Which Roller should I get on my new Power Harrow, Rotary Hoe or Speed Tiller?
Nov 10, 2023 Posted by Stewart Knight
If you're looking at a new rotary hoe, power harrow or speed tiller and wondering what the purpose of the rear roller is and what style of roller is right for you - you are in the right place. In this blog, we will cover
What is the purpose of a rear roller?
The primary purpose of the rear roller is depth control, the combination of the machine sitting on the rear roller and being held by the 3-point linkage keeps the implement level and stable and operating at a consistent depth.
The secondary function of the rear roller is to leave the desired finish on the seedbed after each pass. There are many options available depending on what finish is required, so let's look at the most common ones—packer rollers, cage rollers, ring rollers and flat rollers.
Cage rollers usually consist of round pipe bars welded at even spacing around the centre plates. They are possibly the most common for the simple reason they can be used in dry or slightly damp soils. Cage rollers are primarily used for seedbed preparation as they leave minimal compaction and produce an optimal seedbed in normal conditions.
The packer roller consists of a solid flat roller with triangle shaped bars fitted to every 100mm or so. Usually fitted with a row of metal or tungsten coated scrapers mounted at the rear to keep the roller clean. The packer roller is widely used behind power harrows as a universal roller, primarily for autumn work where soil conditions are damper. These rollers are suitable for all types of soil. Packer rollers firm and compact the top layer of soil, which is particularly useful if operating in lighter soils prone to wind erosion.
Flat cylindrical rollers are another option, primarily designed for vegetable growers where a flat firm finish is required in preparation for precision Seeders or where moisture needs to be retained in the soil.
Ring rollers offer maximum versatility, especially on wet land that needs to be levelled and consolidated without excessive compaction. These rollers are mostly used on speed tilers and consist of a ring band that only presses on the soil every 150mm or so leaving large areas of unpressed soil exposed to air and wind which encourages dying without allowing the surface to crust.
There are many other options of rollers available depending on the makes and models of the machine, like spike rollers, rice field rollers, fine mesh rollers, rubber packer rollers, flanged rollers and combi packer rollers. All these roller types are suited to more specialised operations and purposes.
The most common general-purpose rollers behind a rotary hoe are either packer rollers or cage rollers. Depending on whether the machine is going to be used in dryer or damper soil.
Behind a power harrow, a packer roller is mostly used, as these machines are more effective when used in damper soi meaning they need a rear roller that can handle damper soil and leave a flat smooth finish.
Behind a speed tiller, a cage or ring roller is mostly preferred as these machines operate at speed so even if the soil is a bit damp it's usually thrown out of the roller rather than sticking to it.
Unsure of which roller would best suit your new rotary hoe, power harrow or speed tiller reach out to the Delmade team we are very happy to answer questions you may have. Phone 1800 335 623.
