Amco Offset Disc

[Gary Fowler]

Thanks Gary,
I essentially do the same thing but often start in the middle. At the other end lift the disk with the 3 pt and make an arc back to the outer edge if it is not too tight a turn. Drop the disk on the fly and go to the other end and arc back to the outside of the original center run. That keeps the distance of the arc between passes about the same till I get so close to the other outer edge that I need to stop and reverse turn in the arc area for the final couple passes. That works best for me on a rectangle. Of course on a crooked field with acreage involved different combinations are involved.
How was your TDY?
Ron

My TDY is still in progress of mobilization. Every day they send me something else to do. Yesterday I had to go for a full physical, EKG, chest xray, every blood test that is listed in the lab schedule, drug screen and had to schedule a hearing test which earliest I can get one of those is next Thursday. I guess all the lab work will be back by then and have to go back to the doctor to pick it all up and send it to the KBR Medical team. So far $414 at doctor plus $122 for chest xray. I don't know what the hearing test will cost me, not counting gas and mileage to and from the doctors offices or the malaria prescription medicine that I haven't bought yet. Man you better have some money in the bank if you want to go to work. I just spent over $1000 for me and the wife for 3 months supply of medicines last week also.
I still have to go somewhere (as yet undetermined which Angola embassy )to get my Visa. I have to go in person to get that after KBR gets a letter of invitation from the Angolan government for me to visit and work there. They are hopeful that they can get this by the 10th April but I wont have my paperwork on physical exams before the 12th (hearing test pending)

 

[pacerron]

My TDY is still in progress of mobilization. Every day they send me something else to do. Yesterday I had to go for a full physical, EKG, chest xray, every blood test that is listed in the lab schedule, drug screen and had to schedule a hearing test which earliest I can get one of those is next Thursday. I guess all the lab work will be back by then and have to go back to the doctor to pick it all up and send it to the KBR Medical team. So far $414 at doctor plus $122 for chest xray. I don't know what the hearing test will cost me, not counting gas and mileage to and from the doctors offices or the malaria prescription medicine that I haven't bought yet. Man you better have some money in the bank if you want to go to work. I just spent over $1000 for me and the wife for 3 months supply of medicines last week also.
I still have to go somewhere (as yet undetermined which Angola embassy )to get my Visa. I have to go in person to get that after KBR gets a letter of invitation from the Angolan government for me to visit and work there. They are hopeful that they can get this by the 10th April but I wont have my paperwork on physical exams before the 12th (hearing test pending)

Sounds like fun! All you need is worldwide shot status and you could be AF Red Horse or Prime Beef.

 

[bindian]

Well, I got the frame crack welded up today. I then took the disc and my dual tandem trailer to our new local Love's truckstop to get on the Cat scale. Weight on the trailer axles was 9,0000 pounds with the disc onboard. Went home and took a short nap, then took the disc off the trailer. Then Back to the Cat scale. Trailer empty weight on the axles was 5740 pounds. So the disc weighs 3260. Wow, that is lite! Also, I realized at the welding shop the front disc pans are 20 inch diameter and the rear disc pans are 22 inches in diameter.

So the trailer weights 5740 axle weight on the axles. Huge difference from the 7400 pounds on my registration.

Tomorrow.....................play time with the disc.:tractor::cloud9::dance1:die:roposetoast::applause:
hugs, Brandi

 

[Bladehauler]

Well, I got the frame crack welded up today. I then took the disc and my dual tandem trailer to our new local Love's truckstop to get on the Cat scale. Weight on the trailer axles was 9,0000 pounds with the disc onboard. Went home and took a short nap, then took the disc off the trailer. Then Back to the Cat scale. Trailer empty weight on the axles was 5740 pounds. So the disc weighs 3260. Wow, that is lite! Also, I realized at the welding shop the front disc pans are 20 inch diameter and the rear disc pans are 22 inches in diameter.

So the trailer weights 5740 axle weight on the axles. Huge difference from the 7400 pounds on my registration.




Tomorrow.....................play time with the disc.:tractor::cloud9::dance1:die:roposetoast::applause:
hugs, Brandi

Brandi, did the weight on your trucks drive axle change when you weighed light and heavy ? might change your calculations !

My gooseneck will split the load even if loaded right over the tandems.

 

[bindian]

Brandi, did the weight on your trucks drive axle change when you weighed light and heavy ? might change your calculations !

My gooseneck will split the load even if loaded right over the tandems.

Bladehauler,
The girl running the scales this morning did a great job. This afternoon, I parked the truck just on the scales...........and the guy running the scales told me to pull up. Then we weighed the trailer only.
First time inside, the guy only had one weight, after me weighing trailer and the truck seperate. The first weight had two equal numbers totaling 5470. So I guess this was each axle.

