chicken plucker

[chicken ridl]

I built the whizbang plucker.
A friend of mine used it this weekend and said it didn't work.
The legs and wings kept getting caught.
It seams to be running pretty fast.
Help please.

 

[Peruvian]

What do you mean by it 'didn't work'? Did the wings/legs get caught or did it not pluck the birds? Were the chickens scalded properly?

If it's a matter that the wings/legs got caught - where did they get caught? Between the featherplate and the barrel or in between the fingers? Did you add all the fingers to the plate & barrel?

More info would help solve the problem.

 

[chicken ridl]

I had lunch with my buddy whom used it yesterday. he said they were getting caught up in the fingers along the edge.
I think I can move the bottom plate up some more. I will make that change to night.
He also said they bounce around a lot.
Makes me think I have to much RPM on the plate.
I have 2'' pully on the motor and an 11'' on the plate. Looking at the chart in the whizbang book that should be around 325 I think.
He has an RPM gage we will try it tonight also.
I have a 1/3 hp motor on it that is not big enough.I tryed to use what I had laying around to keep the cost down. I will need to buy a larger motor.
I might have jumped the gun with my post.
As for I am a new egg.
Thank you so much for the quick reply. I have been reading this forum for a while and I have learned a lot.

 

[Peruvian]

Raising the featherplate is a good idea as it should tighten up the space between the lower fingers.

One secret I've learned from my whizbang plucker is putting 2 birds in at once really helps. They seem to knock one another around and pluck faster without bouncing out. I doubt your 1/3 hp motor will be strong enough with 2 birds though.

 

[pepper48_98]

I think that the RPM should be between 150 and 175.

 

[Burbs]

What is the motor RPM? Can't do the math without that.

 

[Burbs]

Quote:
Mine runs at 270 and works like a dream.

 

[pepper48_98]

This is the one I am trying to copy... I am almost finished so, I can't say what it will do but the video here looks good to me.

http://members.cox.net/chickenplucker/plucker.shtml

 

[jaku]

Did you alter from the plans? Mine works great- I can't imagine they'd be much different if you went by the book.

 

[chicken ridl]

motor RPM 1725
Found and installed 1/3 hp motor last night.
looking for a 12 or 13'' pully for the feather plate
raised the feather plate 1/2 inch untill fingers just touch the ones on the side.
I did not change the design from the book.