4 m wide single gang Cambridge Roller

[DrWazzock]

I need one to tow behind my power Harrow mostly to squash the bit down in the middle and leave it nice for drill in one further pass on the ploughing when it’s dry. And to tow behind my MF30 sometimes.
You never see a single 4m wide Cambridge roller unit. Is there a reason for this? Is it too much strain for a single length of axle?
I might make one. Shouldn’t be too difficult.

 

[Gadget]

We made one once but it was to tow behind a tractor, consequently we were able to have intermediate bearings behind the wheels.

 

[Bob lincs]

I need one to tow behind my power Harrow mostly to squash the bit down in the middle and leave it nice for drill in one further pass on the ploughing when it’s dry. And to tow behind my MF30 sometimes.
You never see a single 4m wide Cambridge roller unit. Is there a reason for this? Is it too much strain for a single length of axle?
I might make one. Shouldn’t be too difficult.

I have one in my yard with end tow kit and a goose neck draw bar with a ball hitch . Used to pull it behind our power harrow. Can send you a pic in the morning as it is for sale .

 

[traineefarmer]

Most high grade bar such as EN16t is only supplied in 3m lengths as standard. That is what I always saw as the limiting factor. Should be possible to get 4m + as a special order, but will probably be £££.

 

[grainboy]

4 m, single shaft will flex enough for rings to rub on frame, would need centre carrying bearing. Well this is what I have seen done to overcome problem.

 

[Alistair Nelson]

Made one and needed a centre carrier bearing was rigid first of all end tow then wheels over the back and was a pig to move about. Then made a folding one on three shafts with a staggered frame and was much better all round. Had a rethink and now run a 2 piece folding trailed Simba squeal and yes it misses a little in the middle but not much but runs far cleaner as land not give anytime to haze over after previous cultivator.

 

[DrWazzock]

Thanks for sharing the useful experiences. Yes I have quite different requirements when it’s wet or dry, sand or clay. It’s good to be able to leave the roller out when it’s too damp etc. Sometimes it would save me another pass with the roller predrilling especially on loose dry sand. I’m trying ultimately to build a modular train that can be reconfigured to suit circumstances. Ideally aim for PH + roll with turbojet seeder + zig zag + finishing roll. Mostly for grass seeding. Could fit the MF30 in for cereals maybe.

 

[DrWazzock]

I have one in my yard with end tow kit and a goose neck draw bar with a ball hitch . Used to pull it behind our power harrow. Can send you a pic in the morning as it is for sale .

PM sent thanks.

 

[DrWazzock]

I have often pulled our gang roller set behind the ph but they are too wide with the pups on., too narrow with them off.

 

[grainboy]

Possibly suggest a press rather than Cambridge rolls, better consolidation, and clod breaking, obviously depending on conditions and soil types.

 

[DrWazzock]

Possibly suggest a press rather than Cambridge rolls, better consolidation, and clod breaking, obviously depending on conditions and soil types.

I see what you are saying. I have also wondered if a heavier packer roll for the power Harrow would be better. So I can take out the present flexicoil and fit in a heavier roller if it’s dry enough. We never seem to get it firm enough on the sand for the drill in the spring. Always really needs another pass with the rolls before drilling but sometimes there just isn’t time/staff.
Having said all that I’m supposed to be heading towards zero till but there is always something had to be ploughed such as after beet.

 

[grainboy]

When farming I used to have an array of cheap old various cultivator, used love thinking up of combinations,
Very often, cultivator, press, sometimes two, and possibly a heavy drag,
When I had Track Marshall it was quite a challenge how much I could pull, although sometimes difficult to turn on headlands,

 

[DrWazzock]

When farming I used to have an array of cheap old various cultivator, used love thinking up of combinations,
Very often, cultivator, press, sometimes two, and possibly a heavy drag,
When I had Track Marshall it was quite a challenge how much I could pull, although sometimes difficult to turn on headlands,

Ha. I did the same with a Track Marshall 110. John Deere C tine trailed drag trailing a set of discs, then rolls. Early min till pioneer but it was a step too far for the oldies so it didn’t catch on here. Looking back I should have stuck with it. That old TM110 was an awesome beast. Would bust a shear bolt on the flat lifter without noticing it unless you looked round and saw the leg trailing out the back. Weighed 10 tons and had 10 tons of draft.

 

[grainboy]

Lol
Track Marshall, 105, here,
3 leg Shakerator, Discs, press
Total cost £4K
Sadly no pictures,

 

[grainboy]

Thinking about it, I farmed 120 ac, all second hand tackle, all bought and paid for,

 

[snarling bee]

Thinking about it, I farmed 120 ac, all second hand tackle, all bought and paid for,

Thinking about it, I farm 2000 acres, all second hand tackle, all bought and paid for.

 

[grainboy]

Not many do though

 

[A Trebor]

I have often pulled our gang roller set behind the ph but they are too wide with the pups on., too narrow with them off.

Can you not have a narrow hole setting on the wings so pups not as wide, used to do this but on a 3m

 

[DrWazzock]

Can you not have a narrow hole setting on the wings so pups not as wide, used to do this but on a 3m

Yes and I’ve done that before behind the grass seed box. What I’m looking to do is have PH, then 4m roller with air seeder on top, seeding on splash plates behind roller then my existing 4m zig zags then my existing roller gang set with pups narrowed in as you suggest. This works well for grass seed and OSR, small seeds etc which fall into the roller grooves at right depth, get nicely covered then rolled again to good seed to soil contact moisture etc. We do this normally, but in 3 passes and the results are good. Trying to reduce it to one pass as just myself now, not father and brother. Only problem can be no drying off between stages but if it’s wet go back to separate passes. Modular configurable system.

 

[DrWazzock]

Not zig zags. They block with trash. Trailing springy covering tines.
So rig comprises roller with broadcast seeder on it, towing light covering Harrow and light roller. I think that would be useful here for grass seed, OSR, cover crops etc. Will hitch behind power Harrow, or work as is on mintilled or zero tilled stubble.