Well, the guy running the scales screwed up and just handed me a ticket with trailer weight, which I thought to be low for the trailer or for the truck. I never have weighed the trailer or the truck and wanted to see how correct my registration empty weights are . He had me reweigh, so I just weighed the trailer. He kept squacking about split ticket or split scale in the intercom and I had no idea what he was talking about, even after I told him what I wanted, face to face................and he had plain view that I was in a pickup and gooseneck. I may go back tomorrow with the trailer to get a truck weight with hitch weight on. Then in the near further, just weigh the truck alone. Hopefully it will be the girl I had Friday morning!

What ticked me off, was after each weigh, I had to back into a parking spot between rigs and walk a good distance to talk to the clerk over the counter. Seems his brain goes scrambled eggs over the speaker.

If I can't get it right later today...........................I'll just wait for a weekday and hit the savage yard and use their scales for free. I don't like doing that, as you have to turn around where they unload scrap and it is really littered.

Another thing I noticed while waiting for the welder was what appears to be block style serial numbers stamped into the aft right disc frame. This will need some cleanup to read.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Bladehauler]

Hey Brandi,

The Cat scales have 4 pads , if you can get your steer axle , drive axle and trailer tandems on separate pads then hit the speaker for your weight, the ticket will give you your breakdown per axle plus you gross weight. then go back with just your truck and weigh it when you go back just tell them reweigh and they'll ask for the code at the bottom of the ticket, as long as its the same day, , should be able to figure what you have on the ball and on the tandems with this method. The only time Ive had to split weigh was when I was a 183 feet long and had 13 axles.

Btw , reweighs are only a buck, unless they went up !!

Hope this helps.

C-ya
Scott

 

[bindian]

Hey Brandi,

The Cat scales have 4 pads , if you can get your steer axle , drive axle and trailer tandems on separate pads then hit the speaker for your weight, the ticket will give you your breakdown per axle plus you gross weight. then go back with just your truck and weigh it when you go back just tell them reweigh and they'll ask for the code at the bottom of the ticket, as long as its the same day, , should be able to figure what you have on the ball and on the tandems with this method. The only time Ive had to split weigh was when I was a 183 feet long and had 13 axles.

Btw , reweighs are only a buck, unless they went up !!

Hope this helps.

C-ya
Scott

Thanks Scott!
Yes, when the truckstop opened, I went over and asked. They said $10 for the first and a dollar after that. I'm going over this afternoon before unhooking the trailer.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I finally got the Cat scales all figured out and weighed the truck and trailer. The truck by itself. I also loaded up the disc and Big RED Beast all loaded on the trailer. This gave me valuable experience loading and unloading the disc and tractor. It also let me get a feel for how it rode..........WHICH WAS VERY SWEET!
Truck by itself weighs 7300 pounds.
Truck with trailer hooked up weighs 8420 pounds.
Trailer on it's two axles weighs 5740 pounds.
Tractor and Disc on Trailer weighs 18,240 pounds and the truck with all that hooked up weighs 9460 pounds.
So with an empty trailer.........my truck has 1120 pounds of hitch weight.
With the tractor and disc on, my truck has 2160 pounds of hitch weight.
I really need a bigger trailer. If it is was 3 foot longer, I wouldn't have to disconnect the disc hitch from the tractor. As it is now, I need to do this to get the front tires on the deck and off of the dovetail, so I can stow the ramps....................which is what the loader bucket rests on. So the disc weighs a little more than 3260 I stated earlier. I'll drive the tractor and disc over to the Cat scales one fine day soon to get exact weights. I wanted to unload in the truck parking area, but there is a sign at the entrance stating no trailer drops. I figure they would take unloading as a trailer drop.


Anywho, after unloading everything, I took the disc out and played while Luke took photos. Two passes and I had it buried up to the axles in land that was thick trees and brush about 5 years ago. Later today I will retorque everything..........after I clean all the dirt off of the back of the frame. Dirt was literally flying.
I do need to get all the scrapers fixed up and reinstalled, as some of the right side disc pans had lots of packed dirt. I also want to make a new tire lock hole to just have the disc sink in about 3-4 inches. If I plant bermuda grass seed and bury it the 8 or so inches that is up to the axles, it will never germinate as it is too deep. Also, I was told Friday afternoon to not disc up under tree limb areas to full depth, unless I want to kill the trees.
I ran in 3rd and 4th gear and between 1500 and 2000 rpm. I love this disc!
hugs, Brandi

 

[sixdogs]

Wow, that's a great job with excellent penetration and enen distribution of dirt. You must be thrilled. I'd say that disc is a long-term keeper. Did the hitch slop around in use or was the pull pretty even and steady? Having something work correctly after you have taken the time and effort to properly restore it is one of the more satisfying aspects of life. Congrats on a job well done.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Looks good Brandi, :thumbsup: now let"s see some shiny disk pans.

