Train wheels

[ploughman1963]

As I understand it, there are aerobic losses associated with poor consolidation that are not immediately obvious/visible. As a minimum I understand you should be looking to get 700kg/m3 - we know we can get 800+kg/m3 by filling clamp in thin layers and non-stop rolling with a tractor and buckrake. You would struggle to achieve that by bulldozing a load up with a loading shovel - (research work being done now to show this) - you get air pockets where you get aerobic losses/lost feed value.
What, I think, is pretty well accepted is that it is possible to get 900kg/m3 or higher with the use of a train wheel compactor where the grass is put in in thin layers as described above. Where grass is bulldozed without regard to thin layering, the compactor can get acceptable levels of consolidation by compensating for poor clamp filling techniques

 

[Kevtherev]

Clamps rammed in quick by a big loader isn’t the way forward.
Rolling and consolidate in layers with whatever machines you have.

 

[Speedstar]

No point in adding any thing to this thread as the back ward thinking guys all know better our shovel and compactor do a great job working together as a team and all our customers agree on this ,I am glad I have a total block on Jimmy on here now it is the way forward

 

[8100]

This place is local to you .....https://www.volkerrail.co.uk/
Or some heritage railways may have some lurking about

 

[Wellytrack]

I can see the need for them tbh. A heavy loader spreading all those tons over a few points, compared to an even, wide and steady pressure of a compactor it has to make sense.

All a heavy shovel does imo is push the weight, often it pushes as much weight in front of the tyre as it does push it down, pet hate watching shovel drivers is lunging and bouncing it down in corners with 3 ton of grass on the fork, great way to burst the pit guy.

Anyhow, what do I know. My bales are very well consolidated

 

[Muck Spreader]

Could try these companies, they may have some scrap ones available
https://www.railwaywheelset.co.uk/index.html

http://www.cfbooth.com/

 

[Bald Rick]

We tried a heavyish lemken press this year and it didn’t roll at all.

Any idea why it didn’t roll?

 

[Brisel]

Any idea why it didn’t roll?

Sinks in too much?

 

[Boohoo]

I can see the need for them tbh. A heavy loader spreading all those tons over a few points, compared to an even, wide and steady pressure of a compactor it has to make sense.

All a heavy shovel does imo is push the weight, often it pushes as much weight in front of the tyre as it does push it down, pet hate watching shovel drivers is lunging and bouncing it down in corners with 3 ton of grass on the fork, great way to burst the pit guy.

Anyhow, what do I know. My bales are very well consolidated

So how do you make very well consolidated bales? Ram the grass all in at once with loads of power or roll it up in shallow, even layers?

 

[Wellytrack]

So how do you make very well consolidated bales? Ram the grass all in at once with loads of power or roll it up in shallow, even layers?

I lower the wrapping ring, open the top door and shove an entire 50 yard long swath in its entirety. I just need to upgrade the rams with shear grab sized ones.....

 

[Boohoo]

I lower the wrapping ring, open the top door and shove an entire 50 yard long swath in its entirety. I just need to upgrade the rams with shear grab sized ones.....

 

[Drillman]

So how do you make very well consolidated bales? Ram the grass all in at once with loads of power or roll it up in shallow, even layers?

Aw come on it’s power every time....

We’re all guilty of that

 

[Horn&corn]

Any idea why it didn’t roll?

As said it just sank and rings wouldn’t roll. Probably needs a shoulder like a train wheel to keep it on top. Did wonder about filling it with concrete but if it still doesn’t work you’ve just wasted a lot of time. Also the axle probably won’t take the strain for long.

 

[jamj]

As said it just sank and rings wouldn’t roll. Probably needs a shoulder like a train wheel to keep it on top. Did wonder about filling it with concrete but if it still doesn’t work you’ve just wasted a lot of time. Also the axle probably won’t take the strain for long.

Or would it be because rings are close together whereas with compactors there is a space between wheels?

 

[ploughman1963]

I would think it has more to do with diameter of the rings - imagine how much easier it is for a 38” wheel to roll loose grass than a 10” wheel - small wheel will need to climb whereas the big wheel will be rolling along. I don’t know what depth of loose grass the press was rolling but whereas it might handle a thin layer it would be just trying to bulldoze a foot of grass rather than roll it.

 

[Horn&corn]

Or would it be because rings are close together whereas with compactors there is a space between wheels?

It was a press like this

But all the extra stuff chopped off to stop it bulldozering. Grass was dry but there was probably too much gap between rings and just wasn’t heavy enough to bother continue modifying. Back to the drawing board and another look through the nettles!

 

[Davy]

I dont see why anyone would argue against using these things. Every little helps as they say.

 

[johnboy87]

Chap on Facebook called Matt halliday, he's an engineer who can make you one or supply the wheels and bushes to make your own

 

[johnboy87]

Chap on Facebook called Matt halliday, he's an engineer who can make you one or supply the wheels and bushes to make your own

Matt halliday welding & fabrication is his page

 

[dazza b]

Cheers @Cluster_monkey all sorted now