NEWS AND UPDATES

The “NEW” 206

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:14:16 +0000

The first of the 206’s with a Curtis Toledo compressor are headed for the field. There are several improvements over the Champion compressor that we have been using for three years.
First, the compressor delivers 18 cfm (compared to 15 cfm) which means more carbon monoxide at a higher pressure. In shop tests, the Curtis Toledo pump will hold 40 psi with both ball valves open. The 6.5 hp Powerland motor handles the pump very well though we did put an unloader that drops out the gas pressure from the pump when the motor idles back.
We are getting consistent carbon monoxide readings from 15,000 to 16,500 ppm.
Last, but probably most important is that we are measuring a huge decrease in vibration throughout the unit;. This is attributed to a better balance crank and pistons within the compressor. This allows us to run the compressor at 900 rpm rather than the 800 with the Champion pumps; And even at the higher rpm, the vibration levels are much lower than we have had in the past.
Of course there is always a down side and in the case of the 206, the Curtis Toledo pump is more expensive and when we re-evaluate our pricing structure in June and July, the price on the 206 will most likely go up. Makes now a good time to buy a 206!

Carbon Monoxide testing

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:26:54 +0000

We have recently purchased a new Carbon monoxide tester. We can test CO in ppm up to 10,000 ppm and above that in percent. We are testing every new unit prior to delivery and to say the least, it is very interesting. First, no two motors have tested alike. The 13 hp motors will test from 14,000 ppm to 21,000 ppm. The 6.5 hp motors have very little test history yet, but it would seem they will test in the 15,000 ppm range. The twin V 20 hp motors are testing from 30,000 to 40,000 ppm. We have tried and will continue to test methods to increase the CO levels. Soaking the foam air filter cover in oil and wringing out the excess oil seems to not effect the motors running and does increase the CO by about 1,000 ppm. Choking the motor by about 1/8″ to 1/4″ has had a dramatic effect on the CO, from 20 to 40 percent increase. This does not seem to effect the power of the motor.
I have advised those that call in with poor kill rates to concentrate their treatment area at any one setting to a local area of 20′ or less. Do not spread out the wands because that will only reduce the toxicity level in all the burrows. Remember, we are building up the toxicity level by probing a single burrow system multiple times. A single probe in a separate burrow system will not kill the gopher but will take CO away from the other probes.
As we ger more information on our testing of the CO levels, I will post it here.
Allen

I’M Back!

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:49:58 +0000

So it has been a long time for a new post. Eye surgery, new R&D in the shop and yes, a bit of procrastination. But, I will do an update and address several calls that have come in of late.

The 620 is proving all that was expected and more. It has not been without problems that came in after many hours of use in the field, but we have addressed and solved those problems and for now, the 620 we are putting out today is a much studier machine with a couple of safe guards to protect the compressor as well as preventing the load geni from plugging up and causing operators grief in the field.

First and foremost is the pivot axle support on the walking beam tandem axle for both the 620 and the 412. We had several pivot shaft on the walking beam tandem’s on the 620 fail. We are putting 1.25″ shafts with a bracket that supports the end of the pivot axle. This is standard equipment and available to all 620’s in the field at no charge. We have also developed the same type pivot axle support for the walking beam tandem on all 412’s. New tandem’s will have the support and tandems in the field that are less than 90 days old can get the brackets at no charge. All new tandem’s will have the bracket as standard equipment. It is our conclusion that failures of the tandem axle pivot shaft were due to excessive speed over rough terrain like pivot tracks. With that said, it is also our policy to put units in the field that will exceed in structural strength any normal demands made of it in the field. We know that bouncing over a pivot track should be avoided but will happen.

The 13 hp motors have had a huge and warranted complaint over the oil drain plug. Spencer Lamb, shop foreman, developed a simple but effective solution. He drilled a hole in the existing plug, welded a 1/8″ pipe nipple onto it, threaded the end of the nipple to accept a 5/16 ” cap screw so now oil can be drained through a 3/8″ air hose into a bucket. Simple and inexpensive. The oil has to be warm to drain completely. To date, I can only offer this on new motors. I have tried and failed to buy new oil plugs that we can put the extension pipe nipple on.

I found an inline filter for the pressure side of the load geni. We are in process of developing how to mount the load geni because the inline filter is not strong enough to support the weight of the load geni. Also I need to put it on a local machine for field testing prior to sending it to customers.

The big news is that I recently purchased a hand held meter for carbon monoxide. It reads up to 10,000 ppm and above that reads in percent. Easy to use, and is giving us very important information. We are establishing a data base that will be important in diagnosing problems in individual machines in the field. At this time, we will not offer it (loan) to unit owners because of the risk in sending it back and forth. We are testing every unit we are selling and I proved to a local 412 owner that the reason he was not getting good kills on ground squirrels was not because the 412 was not putting out a very lethal level of carbon monoxide. (when we were in the field, a field mouse came out of the ground squirrel hole and flopped over dead)

I feel that after we have established base readings of CO, it will be of advantage for custom operators to purchase a CO meter to help remove doubt as to whether it is the field conditions, operators, or the actual CO production of the PERC unit that is producing results that are less than expectations.

That’s all for now, folks, I will be more diligent in my postings. Thank you,
Allen

Flex tubing on all PERC’s.

