Ideas for homemade 3 pt. hitch frame for chain drag harrow?

[jcaron2]

I have an 8' x 8' chain drag harrow. A 3ph frame kit for it costs as much as the harrow itself. I'm looking for suggestions/experiences people have had making their own.

I'd prefer to have it firmly attached to the 3ph, not just dangling from a boom pole or the like during transport, then pulled chain.

My idea so far is to buy a carry-all like this one for $129 from Tractor Supply:

I occasionally see used ones around here for $40 or $50. Then I plan to use angle iron or pipe or possibly even 4x4 treated wood to make an 8x8 frame in the shape of the Roman numeral II.

Then it should just be a matter of attaching the drag harrow to the frame and the frame to the "forks" of the carry-all. I'll probably add some chains to hold up the back of the frame so as not to overstress the carry-all.

I've attached a crude drawing with the carry-all in red, the frame in blue, and the chains in green.

Any input from the collective wisdom and experience of this forum?

Thanks.

 

[Egon]

Buhler

There is a setup like you are looking for on this site.

 

[sld]

That is a great idea. I have an adjustable spike harrow that is a pain in the rear because you can't lift it. It works great as a drag implement, but turning around is hard to do.

I would stick to a metal framework just to keep the weather from degrading it.

Thanks for the idea...I love this forum.

 

[rambler]

You will completely change the operation of your implement by making it a ridgid thing mounted to a framework like that.

You might like the mobility, but I think you will not like the operation of it any more.

Harrows are meant to flex & flow & move around some. Follow the ground, not be mounted ridgidly.

Buy a carryall like you picture, and hang the harrow below on chains. Then it will still work like a harrow.

I'm not sure on why a person can't turn on the ends with a harrow? You just need a long enough chain/ rods/ hitch so the tractor can turn. The harrow will follow & come back down the next pass behind you.

--->Paul

 

[Egon]

A few months ago there was a thread on the same subject. A search for it might give more ideas.

 

[jcaron2]

You will completely change the operation of your implement by making it a ridgid thing mounted to a framework like that.

You might like the mobility, but I think you will not like the operation of it any more.

Harrows are meant to flex & flow & move around some. Follow the ground, not be mounted ridgidly.

Buy a carryall like you picture, and hang the harrow below on chains. Then it will still work like a harrow.

I'm not sure on why a person can't turn on the ends with a harrow? You just need a long enough chain/ rods/ hitch so the tractor can turn. The harrow will follow & come back down the next pass behind you.

--->Paul

In my particular case, I'll be dragging a dressage arena that will be perfectly flat (other than a slight crown). I don't need it to follow the ground, and I absolutely CANNOT drag it out of the arena and then back in. If I don't have a way to raise and lower it, I can't easily groom the corners of the arena.

 

[bota7800]

I think you are on the right track. My harrow, used primarily for arena grooming, is on a 3 pt frame. The harrow hangs below the frame on 4 chains. When in use, it rests on the ground pulled along by the chains. When raise the 3PH the chains lift the harrow off the ground.

In my opinion your frame will be stiffer than mine, which is too flexy.


The chains slide into hangers on the frame so you can adjust the height. I think you will want to do that.

 

[bota7800]

Actually, I did not look at your drawing closely enough. With the green chains, yours may not be as rigid as you might want. The problem with mine is that, when suspended, the rear flexes and the support braces flex. You are starting with a stronger structure (the carryall) but your "H" will be hanging off the back quite a bit.

I still like your idea.

 

[jcaron2]

Actually, I did not look at your drawing closely enough. With the green chains, yours may not be as rigid as you might want. The problem with mine is that, when suspended, the rear flexes and the support braces flex. You are starting with a stronger structure (the carryall) but your "H" will be hanging off the back quite a bit.

I still like your idea.

Thanks. Do you think I should use something rigid instead of chains? It shouldn't really be any harder to do it that way.

 

[bota7800]

I don't think replacing the chains as placed will help that much. You may want to build in some triangles at the rear of the structure. And, I like the idea of vertical flex in your structure. It might avoid some damage if you back into a post for example. (It may not, too)

It is the torsional flex that I have and don't like. The rear twists along the longitudinal axis.

You could build it your way and add crossmembers if you need them.

I hope this makes sense.