Question for someone who has the GQF/Hovabator 1610 egg turner?

[arlee453]

OK... trying to solve my egg turning issues for when I do the school incubator project with the 2nd graders...I'd rather not have the kids turn the eggs - too much opening of the bator and too much handling of the eggs. PLUS I could bring the bator home over the weekends, but would rather not if I didn't have to and an auto turner would solve both those problems.

As I posted in my other thread, the auto turners are too wide to fit in my bator though...

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=79

Anyone have the yellow Hovabator egg turner? Model 1610. The link above has the picture of what I'm looking at.

When I look at this turner, I wonder if I could carefully hacksaw off the last two rows of trays to make the turner narrower to fit inside my incubator?

It LOOKs like the motor simply moves the arm in a slow circle, causing the trays to tilt. It doesn't look like the arm is supported on the other end opposite the motor, so I could carefully cut it off so there were only 3 or 4 trays rather than 6 trays. Then trim the trays also so it would be narrower.

Dimensions listed are 15" by 15". I need it to be around 11" rather than 15" to fit in my bator.

If you have this turner, would that work, or if I cut it shorter would it not have support, etc...and not work?

TIA!!!

 

[seminolewind]

Hi, from looking at mine, I am pretty sure you can cut it down to size, probably on one side, I don't think cutting it on 2 sides would work. Maybe there's more creative members here. Karen

 

[arlee453]

thanks - I wanted to make sure there wasn't anything on the side where the turner bar is that I wasn't seeing in the pics. All the pics I found are of the non-turner-bar side of the thing...

I may just order one and give it a try. If it doesn't work, it wouldn't be the first $40 I've wasted...

 

[MissPrissy]

Look at the goose egg turner. You could call the office and ask about the size of it.

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=82

I know goose eggs are larger than chicken eggs but it might be easier to retro fit it if it is a bit smaller in size.

 

[snugglepup]

I have that turner and broke the last row... as far as I can tell it still works!

 

[arlee453]

OK, new incubator is finished (the one for my kid's classroom)...except for the glass top - got to find an old picture frame with a big enough piece of glass.

Anyway, I did go ahead and pickup the Little Giant turner from Tractor Supply. It was $42.

I cut off the last row on either side with a small hacksaw. and moved the support braces into the center. I've got it in there now running with some grocery store eggs to make sure it doesn't hit the sides and the eggs don't fall out, etc. Mechanically, cutting off the ends didn't make a difference - it will still turn!

The turner will now hold 30 eggs total. I'm not sure that the eggs will turn right if I use the two rows on the outside. I'm afraid the top of the egg will hit the side of the cooler and not get the complete 30deg angle.

I could always cut off one more row if I need to, but figured I'd rather try it with 4 rows and see if it will work. If I had to, I could cut off one more row and leave 22 slots.

I used a 34 qt cooler - same as my other bator that is running now.

I'm going to take pics when I get a sec.