Disc Advice

ultrarunner · Mar 28, 2016

Bought a Woods 5' Disc for the L3800

Purpose was to clean up some of the bottom land.

Only wants to go in 6 to 8 inches... thinking I need to add some weight for better performance?

Never been around or used a Disc... it does seem a little light compared to some I have seen.

There are several adjustments to angle... have it set in the middle.

jeff9366 · Mar 28, 2016

You should have posted Woods Disc Harrow model number.

First, shorten your Top Link, that will shift more weight from the rear, smoothing gangs to the front, cutting gangs. Start with 60% front, 40% rear. [You can shorten Top Link until rear gangs are lifted clear of the soil.]

Second, increase the angle of attack for your front gangs. With increased angle of attack, increased cutting will occur; unfortunately draft force resistance also increases.

Generally speaking you want front gangs set to give the degree of cut desired.

The rear gangs should be set less aggressively than the front gangs; just aggressively enough to provide smooth bed behind the implement.

How aggressive the front gangs are set determines input to rear, smoothing gangs.

A Disc Harrow with 9" spacing between pans will cut significantly more aggressively than a Disc Harrow with 7" spacing. A Disc Harrow with 7" spacing between pans will leave a significantly smoother bed behind the implement.

A Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans can penetrate only to the pan hubs, around 7" deep.

If you have "outrigger" furrows trailing from the outer pans, rear gang, raise the entire Disc Harrow one inch with your hydraulic Position Control lever then tweak the Top Link if necessary.

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

I view ridiculous photos of weighted Disc Harrows regularly.

The only scenario in which I would consider weighting would be cutting fire breaks, using a Disc Harrow with 9" pan spacing. Then I would set front and rear gangs to most aggressive positions and weight the rear, while praying not to snap or deform the box frame.

ultrarunner · Mar 28, 2016

Much appreciated Jeff...

Will need to try different adjustment settings.

Bansil · Mar 28, 2016

Thank you for the info :drink:

art · Mar 28, 2016

many people are disappointed with disc harrows when comparing to their neighbors disc on the farm. Framers use disc's that weigh 400 pounds per foot so there is a big difference in the cutting ability. I feel your first response is a good one and he pretty much said it all although the disc's are meant to run level so start out with adjusting the angle of the blades to the most aggressive.