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:27:29 +0000

Some of the most valuable information I get comes from the field. Probably the most perplexing has been units several months old that seemed to decrease in their toxicity to kill gophers. The answer had to be air contamination of the exhaust gasses, but everything was tight with no visible air leak. When the unit was new, it worked great. After several months, there seemed to be more and more gopher mounds showing up in the area treated.

I figured it out, but it took some serous head scratching!!

The contamination problem was (and is) coming from the SS flex tubing from the motor to the cooling coils and from the cooling coils to the compressor. Vibration has always been a serous consideration and it reared its ugly head once more.

The flex tubing is really a long strip of light weight stainless steel that is formed to hook together in a spiral. Tolerances are tight and when new, it is close to air tight. But with use, the units vibration causes continue flexing of the tubing and causes the joints to create very small cracks that will leak.

There is positive pressure inside the tube from the motors exhaust and it has been assumed that this positive pressure would overcome any cracks that developed from use. But we missed one very important fact. The positive pressure works great when it is blowing towards the hooked joint. When it is blowing away from the hooked joint, it causes a vortex in the V formed by the joints which in turn creates a venturi effect. This vortex will actually cause a vacuum that will draw outside air into the exhaust stream in the flex tube. This creates a venturi effect and introduces air contamination to the exhaust reducing its ability to kill rodents.

On the 620 and the 412, this is very easy to fix. If the unit is within a year old, the flex tube can be inspected and if the folded portion of the joints point away from the motor or exhaust flow, it will not suck air. If it is pointed towards the motor, it will suck air.

If the fold is pointed towards the motor, take the clamps loose and reverse the direction of the flex tube and re-clamp it. If the unit is over a year old with heavy use, the tubes should be replaced. Either we can furnish the tubes or they can be bought from most auto supply stores.

The flex tubes on the 206 pose a bit of a complication. I have not found exhaust pipe clamps that will fit on the one inch tubing we use. While we can furnish the rings, the tool needed to tighten them up is the band-it junior and is a special tool. Heavy duty screw type clamps can be used in combination with a high temperature gasket sealant. Any exhaust gas that leaks will be minor and in this situation, air will not be sucked into the exhaust stream contaminating it.

I am drawing up an illustration that will have both graphic form and written instruction that we will mail to PERC owners. I appreciate your patience and want you to know that we are dedicated to keeping all our units in the field working.

Allen

Alfalfa Conference a big success.

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:49:05 +0000

We are home, a bit road soar, but had a great conference in Kenniwick, WA. No sales, but several that are putting the PERC units in their spring budgets as well as a couple of custom operators that are starting gopher control businesses in Washington.
Very interesting comment by a custom operator in Eastern Oregon. “The custom gopher business is what is paying the bills!” Like many businesses as well as farming, he was severely stretched to pay his bills. The gopher control business he set up last fall has brought in the cash that keep their operation afloat.

Washington’s Alfalfa Conference

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:41:38 +0000

We leave Tulelake January 11 for Kennewick, WA for the Washington Alfalfa Conference Jan. 13 & 14. We are taking more equipment, and have a larger show area in the big machinery section of the auditorium. We will have a 620, a 412 and a 206 skid on display. I am holding the units we will show at the conference open and to be sold at the conference or thereafter. While I will take orders prior to the conference, units on display will be available, first come first serve. We are also going full tilt in the shop making new units so delivery time on orders will be fairly short.
Hope to see you there,

Allen

2009 is history, with all its warts and heartaches.

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:01:37 +0000

In retrospect, 2009 was a good year, we added the 620 to our line, fine tuned the designs of the complete line. Sales wise and profit wise the year past had quite a bit to be desired. We have no regrets, but do feel bullish in the prospects that 2010 hold.

Personal observation as well as reports from across the country indicate that gophers have had a banner year and their numbers have increased several times. Possibly good for our business but difficult in advising the best approach to control and eradicate the pests.

There are several field applications of the PERC systems that we have gained from farmer input.
First, size matters when treating ground squirrels and prairie dogs. The more carbon monoxide we can put in a burrow system at any given time results in better kill percentages.
By the same token, gopher control is more dependent on the operators attention and diligence in the field than the size of the machine. Granted, the bigger units will cover more acres in any given time and in the end will produce more dependable results. But the 206’s are doing a great job and many farmers love the machine.

We wish our customers and readers a great 2010. We have good times in store for all involved in agriculture, I feel it in my bones.

Allen

HayTalk commentary

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:43:05 +0000

My first Haytalk commentary was posted this last week and it felt good. (www.haytalk.com) I look forward to writing a submission Sundays when the day is available to me. With the laptop, I have internet almost everywhere, but family, etc will take president.
If there are subjects you would like to see addressed, let me know. Adversarial or supportive, makes no difference. The only requirement is no character bashing and we take the high road, ie state our minds but without rancor.

Heading into the holidays, like it or not.

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:03:12 +0000

The ground is frozen, custom operators are headed to warmer climes. We are building inventory for the New Year markets.

Had a great time at Reno at the Alfalfa Conference hosted by California Extension and chaired by Steve Orloff. Great job Steve, very insightful seminars. 700 growers there and fantastic interest in upgrading their operations. Definitely a bit of electricity in the air from the anticipation of better times.

Hay prices have bottomed out and are heading up.

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:10:03 +0000

Just got back from the Reno Alfalfa Conference. Over 700 registered and the interest is very high in planning for 2010 crop year. A lot of red ink was on growers books from this last year and it will have a heavy influence on the expenditures and plantings for next year. The facts that milk prices are on the rise and the recession is releasing its grip is very welcome news.