CHAIN DRAG HARROW FOR FOOD PLOTS

[flINTLOCK]

I'm considering a chain drag harrow for final preparation of seed beds. Some of the ones I've seen are fairly large and heavy which should do a better job on hard ground. But since our 1.5-2 acre plots are separated by 1/4 to 1/2 mile of woods roads and paved road, I'm not sure how to transport a CDH from one spot to another or how to get it all off the ground to clear debris.

 

[EdKing]

You can use a boom pole on your 3ph. Attach a chain from the front of the chain harrow about 1/3 the way back on the pole, another from the middle of the harrow to about 2/3 on pole, and one from end of chain to end of pole. It will take some trial and error to get it right. I don't remember exactly who it was, but an other member posted a pick of this setup.

 

[greg_g]

What you want requires a lift system used in conjunction with your three point hitch. I've seen very few that don't at least double the price of the chain harrow. I made my own from 1-1/2" oil field pipe and lengths of 5/16" chain. PHOTO HERE

//greg//

 

[3RRL]

Hi Greg,
If you don't have a boom pole, you can make or buy one of these simple carriers. Very simple device. I've got one for my ATV drag harrow.

 

[wushaw]

What if you were to use a 3pt carry all and have the drag harrow attached to the draw bar and when you need to carry the chain harrow to another spot just roll up the harrow and place it on the 3pt carry all.
The drawback to this method is it would require more labor than a boom pole/chain setup but it may be cheaper and would require less storage space.

 

[3RRL]

Yeah wushaw,
That's a great suggestion. More labor...big deal. Cheaper is good plus the carry all can be used for a hundred other things!
Thanks,

 

[weedsportpete]

Not knowing anything about welding.. could one take a box spring frame, the metal ones that 'fold up', put it together and weld it permanently together, then weld on a three point hitch?

How much are 3PHs anyway?

 

[jdgreg]

I simply roll mine up, and use a chain with a slip hook around the harrow, then hook the other end of the chain onto the bucket and carry it out to field. Kinda labor intensive, but fortunately I dont use it all that often, just in the spring to break up the clumps of horse manure.

 

[RonR]

If you can find a section of heavy metal fencing (not chain link, but the iron kind), I'd use that. It will way outlast bed springs.

I just picked up two used sections, and if I didn't need to paint them and install in the fence, I'd make a drag harrow out of it.

Ron

 

[3RRL]

weedsportpete,

RonMar is right. I thought about doing the same thing except mine were chain link. I replaced and old chain link fence with redwood. The old fence had 2 large gates for RV parking that were welded solid all around. I wanted to turn them into harrows. The sections were 6' x 8' and would've been nice.

Transporting and parking them is another thing. I had to haul them up to the property and had no way to do that at the time. I guess I could've cut them in half and re-welded on site but I was too lazy to do that. So I ended up giving them to the fence guys who hauled them to the dump.

Now I'm sorry I did that.