STORM

The Storm is Mandako's vertical tillage tool. We build it in Plum Coulee, Manitoba, in three widths from 27 to 40 feet, for tractors from 405 hp up. It runs 20-inch coulter blades on 10-inch spacing for a 5-inch effective cut, and the toolbar angle adjusts hydraulically from 0° to 14° while you drive. Working weight is about 800 lb per foot.

What it does in the field

Vertical tillage sizes residue and opens the top few inches of soil without turning it over. Blade depth runs from 1 to 6 inches. At 0° the coulters slice straight through and leave the surface close to how they found it. That is the setting for a wet spring, when the ground needs to dry and warm without smearing. At 14° the blades move soil, mix residue and level ruts, which is what you want after a heavy canola or corn crop, or to close a field in the fall. You pick the angle from the cab, so one pass can change as the field changes.

Blades

Two blade options, both 20 inches: a 13W Ingersoll blade for cutting residue and mixing, or a concave coulter for more soil movement with less chopping. Both mount on independent coulter hubs with triple lip seals. Each blade comes off with one bolt, so a bent coulter is a field fix, not a shop day. Our post on choosing blades for vertical tillage goes through when to run which.

Frame and trips

The frame is 6" x 6" x 0.500 wall tubing. Blades ride on heavy-duty trip assemblies with coil springs, two blades per trip: a rock lifts two coulters and the rest keep cutting. Depth is set at a single point for the whole machine. The 27, 33 and 40 ft units all fold as a 3-section frame.

Finishing options

Hydraulic rolling baskets and a 2-row tine harrow are available behind the coulters. Baskets firm the seedbed and break clods; harrows spread residue evenly. Both are adjusted from the cab.

Hookup and transport

The hitch folds for storage. Hydraulic couplers have colour-coded Hydra Grip handles, so hookup takes a minute. The Storm needs four hydraulic ports and 10 GPM at 1800 PSI. Transport width runs from 14' on the 27 ft to 20' 11" on the 40 ft; the specification table below has every size.


Sizes and options

  • Widths: 27', 33' and 40'. Horsepower requirement from 405+ to 600+.
  • Blades: 20" 13W Ingersoll or 20" Concave Coulter, 10" spacing, 5" effective cut.
  • Toolbar angle: 0° - 14°, hydraulic, patented, adjustable on the go from the cab.
  • Depth: 1" to 6", Single Point Depth Control.
  • Frame: 6" x 6" x 0.500W Heavy Duty Frame Tubing, approximately 800 LBS/FT working weight.
  • Trips: Heavy Duty Trip Assembly with Coil Spring, 2 blades per trip; Independent Coulter Hubs with Triple Lip Seal.
  • Rear attachments: Hydraulic Baskets, 2-Row Tine Harrow.
  • Hitch: Foldable Hitch, colour-coded Hydra Grip handles.
  • Colours: Green, Black or Red.
  • Euro Storm: a 2-section version of the Storm for narrow roads and stricter transport rules. See the Euro Storm page.
Advantages of the model
Angle you set from the cab
The toolbar swings from 0° to 14° on hydraulics while the machine is moving. Run it flat to slice residue and leave the surface alone in a wet spring; open it up to mix and level after a heavy crop. One machine covers both jobs without stopping to re-pin anything.
Built for rocks
6" x 6" x 0.500 wall frame, coil spring trips with two blades each, and about 800 lb per foot of working weight. Coulters ride on independent hubs with triple lip seals, and a damaged blade comes off with one bolt.
Blades matched to the job
20-inch 13W Ingersoll blades cut residue and mix; 20-inch concave coulters move more soil with less chopping. Either mounts on 10-inch spacing for a 5-inch effective cut across the full width.
Finish in the same pass
Add hydraulic rolling baskets to firm the seedbed and break clods, and a 2-row tine harrow to spread residue. Both are adjusted from the cab, so the finish changes with the field, not at the next stop.
Storm Specifications
Unit Size27'33'40'
# of Blades658197
Angle Adjustability0°-14°0°-14°0°-14°
Complete Working Length16' 8"16' 8"16' 8"
Coulter Blade Spacing10"10"10"
Depth Capabilities1"-6"1"-6"1"-6"
Effective Cut Spacing5"5"5"
Frame Sections333
Hitch Length12' 7"12' 7"14' 4"
Horsepower Req.405+495+600+
Hyd. Req. (@1800PSI)10 GPM (38 LPM)10 GPM (38 LPM)10 GPM (38 LPM)
Hyd. Req. (Ports)444
Tire Size440/55 R18440/55 R18440/55 R18
Total Weight with Harrows + Baskets25230 lbs29210 lbs35150 lbs
Transport Height11' 5"14' 4"14' 4"
Transport Width14'14'20' 11"
Working Width26' 7"33' 6"40'
Have a question?
Common questions about the Storm are answered below. If yours is not here, call us or send it through the form at the bottom of the page.
What does the Storm do that a disc doesn't?

A disc turns soil over and buries residue. The Storm cuts through residue and leaves most of it on the surface. At 0° the coulters run straight and disturb only the slot; at a higher angle they mix and level, still without inverting the profile. The field dries and warms in spring, and the residue stays where it holds topsoil.

Will it work in heavy clay and in sandy ground?

Yes. In clay, run the angle up and let the concave or 13W blades size residue and fracture the top layer; the 800 lb/ft of working weight keeps the coulters in the ground. In sandy soil, run closer to 0° and shallower (depth adjusts from 1" to 6") so you cut residue without moving soil you would rather leave alone.

What keeps the Storm running in rocky fields?

Frame tubing is 6" x 6" with a 0.500 wall. Each trip assembly carries two blades on a coil spring, so a rock lifts two coulters and drops them back without bending anything. Hubs are independent with triple lip seals, and a blade changes with one bolt.

What tractor do I need?

405 hp and up for the 27 ft, 495+ for the 33 ft and 600+ for the 40 ft. Four hydraulic ports and 10 GPM at 1800 PSI. Total weight with harrows and baskets runs from 25,230 lb to 35,150 lb, so check your tractor's hitch and rear axle rating.

Is the Storm only for big operations?

No. The 27 ft unit runs behind 405 hp; the 40 ft needs 600 hp. All three sizes share the same blades, trips, frame tubing and options, so the small unit is not a lighter build. Pick the width by your tractor and your acres, then add baskets or a harrow if you want a finished seedbed in one pass.

Storm presentation video
Our presentation video on the Storm: how the toolbar angle, blade options and rear attachments work.
Quick Dick McDick runs the Storm
Saskatchewan farmer and YouTuber Quick Dick McDick puts the Storm to work on his own ground.
Brochure
The Storm brochure as a PDF: sizes, specifications, blade options and attachments on one sheet.
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Operator Manuals
Operator manuals for Mandako equipment in PDF: setup, operation, adjustment and maintenance. Open the manual for your model.
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