Any thoughts on Woods DHM7 Disc Harrows?

[brianb88]

I have been looking at buying a new disc for the last few months and now it's time to buy. From what I can tell it looks pretty well built. I will be using it for about a 1 acre garden and about 5-7 acres of food plots/dove fields. I was wondering if any of you had experience with this particular disc.

 

[Helitech]

I've been looking at them, I think they are very well built!

 

[jeff9366]

Wood's web site: Product Details

This is the heaviest Disc Harrow I have read about with 18" diameter pans. Most Disc Harrow with 18" pans are around 600 pounds built on 2-1/2" box frames.

Even with all that weight, because of 7-1/2" pan spacing, which is narrow, increasing float, it will be marginal for cutting food plots that have not been "opened" with a moldboard plow. ~~~~Depending on local conditions.

Most consider "cutting" Discs to have 9" pan spacing and Discs with 7-1/2" spacing as "smoothers" more for reducing plow furrows. Narrower 7-1/2" spacing will leave your garden soil flatter, nearly ready for seeding.

Also, 84" is pretty wide, if you have to maneuver between trees less than 94"" apart in your food plots.
What is the outside to outside measurement of your rear tires?

This Disc Harrow is Cat 1. Is the Three Point Hitch on your Branson Cat 1 or Cat 2?

If you proceed, I recommend ordering this Disc with notched pans, front and rear.


LINK to T-B-N archive: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/332493-tandem-lift-disc-harow-monroe.html?highlight=

Tufline builds in Mississippi.

 

[aarolar]

I like it other than the disc spacing like jeff said. The only other thought I have is bigger discs I have a 6' wide harrow with 18" discs and regularly have to run it less than all the way down on the 3pt due to dirt trying to roll over the axles.

 

[C4Ranch]

I like the design. I looked at it long and hard before I bought my ETA.

 

[jeff9366]

If you shorten your Top Link, shifting a greater proportion of the draft force to the front gangs of your Disc, those outrigger furrows, which annoy me no end in my disc work, will decrease. I like approximately 60% weight on front gangs, 40% weight on rear gangs. I am guesstimating you have 7-1/2" pan spacing, correct?

How are you finding ETA's gang angle adjustment by screw mechanism?

 

[C4Ranch]

Good tip, thanks Jeff. Yes 7 1/2.. 24x20. Ya know, I thought the screw adjustments were gonna be great when I adjust em... But ya know how many times I've adjusted them? Zero.. Haven't really found a need. Keep it set at the most aggressive. She's a heavy beast for sure and helps cut. Have a rail track I'm thinking about welding hooks on the back so I can drag at same time...

 

[brianb88]

Wood's web site: Product Details

This is the heaviest Disc Harrow I have read about with 18" diameter pans. Most Disc Harrow with 18" pans are around 600 pounds with 2-1/2" box frames.

Even with all that weight, because of 7-1/2" pan spacing, which is narrow, increasing float, it will be marginal for cutting food plots that have not been "opened" with a moldboard plow. ~~~~Depending on local conditions.

Most consider "cutting" Discs to have 9" pan spacing and Discs with 7-1/2" spacing as "smoothers" more for reducing plow furrows. Narrower 7-1/2" spacing will leave your garden soil flatter, nearly ready for seeding.

Also, 84" is pretty wide, if you have to maneuver between trees less than 94"" apart in your food plots.

What is the outside to outside measurement of your rear tires?

This Disc Harrow is Cat 1. Is the Three Point Hitch on your Branson Cat 1 or Cat 2?

I would order this Disc with notched pans, front and rear.


LINK to T-B-N archive: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/332493-tandem-lift-disc-harow-monroe.html?highlight=

Thanks Jeff for all the info and the informative links. I don't have to worry too much about spacing between trees so the 84" would not be a problem. My rear tires are at 68" as they are but can be widened some. I haven't explored that option yet as it has not been needed so far. My Branson has Cat. 1 hitch and the disc I am looking at has notched front and rear pans. The same dealer I bought my tractor from has this particular disc in his inventory and his price is $1600 and is somewhat negotiable.

 

[jeff9366]

C4RANCH:

If you shorten your Top Link and perhaps adjust your rear gang less aggressively, you may not need a drag. In your picture, the center of your pull looks acceptably flat to me. I think you will find Top Link adjustment is more important than rear gang adjustment in decreasing those symmetrical outrigger furrows.

However, if your conditions are such that you can achieve satisfactory soil mixing with your front gangs set less aggressively than now, your rear gangs will have less smoothing to do at input. Your result will be an incrementally smoother bed.

I like to operate my Disc Harrow set as UNaggressively as possible, while still fully accomplishing degree of soil mixing I want. Too aggressive sets, over years, reduces organic content of your soil and may harden it.

FYI: I recently read here that track is uniformly 137 pounds per linear foot.

Excellent ETA Disc Harrow pulled by an excellent tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks Jeff for all the info and the informative links. I don't have to worry too much about spacing between trees so the 84" would not be a problem. My rear tires are at 68" as they are but can be widened some. I haven't explored that option yet as it has not been needed so far. My Branson has Cat. 1 hitch and the disc I am looking at has notched front and rear pans. The same dealer I bought my tractor from has this particular disc in his inventory and his price is $1600 and is somewhat negotiable.

$1,600 is a very good price. Likely a thin profit margin for the dealer.

If having the Disc protrude 8" outside of your rear tires on both sides is not a problem, go for it. Protrusion(s) will allow you to disc close to fence lines.

No reason to widen your tire stance.