With front linkages now pretty much a default fit on more powerful tractors, it clearly makes sense to utilise this extra tool-carrying potential. Our readers have been sharing their front-mounted tillage tackle. 

Front-mounted power harrows and presses are the tools of choice if you want some extra cultivation in one pass. Yet the range of new and used machines on offer doesn’t always tick the box. Don’t despair, though, as profi readers have a solution for just about everything — as the tips they sent in show — ranging from leading tools to lights. If you have a machine mod idea, then please write to us.

Andreas Holzhammer

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ONBOARD LOCK

To prevent the clod board from lowering unintentionally, this reader fitted a check valve to the hydraulic lines on his Kverneland press.

CROSSBOARD WITH SPRING TINES

A row of leading spring tines has been added to this press. The tines were taken off a scrapped harrow. The angle of the tines can be changed by refitting a pair of pins to one of five positions. The tine bar is linked to the press with a parallelogram, with the height controlled by adjusting a top link in the middle. If the tractor has a spool up front, you could replace the top link with a ram for on-the-move depth control. The tines are spaced so that they run between two rings in the middle, throwing the clods directly into the path of the rings.

POWER HARROW IN PUSH MODE

This reader adapted his power harrow so it could be used on the front linkage with a self-built push frame. The frame is height-adjusted using two turnbuckles so it can be adapted to suit any tractor. The operator can adjust the angle of the harrow, and therefore the depth, by working the hydraulic ram at the top of the frame.

A SECOND LIFE FOR THE CULTIVATOR

This Cambridge/breaker ring front press has been given some extra tines, which were taken from an old harrow. The tine height is adjustable. Rubber mats on the right and left prevent clods from being thrown beyond the front press’s working width.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL IMPLEMENT

Christoph Horstmann has equipped his front press with passive steering. Springs on the left and right ensure that the press centres itself. A hole in the frame is used for locking it in position. Two brackets accommodate a drawbar for towing jobs.

WATER ON BOARD

Tom Lingen fitted two barrels to his front cultivator. He can now fill these barrels with water to add extra weight and improve penetration in tough soils.

UNIVERSAL TROUGH

In order to be able to carry stones or even a 50kg bag of seed, this reader created a handy shelf for his Güttler front packer — and painted it in matching colours to make it look more original.

BETTER VISIBILITY AND MORE PRESSURE

To give motorists a better idea of how wide this press is on public roads, Bernd Bundstein got two red oil drums and then wrapped some white tape around them to act as prominent marker boards. To attach them to the frame, he screwed the cap of the cans onto the existing holders, before turning the cans upside down and screwing them onto their caps. He then secured them with cable ties to prevent them from working loose. Also on his tyre press, Bernd added extra weights, attaching them with square tubes and clamps.

WITH LIGHTS

This reader gave his front press marker lights rather than just relying on the marker tape.

SEEDER UP FRONT

Paul Menz mounted a pneumatic spreader onto this front press, so he could use the outfit to undersow grass into triticale. When not needed, the seeder can be removed and fitted on other cultivators.

STORAGE BOX

This reader built a sturdy wooden box to go on his front Güttler press. The box is designed to carry all manner of things: seed bags, spades, tools, although it’s mainly used for large stones.

STURDY WARNING PANELS

This front press has been treated to marker panels with LED position lights and indicators as well as a storage box. Instead of being attached to the tine frame, the warning panels are fastened to the main frame, using holes already in the frame. This means that the panels can stay on the packer even when it is used without the tines. The wiring has been routed inside the tube. The box is for collecting stones or carrying two bags of seeds. The floor of the box is catwalk grating, and the box is clamped to the main frame.

GOOD TRACKING

The owner added a yellow marker, which, from the seat, lines up perfectly with the edge of the last bout, helping to ensure each pass is nice and even.