Hiller for a walk-behind tractor: how it works and how to make it

Garden tools

Hilling vegetables (like potatoes or corn) is a challenging task. While you can do it with a hoe or a hand hiller, it's time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Therefore, vegetable growers are increasingly turning to a special tool – a hiller for a walk-behind tractor.

This tool helps cut furrows for planting and then hill them up. It comes in several types: lister, disc, and propeller. Learn how to make and use each of them correctly in this article.

Rules for using a hiller when cultivating soil

First, prepare the tiller itself: attach the wheels, hitch, and hiller. Then, set the proper depth and angle. Place the tiller on level ground, lower the hiller, and secure it to the hitch. Ensure the stand remains strictly vertical: this will help you easily set the desired angle.

If you're using a disc hiller, you'll need to adjust two more parameters: the distance between the discs and the rotation angle (relative to the horizontal axis). Another important parameter is the tilt angle relative to the vertical axis, but it's usually set automatically and doesn't require adjustment.

It is considered that the best dimensions for walk-behind tractor wheels are 0.7 m in diameter and 10-14 cm in width. Other dimensions can damage the plantings, so careful selection of wheels is essential.

Next, follow the instructions. The only advice: if the hiller digs too deeply into the soil or, conversely, comes out of it, tilt the stand in the desired direction. Otherwise, the technique for using a hiller is simple: after one or two tries, even a novice gardener will learn how to operate the device.

How to make a hiller for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands

A wide variety of hillers are available in stores. However, many gardeners prefer to make their own. Let's look at how to properly make four different types of hillers.

Tools:

welding machine;
a gas burner that will help harden the parts;
grinder and a set of discs (cutting, grinding);
a high-quality drill or drilling machine;
sharpener;
locksmith's workbench;
fastening tools, files and vices;
metal;
drawings.

Lister with fixed and adjustable angle

The easiest way to make a fixed Lister hiller is by connecting two bent sheets of metal and securing them together. Below are step-by-step instructions and drawings for this hiller.

Weld the base from a sheet of metal more than 3 mm thick.
Make a bracket from 4 mm thick steel; after forming, it is recommended to harden the part.
Make a spring from 5mm thick steel - first "temper" it and then harden it.
Make a rack, steel thickness – from 8 mm.
The wings are made of steel, approximately 2 mm thick. The desired curve can be achieved using any template.
Perform welding in 2 passes, on each side of the joint.

Please refer to the provided drawings: they contain all the information about the parts.

A Lister hiller with adjustable angle can be made using the same design as above, with the only modifications being the wing and boom mounts. The wings should be hinged to the base. The booms needed for angle adjustment are located at the rear of the hiller.

Disc hilling

The design of this type of hiller is shown in the diagram. Here are some construction recommendations:

Old cutters from a collective farm seeder or worn-out circular saws are perfect for forming discs;
It is best to mount the disks on bearings that have seals installed;
the bracket must be equipped with movable elements secured with bolts;
Bearings will come in handy for the axles.

Many gardeners especially like circular saw hillers. They require proper bearings for the axle, otherwise the mechanism will simply rake the soil rather than rotate. This model not only lifts the soil but also loosens it.

Propeller hilling

Making a propeller-driven hiller is fairly easy. Just fit the axles to the tiller, and weld the remaining parts together using an arc welder. All you need is high-quality metal, a welder, and an angle grinder.

The main advantage of this model is that it simultaneously loosens the soil between rows and throws some of it back onto the rows. It also requires no adjustments: only the spacing between the attachments is adjusted.

To ensure efficient operation of a propeller hiller, it's worth making several bushings with brackets and different blades for each type of hilling. This will allow you to create a variety of gardening tools without unnecessary expense.

How to adjust the hiller mechanism on a walk-behind tractor

Manuals for walk-behind tractors and hillers are usually so carefully written that even a beginner can understand them. However, some difficulties may arise during operation. Here you'll find some tips on how to use a hiller.

Before you begin working, run the hiller over the surrounding soil, rather than immediately starting on the garden. This will allow you to see the machine's effectiveness and test your skills with it.
Carefully adjust the operating speed. While practicing, observe how the soil behaves under the hiller at different speeds. Adjust it to achieve maximum efficiency. Speed is crucial: if chosen correctly, even an old, low-quality tiller with a hiller can work perfectly.
Before work, carefully check the integrity and quality of the hiller and walk-behind tractor. If something breaks during work, it could seriously damage the plants and people nearby.

https://youtu.be/DHlMebQNH_Q

Reviews

Gardeners who have made their own hillers for walk-behind tractors are actively discussing the advantages and disadvantages of these tools online. Here are some excerpts from those discussions.

Nikolay, Astrakhan:

"My wife was always hoeing around the garden. Then my grandson brought me a walk-behind tractor—like, 'Here, grandpa, use it and grow.' I thought about it and found an old magazine with plans, and found a design for a disc hiller. I made it—it's a simple contraption. I chased my wife away from the garden, so I had to set up a hammock for her to go to the potatoes with the equipment. And the result is good, very good! The soil is like feathers, the potatoes are growing better, bigger. And there's less fuss, everything is more enjoyable. I've been using only my homemade disc hiller for three years now, and it never breaks or ruins the garden. Then I started surfing the internet, and it turns out you can download all sorts of plans, so I'll try to build a propeller-driven one by next spring."

Vladislav, Samara:

"I made a double Lister hiller. I wouldn't say it's convenient—I have to constantly adjust the angles on both plows—but it's much more efficient. I'm currently working with a disc model, and I think it's even more efficient and much more convenient. I think everyone should try different types—everyone will find their own preference. My neighbor, for example, won't use anything but a Lister hiller, and his soil and harvest are excellent. Those who enjoy working with their hands can make their own hiller, while the rest can buy one. Overall, I recommend it—even the simplest hiller will save a lot of time and effort, which is important when it comes to maintaining a complex garden, vegetable patch, and home."