Chain Link Fence Drag Harrow?

[robertwhite]

I searched for old threads, but they are too old and don't have photos anymore.

I am not spending almost $500 for a 6x8 drag harrow from TSC. I do have a 6x8 piece of chain link that was free.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Can anyone post a pic or two of your homemade Chain Link Fence drag harrow?

It will not be used to rip and smooth my grass, it will be used to break up/spread large amounts of cow manure in the fields.

Does the 4x4 go 18 or so inches after the fence or does it sit on the end?

Do I need side support?

End support?

Angle to tractor?

 

[Luremaker]

I searched for old threads, but they are too old and don't have photos anymore.

I am not spending almost $500 for a 6x8 drag harrow from TSC. I do have a 6x8 piece of chain link that was free.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Can anyone post a pic or two of your homemade Chain Link Fence drag harrow?

It will not be used to rip and smooth my grass, it will be used to break up/spread large amounts of cow manure in the fields.

Does the 4x4 go 18 or so inches after the fence or does it sit on the end?

Do I need side support?

End support?

Angle to tractor?

I use a piece of 8' x 10' chain link attached to a 4x4. A larger 6x6 or even a log would work better because of the extra weight. I use mine while spreading pasture seed and fall rye before I make a pass with my cultipacker. I attached the fence to the 4x4 using fence staples and my 4x4 is at the very front.

 

[robertwhite]

my 4x4 is at the very front.

At the front, as in closest to the tractor?

Doesn't that just make it load up in front of the 4x4?

Also, if it is at the front, do you use side supports?

 

[tnjind]

Mattress springs work much better

 

[nickel plate]

I have been using a piece of 6'x8' chainlink with a 3"x3" tubing at the head for going on three years now for landscaping the terrain, hauling brush and 8"-12" stumps to the burn pile. It does have a tendency to curl on the sides and trailing edge so I recommend that you use something like foundation tie wire around the perimeter and loop it at every chain link intersection to stop the unraveling before you put it to use.

 

[framer]

I have tryed chain link fence before can't get enough weighed were it needs
to be. Those heavy drags i have seen do verry good job breaking up sod or
leveling. Don't have one if i had a lot to do i would invest in one.

 

[gwdixon]

I used a simple 8' piece of 3" black pipe with a couple of links of chain welded to it to run a cable (which then attaches to the drawbar). The chain is run through the fence links to keep it spread out. Two 4" bolts (rebar would work) were welded on the pipe's end to keep the fence stretched.

The weight problem was solved by putting a couple of pallets on top of the chain link and securing them with baling wire. You could even put bags of concrete mix on the pallets for more weight but I have not personally done that.

The chain link will not last long, depending on your soil, but for spreading manure it should work fine. My is used for spreading clumps of cut grass from Bush Hogging. I got the idea from a coastal golf course that was always wet and the fairways were not so "fair" after mowing. They used that kind of setup.

 

[MichiganIron]

Take a 6" Diameter log or pole, and wrap the chain-link fence around it several times. Chain link isn't heavy enough to act as a good drag harrow, so warp it around a log or pole several times. Use either eye hooks or wrap the log with a drag chain at each end. The weight and "harrow" action of the wrapped chain-link does a great job at final leveling and setting broadcast seed.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Robert, take a look here, post #22. Jenkinsph built his own spiked tooth harrow for about $250. I think that you would be a lot happier with one of these than a piece of chain-link. Or you could get one like mine, but more $$$$ than you want to spend.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I use a drag like you want - not to dig but just break up clumps on the surface. It is a trailer tail gate some one left in my woods. It consists of a welded up rectangle of angle iron about 4' X 6' with a couple extra 4' cross members so you have angle every 2' along the 6' edges. Then there is a skin of heavy cane metal welded on it. Your fencing would be fine. If it is not heavy enough I just put a few rocks or blocks on it.