“I think the idea of getting more value from machinery is important, when considering the price of new machinery, especially for smaller farmers like myself.” noted Ryan. 

Ryan has adapted the Bredal k105 spreader mounted on a 1970’s Mack Kaiser 6x6 ex-army truck, for chaser-bin duties. 

Ryan says the chaser holds two boxes of grain from his CaseIH 1480 harvester, or around 16 tonnes and reports the Bredal chaser-bin has no trouble keeping up with the 1480 which turns off around 20 tonnes per hour.

Estimating the cost at three days in the workshop and less that $1000 in parts and steel, Ryan says most components were sourced from clearing sales.

The power take off (PTO) drive to the spinners is used to drive a 12-inch auger and a small hydraulic motor has been added to turn the belt. Emptying time is about five minutes. Ryan reckons the best thing about the setup is the belt floor which delivers 100 per cent cleanout. 

“Conversion between chaser and spreader mode only takes a few hours because the Bredal spinner platform is simply clamped in place making it easy to remove.”

We agree with Ryan; extracting maximum value from farm machinery is essential and we applaud his approach and innovation, definitely food for thought. Well done and thanks for sharing the idea with other members, a couple of books from our Workshop series are on the way to you. 

If you have some innovative adaptions or farm-built contraptions that make life easier, send them through to us and we will include them in this Ideas and Innovations section of Farming Ahead. 

We will send you a couple of copies of our Workshop series reference books. Email us the idea at contact@kondinin.com.au or send us an MMS of it at 040 111 FARM (040 111 3 276).