Buying a disc for deer food plots

sethmac · Apr 28, 2019

Hi Folks,

We have a 1984 2wd B8200 Kubota with Ag tires...first tractor we've owned.

We some small 1acre food plots I'd like to find a disc for. What would you suggest...the tractor is only 19HP, but I would figure we wouldn't get too aggressive.

EddieWalker · Apr 28, 2019

I have a 5 foot angle iron disk with a 37 hp tractor. It takes a very long time for it to break up the soil enough to be able to plant anything in it for the first year. Then it's a lot easier every year after that, but the first time it just takes forever. If I was to do it over again, I would have spent a little more money for a boxed in frame, and maybe another foot wider. The angle iron will bend after awhile and in ten years, I've had to bend it back into shape to be flat again.

sethmac · Apr 28, 2019

I'm guessing the consensus is the tractor just isn't powerful enough..any thoughts on how I can turn the dirt over (regardless of the number of passes)...don't think a new tractor is going to happen.

jeff9366 · Apr 28, 2019

Your can power a PTO powered forward rotation Rototiller fine, if your tractor will go slow enough in first gear, or if you have an HST transmission. As tine rotation will push tractor forward, 2-WD should serve about as well as 4-WD.

It takes a 4-WD tractor with a bare weight of about 2,500 pounds to pull a Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans, the lightest Disc Harrow that can accomplish something with multiple passes over the ground.

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...disc-harrow-selection-compact.html?highlight=

Without knowing your location I can only speculate a <$600, 48" width, three shank Field Cultivator would work fine. Most food plot seed mixes are eager germinators. 4-WD would be essential for penetration to 10" - 12".

LINK: Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Disc Harrows Tillage - All Purpose Plow

Kubota B8200

1983 - 1990
Compact Utility tractor
Next model: Kubota B1750
Series next: Kubota B9200
Series back: Kubota B7200

Kubota B8200 Tires:
Standard tires (ag): Front: 4.00-12. Rear: 8.3-24 (2WD)
Front: 6-12. Rear: 12.4-16 (4WD)
Optional tires (ag): Front: 6.50-10. Rear: 12.4-16 (2WD)
Front: 6-12. Rear: 8.3-24 (4WD)

Dimensions:
Weight: 1,420 lbs [644 kg] (B8200F)
1,565 lbs [709 kg] (B8200DT)
Wheelbase: 60.4 inches [153 cm]
Length: 106.7 inches [271 cm]
Width: 55.3 inches [140 cm]
Height (exhaust): 79.6 inches [202 cm]
Ground clearance: 9.3 inches [23 cm]
Front tread: 32.7 inches [83 cm] (2WD)35.4 inches [89 cm] (4WD)
Rear tread: 41.3 inches [104 cm]

Page information:
Last update: December 29, 2018
Copyright: Copyright 2019 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com

jeff9366 · Apr 28, 2019

sethmac said:
I'm guessing the consensus is the tractor just isn't powerful enough.

Lack of tractor weight and small wheel/tire size are the limiting factors, not engine horsepower.

Subcompact tractors are solid for what they are. Excellent first tractors. Easy to service yourself.

Five reasons owner/operators trade up from Subcompact Tractors:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
More ground clearance.
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) ~~ rather than two-range (2) HST.
Larger wheels and tires yield more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation.

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

sethmac · Apr 28, 2019

Hi Jeff,

Its a 2wd...I'm in Tyler Texas and the soil is quite sandy

jeff9366 · Apr 28, 2019

I speculate a three shank Field Cultivator/All Purpose Plow will work, but not down to 14" depth ~~~~ perhaps to 6" or 8" in MOIST soil, ample for your food plot. Question your vender to be sure your relatively small Three Point Hitch will have enough vertical movement to lift implement high enough so tine points do not drag in the dirt.

Assuming the inboard end of your Top Link has a least two pairs of pin holes on the tractor, one pair above the other, lower pin hole pair will allow higher APP lift.

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

sethmac · Apr 28, 2019

Hmm...wondering if I can fabricate this given the issues of size and number of shanks.

jeff9366 · Apr 28, 2019

The spring protection allows just enough give in the shanks for the tractor to overcome hard spots in the ground without stalling.

Old Field Cultivators/APPs show up for sales pretty often, though usually starting at five shanks, with seven shanks perhaps most commonly found.

I recommend finding an old FC/APP, removing all but three shanks, testing, then cutting down the frame.

Ferguson 3-Point Hitch 7-Foot All Purpose Plow, Good Condition , NO RESERVE !! | eBay

Tyler, Texas' Craig's List is the venue to watch.

Spring is the least productive season to find/buy used plows ~~~ they are in use.