potato windrower

caterpillar guy

Well-known Member
I am using a potato windrower for a stone picker. It works good except for the stones keep getting in the front idler on the digger chain. Has anybody tried this before with the same problem and how did you or they fix it?
Also how do you remove a link on the linderman chain. Looks like you have to cut the head of the link. It seems a bit long/loose.
 
on the nose roller you can drill a new hole about an inch back from the current mounting holes and that should relieve some of the rock jams you are experiencing. on the linderman chain you torch off the head of the rod and replace it with a new rod which you heat the end to cherry red and then hammer a new head on the end of the rod, it helps to have someone hold a large sledge hammer against the other end of the rod while forming the head on the other end.
 
Handyman, So your saying that there is no master link like most chains. There is about 3 inches between the nose roller and the back of the blade on the front. The stones seem to get inside the chain then bind up in that nose roller or get between the chain and the frame there.
 
I've never heard it called linderman chain, but I assume you've got regular steel link spud chain? If so, there should be a "cut link" somewhere- you've got to look at both ends of every link till you find it. the very end of the rod will have a bevel cut on the inside of the loop. usually only one end of that link. that gets unhooked first, then you have to shift the opposite hook along the rod it attaches to, then work it loose. assembly is reverse order. once you get the chain apart, you'll find you can only remove a link from the one end-- at the other, the first link is trapped in place by the second.
i know that's a lot of words, but once you've done it, it's pretty straitforward.

btw when the chain gets worn, you can separate it anywhere.

you don't have to cut anything, and other than maybe a hammer to jar the thing back together (especially if the chain is in good shape, not worn) you shouldn't need any tools.
 
Mazemiester, No what you're describing is like the beet chain I have dealt with. This is more like what Handyman is describing the heads of all the links look like they were riveted. It has short flat bars sort of like roller chain without the rollers and the second flat strap.
I was just wondering if anybody had used a potato windrower for a stone picker and how they solved the stones getting in behind the nose roller behind the blade.
 
maizemeister is talking about hook chain, linderman chain is made up of rods with heads riveted onto them and held together with short side plates. with your rocks getting caught in the roller and between the chain and side of the machine I think one solution to that would be to mount a second nose roller below the one you have now so the rocks would have more room to tumble out below the frame of the machine, it will require welding a mounting bracket below the frame to bolt the roller to and yes it will probably drop the chain down below the blade but it may be worth a try . but no matter what you do rocks will always be a problem in that area
 
got to thinking and realized that I dont know for sure what style nose roller you have on there, for what you are doing a cone shaped roller will work best as that will tend to kick the rocks out a little better than the flat ones will.
 
Handyman, I will look at the nose rollers. I think they are already the tapered ones. I was thinking about lowering the blade to help move the material above the chain, and closing the gap up between the blade and chain. There is about 3 inches from the back of the blade to the front of the chain. The chain seems excessively loose also. I know from running a potato harvester in Colorado 20 some years ago the chain does not run tight like a roller chain does. this does drag on the ground or close to it when running. That is why I wanted to take a couple of links out.
Handyman if you want to email me or call me to talk about it [email protected] or 989-413-5684
 
OK, i've never dealt with linderman chain. just hook chain and belted. but i think every potato digger is at least an unintentional rock picker! we always used to collect the rocks harvested with the potatoes so as not to dump them back in the field.

what size rocks are giving you trouble? if they are getting inside the chain, where are they falling through? is there something to change there? just thinking out loud without seeing your machine...
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top