Created more than 30 years ago, the Krot cultivator remains to this day one of the most popular domestic units for cultivating the land thanks to its convenient design and ease of maintenance. Let us consider in more detail its technical characteristics and principle of operation, as well as customer reviews of modern models of the “Mole”.
Cultivator "Mole": characteristics, design
All manufactured models of this unit are characterized by a similar design. There is a gear-chain reducer of the Krot cultivator, to which a frame, tubular handles for controlling the unit and a bracket for installing auxiliary equipment are attached with bolts.
There are levers on the handles that allow you to switch the engine speed and clutch. Some modern versions of the “Mole” have a switch for reverse and forward gears.
An engine connected to the input shaft of the gearbox by a V-belt transmission is attached to the frame. The cultivator is rolled with the help of transport wheels, which, during the operation of the walk-behind tractor, rise or are removed altogether.
Mills (rotors with knives) for tillage (to a depth of 25 cm), as well as additional attachments (mowers, trolleys, pumping units, etc.) designed to expand the range of cultivator capabilities, are installed on the output shafts.
Cultivator Engine Specifications
The engine for the Krot cultivator is used 1-cylinder, carburetor, with air cooling and a working volume of 60 cubic meters. see. Motor power is 2.6 hp. at a number of revolutions per minute from 5500 to 6500. The engine is started manually using a rope. The starter is fixed. Dry air cleaner with replaceable filter (air). The fuel tank has a capacity of 1.8 liters. The fuel used is low-octane gasoline with autol (engine oil). The ratio of these components is 20: 1. The ignition system is electronic non-contact.
Modifications of the cultivator "Mole"
The cultivator "Mole" (MK), in addition to the basic model, has a number of modernized ones. Modifications include the use of a gearbox equipped with reverse gear and the installation of imported engines. Moreover, quite often modern models are equipped with four-stroke engines instead of two-stroke ones. Also, cultivators can differ in the design of the gas tank, carburetor, air cleaner, etc.
There are also Krot cultivators equipped with electric motors of various designs with electric power supply via cable. The use of such units in greenhouses is especially convenient, since during their operation no emissions of pollutants are formed.
Operating principle
Tillage is carried out using rotors (milling cutters), mounted on the shaft of the gearbox. Torque is transmitted to it from the engine through a V-belt drive.
In the process of rotation of the rotor knives, the soil layers are cut, crushed and mixed. In this case, the cultivator moves forward.
Practical tips
By following some general manufacturer’s instructions, it’s possible to significantly extend the life of a machine like the Mole (cultivator). User reviews confirm this.
The cultivator must be transported strictly in an upright position, which will prevent the oil from spilling from the gearbox and falling into the air filter.
It is not recommended to use the cultivator immediately at full power. In the first few hours (about 15) he needs to be given a run-in. To do this, one site should be processed in several passes with a gradual increase in the depth of plowing.
In case of clogging of the space between the cutters and the gear case with roots, stones or something else, immediately turn off the cultivator and remove the stuck objects. This way you prevent damage to the V-belt. With a large content of roots (small stones) in the soil, it is recommended to reduce the speed of rotation of the rotor knives.
Operation of a cultivator "Mole": instruction for the user
For the treatment of land used various auxiliary equipment installed on the cultivator "Mole". The instruction manual indicates that with the help of attachments you can plow the soil, sprinkle weeds, spud or dig up potatoes, mow the grass, pump over water, transport cargo. Let's look at how to properly perform these types of work using the Krot cultivator.
Plowing the soil with a mill or plow
Soil mills are put on reducer shafts. Transport wheels rise. Mills in this case are not only a working body, but also the mover of the unit. To adjust the depth of plowing, a special opener is attached to the bracket, which also serves as a brake.
The mole cultivator is equipped with four milling cutters (two external and internal). For processing heavy soils (fallow, virgin), only two internal cutters are used. On relatively light soils, all four can be used. It is also allowed to use six mills at once (an additional set is bought separately). This facilitates work with the cultivator, preventing it from digging into the soil. It is not recommended to install more than six cutters on the unit, so as not to break the handles due to the increased mass, and also to overload the engine and transmission.
If it is necessary to plow the soil with a plow (you must buy additionally), wheels (metal) with lugs are put on the gearbox shafts. The plow is attached to the bracket.
Plowing is inferior to plowing, because in the latter case, the soil is better loosened. In addition, weeds are more finely chopped and planted, fertilizers are more evenly mixed with the soil.
How to weed and spud potatoes?
For weeding weed vegetation, instead of plowing knives, weeders with a L-shaped shape are installed on internal milling cutters. To protect cultivated plants, it is possible to install protective disks in place of external mills. They are purchased separately, since they are not included in the package of the cultivator.
In order to pre-spud potatoes during the weeding process, the coulter is replaced by an earthing machine. It is also bought separately. If you just need to grow up the potatoes, then in addition to installing the cultivator, you need to remove the soil mills, and instead of them install wheels with lugs.
How to dig potatoes?
To be able to dig up potatoes, you should additionally purchase a special digging device, which is installed instead of the opener. In this case, wheels with lugs are put in place of soil mills.
Grass mowing
The cultivator "Mole" can be used for mowing grass and hay harvesting. To do this, a mower is mounted on the front (optional), and wheels are mounted on the gearbox output shafts. To connect the mower to the engine with a V-belt drive, the output shaft is equipped with an additional pulley.
How to pump water?
In order to pump water from an open reservoir, on the cultivator frame it is necessary to fix a pump unit connected to the engine by a V-belt drive, which must be removed from the traction gear. Pumping equipment is not included in the package of delivery, but is purchased separately.
How can I transport cargo using a cultivator?
In order to be able to transport goods, it is necessary to purchase an additional small-sized trolley with a rotary hitch. In this case, rubber wheels are put on the output shafts of the gearbox. 200 kilograms is the maximum weight that the Mole can carry.
Cultivator: consumer reviews of the "Mole"
Consumers respond mostly positively to both the basic model and the upgraded versions of the cultivator. The common advantages of all models are:
- affordable cost;
- the possibility of application for processing heavy soils;
- durability (some users indicate periods of use of more than 20 years);
- simplicity of operation;
- insignificant dimensions allowing transportation on the roof or in the trunk of a car;
- the possibility of using additional equipment, due to which the productivity of work increases significantly.
According to consumer information, models equipped with four-stroke engines (in particular, the Krot VK cultivator) have a number of positive properties. Gardeners' reviews contain information that the power of such engines increases at low speeds. This means that in order to process the soil at a design depth of 25 cm, an increase in the number of revolutions is not required. During the operation of such an aggregate, the consumption of fuels and lubricants is reduced; no oil is added to the fuel.