[AT] Grain Augers vs elevators

[Ron Cook]

John,
     For loading trucks out of a bin, the little paddle elevators had 
the paddle spacing at about 15 inches or so.  These little short 
elevators, 30 footers and less,  were initially used for hay bales, so I 
suppose the original spacing was much like you are talking about.  Here 
it is soybeans and shelled corn, no wheat.  And yes, you need the bottom 
weighted down!  Our ear corn elevators were in the neighborhood of 52 
feet long or so to get up on the corn crib roof and still be not too 
steep.  No good for shelled corn or soybeans at the incline necessary.
     We ran the truck elevators with probably an 8 horse Briggs.  Not 
much power required for those things.  Now we use a 10-12 inch auger, 
tractor pto powered.  A Farmall H works very well up to a 10 inch auger, 
34 feet long, inclined enough to get over a semi-trailer.  Anything 
more, requires more power.
Ron Cook
Salix, IA

On 1/1/2012 8:38 AM, john hall wrote:
> Ron, I don't know what standard spacing is but I would say mine has 2
> paddles for about every bale length. With wheat you can really fill it full.
> With soybeans you can see them really cascade backwards over the paddles.
> One drawback I have found is you have to pay attention when the incoming
> flow drops off rapidly. If the elevator is full it will tip towards the
> truck with no weight on the incoming end. We try to make sure the front of
> the elevator is under the box wagon so it can't tip backwards.
>
> I definitely wouldn't want one for putting grain in a bin but for
> transferring from a wagon to a truck it works great for us.
>
> John Hall
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Cook"<rlcook at longlines.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2012 1:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Grain Augers vs elevators
>
>
>> Double the number of paddles and they will really move grain when they
>> don't have to be set up steep.  I haven't seen one in use in these parts
>> for probably 20 years.  Truck augers are much handier and easier to move
>> about and bins anymore are too large/tall.  Augers work better.
>>
>> Ron Cook
>> Salix, IA
>>