The "Frankenseeder"

[VT Outfitter]

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

I have created a monster! I have used the small hand crank seeders for ever to seed my food plots. I really wanted something bigger that holds more seed and can spread seed farther. One of the nice ATV seeder/spreaders would have been great to have, but not in the budget for this season. So I looked on Ebay and found an auction for a used walk behind lawn seeder that needed to be fixed. I won the bid at $20 with shipping. When I got it UPS, I fixed the seed amount adjuster cable and now it was ready for use, so I thought. This spring while planting a small 1 acre food plot, I brought the newly fixed seeder to try it out. First thing I noticed was the drive wheel didn't turn very well in loosened soil, second I noticed that even when adjusted to a very small opening the seed would just fall out the front unless you sprinted across the plot. I don't know about you, but I save my sprinting for emergencies only. So, out came the hand cranker seeder to finish for the day. I spent the last few months, on and off, thinking about what I could do with this seeder that just plain wont work. So this is what I decided to do.

 

I took the frame and wheels off, leaving the spreader paddle thing and the seed tub. I had a very expensive 12 volt air pump for a rubber raft that quit producing air pressure years ago. I pulled the pump from the "don't throw it away pile" in the shop and took it apart. After taking some measurements, I built with leftover hardwood flooring a small frame to attach the pump. I affixed the paddle spreader to the electric motor, attached the frame to the seed tub, then enclosed around the motor/spreader so I wouldn't take a seed in the eye. I salvaged an old rheostat head light switch from an old van and mounted in in the side of the spreader to control the speed of the spreader wheel. I had an old 12 volt ciggy lighter plug in spot light that the switch didn't work, it was also in the "don't throw away pile". I used the cord from the spot light so I could plug into my ATV. Where the shaft from the top of the spreader wheel goes into the seed tub, I attached a zip tie so when it spins it will stir the seed. I put the seeder machine on the front of my ATV and use the winch cable to hold it down so it doesn't fall. REBIRTH OF THE FRANKENSEEDER! I have used it 3 times now. It works great with all sizes of seed. I can still control the amount of seed that falls with the original adjuster cable lever mounted temporarily on the handle bars. I does not work for packy material like lime or very small grain fertilizer as it compacts from the vibration of the ATV.

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                  

Edited August 1, 2014 by VT Outfitter

[catskillkid]

^{Looks good.}

 

^{Here is another invention that a friend developed.}

^{My buddy gerry rigged a back pack leaf blower by adding a seed hopper inline with the blower hose. He adjusts the drop rate depending on what size seed he is sowing. All he has to do is just walk around his plot blowing seed everywhere. No more hand cranking and ultra fast too.}

 

^{What is the mother fo invention?}

 

Edited August 3, 2014 by catskillkid

[VT Outfitter]

^{Looks good.}

 

^{Here is another invention that a friend developed.}

^{My buddy gerry rigged a back pack leaf blower by adding a seed hopper inline with the blower hose. He adjusts the drop rate depending on what size seed he is sowing. All he has to do is just walk around his plot blowing seed everywhere. No more hand cranking and ultra fast too.}

 

^{What is the mother fo invention?}

That sounds like a cool rig! Thanks for reading.

[G-Man]

looks good but why on the front vs the back of atv?

[VT Outfitter]

looks good but why on the front vs the back of atv?

Very good question. And I am happy to share my ideas with anyone that asks. A few days ago I made a post in the management/food plot  section about my homemade towable food plot roller. So, when I was rigging this seeder contraption, I made the seeder throw out the front of the ATV on the prepared seed bed so I can roll the seed down with the roller in tow with one pass. It helps get the job done quicker so I can move on to the next project, plus with rolling the seed in, the germination rate go's way up for me. Coupled with Biologic food plot seed and adding Biologic ph fertilizer with seed coat additive yields some great looking and effective food plots. If anyone wants specific details, just ask and I will give you my step-by-step.