After years of repairing tile blowouts and installing new lines of perforated corrugated tile in all kinds of conditions, Tom Linerode, of Alliance, Ohio, knew there had to be a better way. The job took two men and a shovel while they tried to manhandle rolls of tile. According to the eastern Ohio farmer, “I decided we needed to work smarter, not harder, so I came up with this idea of building a tile spinner that could mount on my ATV.”
The materials used for the project are:
• Two 1-inch bearings with holders
• One 1-inch shaft 42 inches long
• Four swivel caster wheels
• Two ¼-inch 12×15 plates for the bearings
• Several feet of 1/8-inch-thick 1-inch square tubing
• 16 feet of 1/8x¾-inch strap steel
• One 3-foot-long, 1/8x¾x¾-inch angle iron
• One 5-foot-long wooden 4×4
• Two 30-inch-long wooden 4x4s
• A few 2×2-inch pieces of lumber
Depending on the size and type of ATV you are using, adjust the length of the vertical 1-inch square tubing to ensure the spools section clears the sidewalls of your ATV. Remember, the bearings need to be centered in the two upper levels of the spinner. See the illustration for placement of the construction pieces.
Linerode used a 30-gallon chemical barrel centered and bolted to the top level of the spinner as the inside center of the tile rolls being used.
When asked about the biggest challenge with construction, he replied “Getting everything constructed plumb and straight; that is very important.” He believes the work was worth it. “I am so glad I did this, because the savings on manpower and time have been huge.”
-Tom Linerode, Alliance, Ohio
Farming Operation: Before his retirement, Linerode and his brother, Keith, operated an 80-head dairy, which included 1,100 acres of farmland. They raised alfalfa, corn, soybeans, and wheat. The farm was a six-generation operation.
Family: Linerode and his wife, Bonnie, have been married 49 years and have one son, Seth.
Hobbies: He loves collecting arrowheads, taking day trips with his wife (he calls them “mental health days”), and collecting and restoring antique tractors.
Organizations: Linerode spent many years as a firefighter at his local volunteer department, and retired as fire chief a few years ago.
Email: Brooklane400@gmail.com