Overview
ISO 4197:1989, "Equipment for working the soil - Hoe blades - Fixing dimensions," is the second edition (1989) of an ISO standard prepared by ISO/TC 23 (Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry). It cancels and replaces ISO 4197:1981 and specifies the standard fixing dimensions for hoe blades with a working width up to and including 220 mm. The standard presents contours, hole locations and dimensional data in millimetres (illustrated in Figure 1).
Key Topics
- Scope: Fixing dimensions for hoe blades used in tillage and soil-working equipment, applicable to blades up to 220 mm working width.
- Fixing geometry: Standardized positions and arrangements of mounting holes and related dimensions as shown in Figure 1.
- Units: All dimensions are given in millimetres.
- Contour guidance: Broken-line contours in the figure are provided for dimensional reference only.
- Hole options: The blade may feature either the lower hole or both lower holes where illustrated (i.e., some hole locations are optional as noted in the figure).
- Technical authority: Developed under ISO technical committee ISO/TC 23 (agricultural and forestry machinery), ensuring industry relevance and international consensus.
Applications
ISO 4197 is practical for anyone involved in the design, manufacture, procurement and maintenance of tillage tools and cultivator attachments:
- Manufacturers of hoe blades and cultivator tines use the standard to design parts that are mutually compatible and easily replaced.
- OEMs (agricultural machinery producers) integrate standardized blades into cultivators, hoes and seedbed preparation equipment.
- Spare‑parts suppliers and distributors rely on uniform fixing dimensions to guarantee interchangeability and reduce inventory complexity.
- Maintenance and service engineers benefit from consistent mounting arrangements for quicker field repairs and part sourcing.
- Procurement and quality teams use the standard to specify acceptance criteria and dimensional conformity.
Related standards
ISO 4197 complements other international standards for agricultural machinery and soil-working implements developed under ISO/TC 23. When specifying or sourcing hoe blades, consider cross-referencing broader ISO requirements for cultivators, tillage implements and machine safety where applicable.
Keywords: ISO 4197, hoe blade fixing dimensions, equipment for working the soil, hoe blade dimensions, agricultural machinery, tillage equipment, cultivator blades, ISO/TC 23, interchangeability.