 

[bindian]

Wow, that's a great job with excellent penetration and enen distribution of dirt. You must be thrilled. I'd say that disc is a long-term keeper. Did the hitch slop around in use or was the pull pretty even and steady? Having something work correctly after you have taken the time and effort to properly restore it is one of the more satisfying aspects of life. Congrats on a job well done.

Thanks Sixdogs! I think it is a keeper. Of course, I knew that when I saw it!

I forgot to watch the hitch, but when I hit an old hidden large root or stump, it really gave me a shudder or as you stated.....chugging. Just from moving it around and on and off the trailer and unhitching it yesterday, I'd say eventually the hitch hole will need to be repaired or rebuilt. The edge of the hole that was welded up has distorted. That it and hitch welds are so ugly...........I mentioned remaking it to the welder. I would like to remake it with less gap between the upper and lower plates.

Also, with me loading and unloading alone and having to unhitch and hitch up on the trailer............your hammerstrap idea coupled with a spring loaded lever attached to the pin and a length of rope to lift the pin would be a big plus. I have seen this setup on baggage tugs on the ramps at airports. Then you can lift the pin in the hole from your seat. As it is now, I have to stop with the front tires on the dovetail and the park brake will not hold alone in that small sweet spot that the pin is free. To hold my position, I lower the leading edge of the bucket into an angle of the dovetail and it holds me in position while I go back and install the pin. Very tedious that way. While doing this the disc is still chained to the front of the trailer. I did hook a string up to unhitch while loading. The lever on a hammer strap would alleviate having to get on and off the tractor
hugs, Brandi

 

[Kioti Tom]

Why not weld another thick plate on both insides of the hitch fork to lessen the area (Gap) in there and that will also give you a base for welding the elongated holes back round and the new holes in the added plate would strengthen the holes...1/2" plate should work..lessen the gap by an inch.

Tom

 

[bindian]

Looks good Brandi, :thumbsup: now let"s see some shiny disk pans.

Brian,
Thanks! Hopefully that will be in a couple of weeks over at Rustyshakelford's place.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Why not weld another thick plate on both insides of the hitch fork to lessen the area (Gap) in there and that will also give you a base for welding the elongated holes back round and the new holes in the added plate would strengthen the holes...1/2" plate should work..lessen the gap by an inch.

Tom

Tom,
It is hard to tell by the photos, but the top and lower plates have been heated and curved to fit the round "pivot" section of the hitch by someone that did a sloppy job. Hard to fit new plates to it. I want to cut it all off at the round piece and weld on a 3 inch block to it, then weld upper and lower new plates to the block.
hugs, Brandi

 

[rustyshakelford]

Brian,
Thanks! Hopefully that will be in a couple of weeks over at Rustyshakelford's place.
hugs, Brandi

That's looking good! Did you try resting the bucket on the neck of the trailer?it would increase your pin weight but it shouldn't be to bad. I checked it out today. On the north side of the creeks it looks surprisingly good! On the south side that I hadn't under rushed yet its another story!

Brett

 

[sixdogs]

I had a hitch situation like you mention and it needed to be squeezed together. If it's steel, heat and bend. if cast it's no dice. Mine was steel and not quite long enough so I had a shop cut off the old flat hitch pieces and weld on new ones that were 6 inches longer and then squeeze them together. I can get photos if you need but there is my old thread out there "cultimulcher" that deals with the before aspect. I needed help welding the 1/2" plate.

Step two--not sure if you weld but if not you should learn MIG and get maybe a Lincoln SP175 or something like that. I'm a good hobby welder now and it's saved me a bundle and allows me to save a lot of legwork. I can only weld up to 1/4" or a little more and I love it. The guys in the welding area here are very helpful and you are sharp enough to be a good hobby welder.

If you can get them, new decals would be sweet on that disc.

 

[Gary Fowler]

One thing you need to put on your tractor if you don't already have them is safety break away on the remote hydraulics. If you loose a pin or break something on the hitch, you are going to break some hoses or worse break the couplings on the tractor.

 

[npalen]

Not sure if someone mentioned it but the the gang bearings are trunnion type. This lets the disc gangs flex without putting undue stress on the bearings.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

One thing you need to put on your tractor if you don't already have them is safety break away on the remote hydraulics. If you loose a pin or break something on the hitch, you are going to break some hoses or worse break the couplings on the tractor.

I believe that the 20 series Mahindra's came with breakaway couplers.

 

[Bladehauler]

Looks Good Brandi !!!!

One word of caution , over 26,000 lbs gross weight you need a CDL and D.O.T is cracking down.

Good luck and GOD bless !!

C-Ya
Scott