atlas offset harrows

[kacole]

I looked at a set of old Athens offset harrows this weekend. They was the pull type. I have a MX5100, 4x4, R4 tires (loaded), and front end loader attached. This harrow is 7.5' wide. Looks to be really heavy. Would my tractor be enough to pull this harrow? I felt like it was a good deal @ $1500 because it was in good shape. How big of a pull type harrow would I be able to pull with my tractor? The guy selling it said he felt like my tractor would pull it. (keep in mind he's selling it). From what I can gather from the internet these harrows will weigh around 3k lbs. He said if it struggled with it I could just adjust the gangs to be less aggressive. Would this be the thing to do? or would I be better off just looking for something smaller? Will it hurt my tractor if I pull a disc harrow that puts my tractor to the max?

 

[kacole]

Also the disc had 17 disc on it if that matters

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I looked at a set of old Athens offset harrows this weekend. They was the pull type. I have a MX5100, 4x4, R4 tires (loaded), and front end loader attached. This harrow is 7.5' wide. Looks to be really heavy. Would my tractor be enough to pull this harrow? I felt like it was a good deal @ $1500 because it was in good shape. How big of a pull type harrow would I be able to pull with my tractor? The guy selling it said he felt like my tractor would pull it. (keep in mind he's selling it). From what I can gather from the internet these harrows will weigh around 3k lbs. He said if it struggled with it I could just adjust the gangs to be less aggressive. Would this be the thing to do? or would I be better off just looking for something smaller? Will it hurt my tractor if I pull a disc harrow that puts my tractor to the max?

There are variables that only you know about.

Type of ground, & flat or rolling hills?

Do you want to just go over the ground once each year, or more often.

Do you want to turn the ground axle deep?

Weed control, fire break, or planting for a crop?

Yes you can adjust the axle angles so that your tractor will handle the disk, but that typically means that you need to go more passes to get the desired results.

Again, only you can actually say.

I have an old Keilfer (JD) set of pull disks, actually 3 sets, 6', 8' & 12', all with 22" scalloped pans. With my 75hp, 10,000lb tractor going up hill pulling the 8' set, it is all the tractor wants pulling axle deep.

 

[kacole]

ground is pretty flat some rolling hills but mainly flat. The land will need to be gone over several times a year for various crops, mainly garden and food plots, and dove field. I don't have to be able to sink it to the axel but I do want it in the ground pretty deep. Is it bad on the tractor to have it under a strain for hours at a time or is that what its built for?

 

[oosik]

Pulling that size disk harrow should not hurt your tractor. Just don't lug the engine. The ?? becomes - does your tractor have sufficient traction to pull it.

If you keep the tractor in a low enough gear to not lug the engine - what may happen is you will loose traction and all four wheels will start to spin.

You could find that to till to the depth you want - you might have to adjust the gangs and go over any area multiple times.

As long as the engine is not being lugged - the tractor is being operated in the manner it is intended.

My tractor, which is only slightly larger than yours, is designed to pull a "pull type" disk harrow up to 108" wide.

The one you are looking at is 90" wide.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

ground is pretty flat some rolling hills but mainly flat. The land will need to be gone over several times a year for various crops, mainly garden and food plots, and dove field. I don't have to be able to sink it to the axel but I do want it in the ground pretty deep. Is it bad on the tractor to have it under a strain for hours at a time or is that what its built for?

Working the machine to it's max is fine and you can do that all day long, that's how they are made. You just don't want to be constantly lugging the engine. Just need to find the right gear, or pedal spot for the conditions that you are currently working. My tractor pulls the 8' disk without even knowing it's back there until I turn and go uphill, then I have to drop a gear and the temp gauge starts going up if I'm on my 2nd pass.

I run my disks at maximum angle, you can always adjust that down some and you should be fine. Price is right if they are in good shape. I had to rebuild mine. The purchase price was low though, otherwise would have had to keep looking.

 

[kacole]

I might see if I can work a deal with him and try it out before I buy it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Hard to beat that if he will let you. If not, purchase and try it out, if you don't like it, sell it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

You may be able to pull that disk easily depending on your soil type. If the going gets too hard like in soft damp soil, simply use the wheels on the implement to raise the disk up a bit. HP wise you should be ok for an 8 foot disk but unless you have plenty of wheel ballast, you may run out of traction. Just try it if you can and see how it works. If the farmer has that disk, then he must have some place that you can use it on prior to buying it.
Realize that most instances, you don't need to pull a disk 10-11" deep to get satisfactory crop results, 5-6" is usually enough to uproot any vegetation growing there. If you need to break up a hard pan crust, then use a subsoiler or chisel plow.

 

[cat fever]

All good advise so far; also you need to maintain a good rate of speed to make the disc actually work and turn the soil over. So pulling it 2 MPH is not going to work. The best thing (already mentioned) is try it in his field and see how fast you can go and if the soil is turning over.