Using a disk harrow

[Pooh_Bear]

This past Saturday I bought a used 5 foot disk harrow for $250.
It is a 3pt hitch type and it was here in town and I couldn't pass it up.

Is there a proper way to use this thing.

I just hooked it up to my 8N and drove into the garden and set it down
and started pulling. I had plowed the garden last week with a bottom plow.
This seemed to chop it up real good. Need to run thru it a few more times.

Is there a certain speed or anything I need to do. Or do I just pull it.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

 

[vallyfarm]

Two ways to set the top lonk... many use a slop link to get proper draft between front and back gangs, the other way is to make sure the top link is set perfectly for the depth you are disking at. The easy way to tell is to try the slop link. If the disk wants to roll forward when you pull it, use a solid toplink. Just keep eyeballing the depth of the disk axles and try to set the toplink so that they pull the same depth. Disks work better the faster you go. That being said, too fast and they will throw dirt way out on the first gang. Try to put the most angle that you can into the gangs. This will give you the most agressive cut. Then find the gear you can pull them in the easiest in. I would guess 2nd gear. Try to pull at 3/4 throttle. That way if you find a tough spot the tractor still has a little extra to power through with. Good luck, Mike

 

[LeadPoison]

Whatever you don't turn with it. Always raise, then turn.

For my first pass I set the angle to 'most aggresive' and tighten the top link so all the weight is on the front gangs. I run it in 4th gear. I also ratchet strap 400# of log on it.

Then for the second pass I set the angle slightly less and loosen the top link so both gangs are engaged evenly. Run it in 4th again for another pass or two until soil is fluffly and grass is turned in.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

2nd gear at 3/4 throttle??? Don't think so.
My garden is 36 feet wide and about 60 feet long if that.
I did it in first gear at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and it did an ok job.
I pulled it all in one direction. Tomorrow I'll pull the other direction.
Then go cross ways on it. Today I did the whole thing in 15 minutes.

What's a sloplink. I only have a toplink (like a big turnbuckle).

Pooh Bear

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Most disc's will have some adjustment for angle of each gang. Rear gangs should be slightly LESS aggressively angled than the front. Too much rear angle will leave a ridge in the middle.

A disc needs some ground speed to do a decent job. 4 to 5 mph is as fast as you'll need to go, if that fast. The faster you go, the more the disc will tend to raise up out of the ground. Too slow means no soil action. Find a speed that works and go with it. Being a small garden, you can run over it several times without a big investment of time.

An 8N, I'd guess 2nd gear, and enough throttle to keep from lugging hard, and you'll get the job done.

 

[kwolfe]

I am guessing that the "sloplink" would be a small and somewhat loose extension of the toplink connection on the harrow. The same concept they use on 3pt finish mowers. The slack between the toplink and the point it connects to on the implement would allow the harrow to follow the contour (front to back) of the ground. Does this makes sense?

 

[Pooh_Bear]

That makes sense. Kinda like using a chain as a toplink.
If you make the chain the right length you can still lift the implement.
But it will follow the contour of the ground.
My ground is flat. I don't have to worry about it.

I plow it with a 16 inch bottom plow.
I just needed something to break up the clods.
Been using a troybuilt rototiller. Still hard work.

My bottom plow won't adjust properly.
Both lower link pins are the same height.
It still plows ground good. But it really tears the ground up.
Needed something to chop it up and smooth it back out.

I noticed the front gang of the disk was set more agressive than the rear.
I'm gonna leave it like that. It's probably already set up the best way.

Pooh Bear