with this device can be carried out already several days after the germination of potato stalks. Thanks to its maneuverability, the sprouts will remain safe and sound.
After that, the device is located in the middle of two rows, the potatoes are hilled at a minimum speed. When the walk-behind tractor is at the end of the potato row, the device is deployed using the reverse gear and the processing of the beds continues.
The budget option, which went on sale back in the 80s, is the "Mole" walk-behind tractor. The modern model is equipped with a four-stroke engine and steering wheel. The "Mole" walk-behind tractor spuds the fertile layer with the help of specially installed cutters. Each such element contains sharp blades and knives. When hilling, the wheels on which the support falls slightly rise.
While the plow measures the required depth for the cutters to enter the ground. The process of hilling potatoes is due to the rotational movements of the blades and knives. The standard equipment is equipped with external and internal cutters.
You will learn how to perform the first and second hilling of potatoes with a walk-behind tractor from the video below.
COLLECTING POTATOES WITH A MOTORBLOCK
Thanks to all our efforts, by the fall the potatoes grew, the tops dried up. So it's time to clean it up. This is usually done in late August, early September. The main thing is that the weather is dry, otherwise the tubers will be damp and dirty, you will have to clean them from the ground before storing.
Before harvesting, the remaining tops must be mowed with an oblique or trimmer and removed so that it does not get in the way under your feet. For digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, you can buy special attachments - a cultivator. But we can do without it - this operation can be filled with a single-row hiller. We put it on the walk-behind tractor, hook the lugs, install the equipment in the middle of the garden bed and plow the potatoes at first speed. The hiller cuts the ground and places the potatoes around the edges of the bed. First, we plow the ridges through one, harvest the crop, then plow the remaining ones.
Place the potatoes in a dark barn so that they don't turn green from the light. Two weeks later, when he is in bed, we will sort it into small and large and put it in the cellar for storage. In a dry, dark and cool place, the potatoes will lie until the next harvest.
Modern technology should make life easier for the gardener. In this example, we showed how you can plant, hilling and digging potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.
Motoblock Huskvarna 338
Back in 2015, the Swedish company released the Husqvarna TF 338 cultivator, which is in great demand among summer residents.
Among the features of this model are the following:
- The presence of pneumatic wheels and soil milling cutters, thanks to which the unit can operate on slippery, loose soil, on gravel and pebbles.
- The package includes attachments that significantly expand the functionality of the cultivator.
- The front of the unit is equipped with a special protective bumper, which is made in the form of a powerful welded frame. The presence of this element on the cultivator allows you to protect it from dirt, snow, dust, ingress of pieces of soil. Therefore, you can use the 338 walk-behind tractor not only when the weather is sunny and clear, but also when there is precipitation.
- Motoblock Huskvarna TF 338 weighs 93 kg. The large weight allows you to work on dense ground, make furrows in hard-to-reach places, especially between trees.
An overview of the technical characteristics of this model of a walk-behind tractor should begin with a powerful four-stroke engine, created on the basis of modern technologies. The motor is assembled in Russia, using certified developments of well-known corporations in the world.
Such a motor is environmentally friendly, capable of quickly spinning up to the required speed, which allows it to be operated in any weather. The service life of the engine is 3 thousand hours.Even if you put metal lugs on the walk-behind tractor, the motor will work just as flawlessly.
The lugs are placed in order to install a plow or a hiller attachment on a motor-cultivator. They are designed to cultivate virgin soil and form neat beds after cultivation. The lugs allow you to attach a trailer to the cultivator in order to transport the load - root crops, removed snow, firewood.
Description of the Husqvarna 434 walk-behind tractor
Multicultivator 434 attracts the attention of users with its technical parameters. Chief among them are:
- It has a Subaru gasoline engine, which runs almost quietly, so the noise is not heard during starting and working in the field or in the country.
- The valves on the motor are located on top.
- Engine power is 5 hp. with.
- The cultivator has a reverse gear.
- A pneumatic clutch is installed.
- The walk-behind tractor has a high level of performance and maneuverability in the field.
- The transmission is of a removable type, it can be chain or pneumatic.
Model 434 has been significantly improved when compared with other modifications of this company. In particular, a pneumatic drive was supplied to the handle, which allows the operator to maneuver and correctly control the mechanism. Also located on the handle are speeds that allow you to accelerate or slow down the movement of the unit.
A tow bar has been installed that has universal dimensions and is suitable for any work on the field. The cultivator has a steering column that can be adjusted horizontally and vertically. A wheel is installed on the front of the walk-behind tractor, which makes the 434 more maneuverable and more responsive. The package includes additional attachment parts, including protective cleaners, metal and rubber wheels, edge leveler, snow plow, plow. This provided numerous positive feedback from farmers.
Compared to previous models, the 434 has a higher engine speed. The motor of the 338 walk-behind tractor is capable of making 3 thousand rpm, and the improved model 434 - 3.4 thousand rpm.
