8' disc behind L3540?

[hunt4570]

Well looking for my next implement a disc... found a nice Howse 8' unit used for a good price, but I'm wondering if its too big for my Kubota L3540?

Mostly sandy soil, not much in the way of rocks or clay.

Also, a guy has a couple 6 footers that fold in the middle, so the rear gang of discs would actually fold over on top of the front , apparently more weight on them to cut in more? Not sure how you would go about folding them up though, they are not exactly light enough to go back there and flip them up. Any insight to this type?

 

[Fallon]

Others with more experience will probably chime in, but I think an 8' might be a bit much for that tractor. More than width though is the number of pans, size of pans & weight of the whole disk.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well looking for my next implement a disc... found a nice Howse 8' unit used for a good price, but I'm wondering if its too big for my Kubota L3540?

Mostly sandy soil, not much in the way of rocks or clay.

Also, a guy has a couple 6 footers that fold in the middle, so the rear gang of discs would actually fold over on top of the front , apparently more weight on them to cut in more? Not sure how you would go about folding them up though, they are not exactly light enough to go back there and flip them up. Any insight to this type?

Sounds like a job for your loader to me. Got any pictures of each set? They are a long way from me but I might be interested in the set you don't buy. Eight foot does sound like a lot for a L3540. Is it a 3 Point hitch setup or drawbar towed. If it is 3PH can your hitch pick it up?

 

[hunt4570]

Sounds like a job for your loader to me. Got any pictures of each set? They are a long way from me but I might be interested in the set you don't buy. Eight foot does sound like a lot for a L3540. Is it a 3 Point hitch setup or drawbar towed. If it is 3PH can your hitch pick it up?

So then I'd have to unhook the disc, drive around and lift the rear gang of discs.. mind you it would be unhooked at the time so nothing to hold it in place while doing so... sounds unweildly to me!

My 3 point is rated at 3750 lbs at the pins, so picking it up wouldnt be a problem.

 

[jeff9366]

The lightest Disc Harrow that will accomplish much has a box frame and 18" pans. I pulled a Howse with 18" pans behind a Kubota B3300SU and liked the combination. The B3300SU would not have pulled a Disc Harrow with 20" pans.

This LINK will explain how/why to select DH width relative to your tractor.

HOWSE REVIEW: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=


Since I sold the B3300SU and replaced it with an L3560, same tractor you have, one generation later, I replaced my lighter implements with heavier ones, more in keeping with 5,400 pound weight of my L3560. Box frame Disc Harrows with 18" pans have 35 - 40 pounds bearing on each pan. Box frame Disc Harrows with 20" pans have over 45 - 50 pounds bearing on each pan and really mix dirt. If you are going to use your Disc Harrow for smoothing after a plow, you want 7" - 7-1/2" spacing between pans. If you are going to use your Disc Harrow for preparing food plots, garden prep without a plow, firebreak maintenance or any other application where penetration is more important than a smooth finish, 9" spacing is better. A few Disc Harrows, such as the 20" pan diameter Tufline I own, have 9" spacing for the front gang and 7" spacing for the rear gang.

MONROE TUFLINE REVIEW: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/332493-tandem-lift-disc-harow-monroe.html?highlight=

You size Disc Harrows by pan diameter first, because that is where the weight is, then choose width depending on your primary task.

(You cannot pull a Disc Harrow with 22" diameter pans with an L3540.)

Monroe Tufline offered "full fold" Disc Harrows until recently. I do not see same on Tufline's web site today, possibly because folding heavy equipment is inherently hazardous. With hinges linking front/rear gangs you cannot optimally adjust Top Link to put more pressure on rear, smoothing gang; rear gang will oscillate on the hinges.

 

[nybirdman]

I have had a L3130 HST and currently a L4240 HST;I think you would be better served with a roto-tiller.One pass with a tiller and maybe four or five with a disc.Heavy disc are about the most load you can put on a tractor.

 

[hunt4570]

The lightest Disc Harrow that will accomplish much has a box frame and 18" pans. I pulled a Howse with 18" pans behind a Kubota B3300SU and liked the combination. The B3300SU would not have pulled a Disc Harrow with 20" pans.

This LINK will explain how/why to select DH width relative to your tractor.

HOWSE REVIEW: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=


Since I sold the B3300SU and replaced it with an L3560, same tractor you have, one generation later, I replaced some of my implements with heavier ones, more in keeping with 5,400 pound weight of my L3560. Box frame Disc Harrows with 18" pans have 35 - 40 pounds bearing on each pan. Box frame Disc Harrows with 20" pans have over 45 - 50 pounds bearing on each pan and really mix dirt. If you are going to use your Disc Harrow for smoothing after a plow, you want 7" - 7-1/2" spacing between pans. If you are going to use your Disc Harrow for preparing food plots, garden prep without a plow, firebreak maintenance or any other application where penetration is more important than a smooth finish, 9" spacing is better. A few Disc Harrows, such as the 20" pan diameter Tufline I own, have 9" spacing for the front gang and 7" spacing for the rear gang.

MONROE TUFLINE REVIEW: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/332493-tandem-lift-disc-harow-monroe.html?highlight=

You size Disc Harrows by pan diameter first, because that is where the weight is, then width from your task.

(You cannot pull a Disc Harrow with 22" diameter pans with an L3540.)

Monroe Tufline offered "full fold" Disc Harrows until recently. I do not see same on Tufline's web site today, possibly because folding heavy equipment is inherently hazardous. With hinges linking front/rear gangs you cannot optimally adjust Top Link to put more pressure on rear, smoothing gang; rear gang will oscillate on the hinges.

Nice review of the howse disc and others.. very informative.

So what size disc do you now pull with the L3560?

Good callon the "hinged" disc, I was thinking the same thing.. about not controling pressure on the rear gang..

 

[jeff9366]

Monroe Tufline TH971820B, 20", rear gang 6'-8" wide. HST/MED, Full Throttle.

LINK: Agriculture | Tufline


Howse makes moderately priced 20" Disc Harrows, but Howse is failing to get product to their dealers.

 

[Fallon]

I have had a L3130 HST and currently a L4240 HST;I think you would be better served with a roto-tiller.One pass with a tiller and maybe four or five with a disc.Heavy disc are about the most load you can put on a tractor.

I was in the same boat with 5 acres & a L3200. I went with a tiller & didn't regret it at all. Much more maneuverable for tighter spaces & works instantly. 1 pass is all that is needed (I run a subsoiler before tilling usually though). With a disk you need to get up to speed to properly throw & mix dirt. With a HST I can slow to the right speed or accelerate to push the engine to the reasonable limit at all times with a tiller.

More than 5-10 acres might favor a disk though.

 

[jeff9366]

Disc Harrows and PTO powered Roto-tillers are two variations within the tiller category.

I plow land reclaimed from Florida jungle with a Ford 12", two bottom moldboard plow, so a Disc Harrow meets my need for secondary tillage and reducing plow furrows.

When wild grape vines are exceptionally intrusive, after the Bush Hog I go over the land with a Dirt Dog All Purpose Plow / Field Cultivator, to tear out the underground grape vine runners mostly intact, before plowing, then harrowing.