Offset tow behind disc harrow HELP

Brad454 · Apr 5, 2009

Hi
Recently picked up an old 5ft offset tow behind disc harrow. The guy I bought it from had never used it, but said the implement folded.The harrow is a two piece unit which has a pivot to angle the gangs of discs in opposite directions. I have spent hours trying to figure out how the two pieces are supposed to fold. I am thinking the rear is supposed to somehow go onto the front. I am hoping some one with experience with these harrows can help me. here is a couple of pics. I took the two halves apart. This is the rear half.
Thanks Brad

This is the front half with the tow bar removed. The name stamped on the disc axle is: goble9

flusher · Apr 5, 2009

Brad454 said:
Hi
Recently picked up an old 5ft offset tow behind disc harrow. The guy I bought it from had never used it, but said the implement folded.The harrow is a two piece unit which has a pivot to angle the gangs of discs in opposite directions. I have spent hours trying to figure out how the two pieces are supposed to fold. I am thinking the rear is supposed to somehow go onto the front. I am hoping some one with experience with these harrows can help me. here is a couple of pics. I took the two halves apart. This is the rear half.
Thanks Brad

This is the front half with the tow bar removed. The name stamped on the disc axle is: coble9

I'll try to help you out, but there are probably hundreds of offset disc designs. Without seeing both halves of your particular disc, it's hard to say what you have.

Anyway, here's my old 7-ft Towner offset pull disc that probably dates from the 1930s or 40s.

My disc has two mechanical adjustments operated by pull ropes. One of them allows the angle of the disc to be set by moving the tractor forward and backwards. The other allows that angle to return to zero degrees (the least aggressive tillage setting) when making turns. This is done to minimize side forces on the pans that can bend these out of shape.

Modern offset discs have a hydraulic cylinder to set the angle between the two gangs of blades (which some people call "pans"). My disc dates from the days when remote hydraulics were a rarity on tractors. Hence, the rope operation contraption.