Plucks Irrigator Z-Jacks

Plucks Engineering Ltd
Main South Road, Rakaia
Mid Canterbury, New Zealand

Telephone: (03) 302-7031
Freephone: (0800) 758-257
Fax: (03) 302-7999

Email: enquiries@plucks.co.nz
Web-site: www.plucks.co.nz

Irrigator 'Z' Jacks are designed and built by Plucks Engineering Ltd for end tow centre pivot and linear 'A' frame type irrigators. The jacks are hydraulically powered and diagonally open and close. The jack clamps to the main bottom beam of the 'A' frame wheel tower. No welding is required. The unit folds up tightly (200mm) to minimise the possibility of crop entanglement and seed contamination between paddocks. The unit is designed to lift the wheels 150mm in hard or soft ground. The 'Z' jacks are built from high tensile steel and are fully galvanised. A safety plate ensures that the jack cannot fold out when the hydraulic hoses are disconnected.

	It takes the 'Z' jack about 40 seconds to fold out, or fold up, and to disconnect the power unit. The hydraulic power comes from a small, light weight, fully self-contained 12 volt hydraulic pump, jell battery and tank. The unit is easily carried to each tower and connected with simple push/pull couplings. The battery power of the unit lasts up to 3 complete shifts of a 9 tower irrigator before it needs to be recharged.

The most efficient method to use the Jack/Pump set up is to tow a four wheel bike (carrying the power pack) with the tractor and irrigator. The bike is used to travel from one end of the irrigator to the other, turning wheels as you go. It is then towed behind the first tower of the irrigator which is in turn towed by the tractor to the next paddock. This way there is no walking or carrying and no extra crop damage from tractor wheels being driven between towers. One man can now move a complete machine on his own, quickly, safely and with next to no effort ! e-mail