Ad on kijijji 20 minutes ago, rockyford steel in calgary.

 

I'm going to borrow your thread to ask a related question, what is the easiest way to convert a regular lid to a DIY remote opener?

When I say easy, I'd like to avoid hauling the lid down, manufacturing a linkage and installing the entire thing again. I'm thinking self tapping screws holding a vertical handle to connect the rope to, and a baler tooth for a coil spring to keep it closed.

My aim is usually fine on the smaller openings, although I have some old wheatland 1620's and the opening is hardly any bigger than a 10" auger, if the auger runs over a fly it moves the top end sideways too much to hit the hole.

 

Grain Bin Lids | Avonlea Group Ltd. | Agriculture Equipment Sales

Have had good luck with these and should last a lifetime.

 

I like the avonlea lids.... simple to install by the looks of it with the band clamp... I like the enlargers from rockeyford... but I don't like how complicated the rockeyford lid openers are.... I'd like the rockeyford enlarged throat with the avonlea lids.
Thanks, I may have to check some prices tomorrow.
Has anyone made their own lids or throat enlargers?

 

I like the avonlea lids.... simple to install by the looks of it with the band clamp...QUOTE]

I second this design, we had our bins changed over to these Avonlea lids a couple years ago, best thing we ever did....they are a great simple design and no more climbing the bin to open or close the lid.... and they won't open in high winds

 

Anyone with the Rockyford lids, did you install yourself or find someone to do it ?

 

We did 3 Rockyford lids ourselves on some 19-8 Westeel bins a couple years ago. It wasn't too bad of a job. They told us it can all be done from the top of the bin but we set up scaffolding in the bin to make it easier. We were installing Gatco air tubes at the same time so we wanted the scaffolding for that too.

 

Not to hijack this post further, but we have some Westeel yellow top bins that have had the bin tops abused by guys who don't know how to set an auger into a bin. Has anyone had any luck straightening these lids out? or should i just look into putting the rockyford enlarged throat onto all of these bins

 

I've got one like that last fall, hired help started the auger tractor in gear with auger in bin, had to fix the auger in short order, but just threw a tarp over the bin with a heavy chain over top to keep it down, since it was about to start raining. Will have to look into it one day before fall. Maybe put the auger on the other side and do the same trick?

 

We had 3 Westeel 19ft yellow top lids converted to Rockyford lids and like them a lot. Rockyford has a crew that will install them if you give them lots of notice so that the crew can do a bunch in your area (they installed ours). They are a little pricey but they change the bins from being "hated pain in the butt" to "very useable".

 

Gloebel sold us bins on the statement they had the best lids in the industry. In fact they are the worst IMO. Last thing I need is a small lid and one that won't open. I have found myself climbing these bins the most. Dam mechanism rusts up and wont open and you pull till your blue in the face on one cable then try the other and do the same because you think you have the wrong one and you climb up and fix the dam thing. My favorite lid is the 3' westeel with the spring hands down. Never grief touch wood! Auger fits first try usually.

 

Goebel lids are horrendous, I bought a new bin from them and ordered without a lid. I put a rockyford lid on when I built it.

 

I emailed Rockyford a couple days ago, they got back to me today and should be scheduled in for the near future. Price per bin seemed reasonable enough to me I don’t want to send my guys improperly equipped to the top of a bin.