New Implement Sizing.....JD 790

[foggy1111]

I have been shopping implements for my (new to me) John Deere 790. I found a deal I couldn't refuse on a New King Kutter 5' RC (L-60-40-P...on sale @ $559.) and found a 5 foot KK Box Blade, in like new condition and was painted JD green for $300. I just installed my Markham tooth bar for the bucket (nice) and received the Harbor freight 27 1/2" 3 point quick-hitch today. Also found a front weight bracket on ebay ($40 bucks + shipping) which I plan to use as a starting point for a fab'd grille guard as well as the weight bar when I take the loader off. Installed a JD block heater today and serviced the tractor. This has been a lot of fun....finding these implements (and good deals) and installing the accessories.

Now I have been looking at new (and used) disc harrows and have boiled it down to three brands (if I buy new) ....and would appreciate some input. My 790 is an older model MFWD and its the 30 hp (91 cid) and it seems to be in very good operating conditon (just 300 hours) with R1 tires on it. The soil I have is sandy loam. Here are the discs I am considering (for food plot purposes) :

1. Howse 6' Box Frame disc - in which the rear 1/2 of the disc allows rigid, fold-over, or floating. Weight is 870 lbs. 20 notched Blades. Price $1149. from Northern Tool

2. K Kutter Box Frame 5.5' Disc. Rigid tube frame. 16 notched blades. 720 lbs. $1119.

3. Frontier DH1166 5.5' Box Frame Disc. 16 notched blades. 660 lbs. $1450. (ish)

Part of my dilemma is that my tractor is a bit light and the hydraulics don't lift the most weight - maybe 1000 lbs on the 3 point after shimming the hyd. (I am adding fluid to the rear tires and plan to shim the hydraulics to 2500 psi).

In my mind.....the 16 disc models (2 and 3 above) seem to be the best alternative to get some ground penetration given similar wieghts. But I sorta like the folding feature found on the Howse too....as it may be a bit better for transport (provided I can fold it over - not sure how that's gonna work). I'm not sure I want to pay the Frontier price......so at this point I am leaning toward the Howse or the KK.

What do you guys think? Am I on the right path?....or any other suggestions?

 

[john_bud]

What do I think? I think that you will be standing still with your rear tires digging holes.

I think It takes a lot of traction to pull a disc, especially if you are wanting to angle the blades aggressively. If you want to run over the ground 6-8 times and make every adjustment from 0 angle out, it may work - may still be too much to pull.

Have you thought about the KK 60" tiller for 1200-1400? May be a better tool for that size machine.

jb

 

[foggy1111]

I would really like a tiller for the food plot areas, but was thinking that may come later. But maybe I need to rethink my disc plans.

The reason I am thinking disc is that I have about 1 mile or so of fairly nice trails (once I get some stumps ground out). I also have a few natural openings in the forest that seem to be ideal for food plots...3 different areas of about 1 acre in size.....but they have never been worked and will need to be brushed out and then tilled. The land is pretty level and the soil is light sandy loam and I don't have much for rocks.

My dilemma is how to work the food plot areas and the trails. I had figured a disc would be versatile for the trails part as it would not penetrate this ground too deep but will ride over the tree roots and old stumps while cutting some of the remaining brush and till deep enough to support the clover in these trails.

In the food plot areas....I was considering a middle buster to get through some of the brush and plant roots....and then working the land with a disc and round-up prior to planting in late summer. But now I wonder too about being able to pull a 6 foot disc harrow with my tractor.

 

[foggy1111]

OH.....and that folding feature on the Howse......do you think folding the rear gangs over the front would allow a first pass with a single disc....and then follow with a second pass with the back gangs trailing the front?

 

[wushaw]

My L2800 weighs 2600lbs and the 790 weighs 2100lbs. I can pull my 630lb 5' disk without any problems, I do have my rears filled and I remove my FEL just for maneuaverability.

 

[kthompson]

Not 100% sure the model of JD a friend of mine has but think it is about the size of the 90. My FIL had a disk that sounds a lot like the Howse in a Pilco or such brand. Our friend was going to use it and I helped him hook up to it. No problem other than he could not lift it. Really. No idea if he would have been fine with weights on the tractor or not. The only suggestion I would have is if you are not 100% sure haul the tractor to the disk before buying if no one can give you 100% certainty.