Disc for Compact

Riddler · Feb 17, 2009

Before I buy a disc for my NH TC15, I'd like to know if it will do a decent job keeping weeds at bay over relatively soft, disturbed (i.e., ripped, tilled, etc.) ground. I've only used discs that were larger and heavier, so I'm curious if a light weight one will make a dent at all. If so, any recommendations would be much appreciated. A disc that is, or can be configured to, 54" wide would be ideal. Thanks.

tractorman99 · Feb 17, 2009

Leinbach Make a good compact tractor disk.

Model 49

tomnky · Feb 17, 2009

I just priced a Land Pride DH1048 4 footer for My BX2200 ,for which I was quoted $1100.00. Good Unit but pricey, at least I think it is.

queen of spades · Feb 17, 2009

I'm happy with my $600 king kutter XB harrow.

klrobert · Feb 18, 2009

Riddler, a disc should work fine to keep the weeds down. I have a 54" theat works very well. Just get a 2-gang disc as a single gang will require many passes to get it like you want it. Tom, I think you should shop around a little, someone is trying to hose you. I bought a 54" for @ 525.

foggy1111 · Feb 19, 2009

Riddler, I have not used a 3 point disc (yet) but just bought a new BOX FRAME 5 foot KK disc harrow for use this spring (on sale: $870.) It has 16 blades, and I think it weighs 750 lbs or so. (There are a few good posts here on small disc performance....with alot of different views.)

From what I read....the downfall of most of these 3 point discs is the lack of weight (and oftentimes too little weight per blade).....therefore I think a heavy frame and fewer blades will allow better ground penetration and allow stacking some additional weight on the frame....and stand up to the task a bit better. Also, the ability to easily change the angle of the disc gangs is an added benefit of the box frame discs. The notched blades are said to cut trash better than smooth blades. For my needs (a small tractor and some tight areas to maneuver around...and limited lift capacity) ...fewer blades and a narrow width and a heavy frame should provide better penetration than the opposite. My .02 worth.

Riddler · Feb 19, 2009

Thanks to all for the input.

Tom, I am looking into the Land Pride DH1048 as well. Don't have a price just yet, but I suspect it will be the same (if not more) than you have been quoted. Because I will use the implement alot, a medium duty unit like the DH1048 is probably justified in my case.

kl, where did you find a unit with a working width of 54"? Oddly enough, that width is optimum for my situation. I have only come across 48" and 60" units so far.

Howse makes a couple of angle iron frame tandem units with 16" blades. Weights for the 4' and 5' models that Howse, Landpride and KK make range from about 420 lbs to 520 lbs. I know from limited experience that weight plays a big role in how effective a disc harrow performs, but if I want to use my TC15 to pull the thing, I can only go so far with that.

foggy1111 · Feb 19, 2009

TC15 or TC45 as in your sig?

Not too sure about what a TC15 is all about...but the TC45 would pull those sizes your talking about 10 ways to Sunday....no?

I also looked into the Land Pride and Frontier disc's....nice equipment. But, seems to me prices were about double what I paid...and I decided to get a disc AND a KK tiller in lieu of a more expensive disc. Seems that KK has my number...lol. Time will tell if those decisions were good.

klrobert · Feb 19, 2009

I got my disc at a local farm equipment dealer. The disc was manufactured in Oneonta AL. I don't remember the name of the company right now, but I'll get the info from the disc this weekend and post it. It is a heavy, well-made disc.

tomnky · Feb 20, 2009

Riddler ,
I would be very interested in hearing what You were quoted for one.

I can say this right now " I have not purchased it at this time"

I even looked at a 52" Woods Tiller today and it was quoted at $1500.00

Thumper & Buttercup · Feb 20, 2009

If you have a TSC nearby I would check them out, I picked up a KK Box Frame 6 1/2' disk for $999.99. It had the old price on it and they let it go at that price instead of the new prices on the web.

Riddler · Feb 20, 2009

Foggy, I actually have both a TC15 and a TC45DA. The 45 though doesn't fit the narrow vine rows that I need to disc several times a year. In fact, the only utility size tractor that will fit comfortably is the smallest NH crawler. As much as I would love to have one, I can not afford it at the moment. Hence, I'm stuck trying to get all of my row work done with the small, but game, TC15.

Robert, I remain curious who makes the 54" disc.

Tom, I am still waiting to hear back from my tractor guy about the cost of the Land Pride disc. I am sure it will be every penny as expensive as in your neck of the woods. Here in the Northern California wine country, everything is always as expensive as they can be.

Thumper, there is a TSC a little over an hour from me. I seem to recall that the KK models they could get were either not the right size or not the medium duty models I am targeting. I believe that they would also charge me a shipping fee to get a particular unit into the store for pick up. I don't have too many options here though, so there is always a chance I'll end up getting something from TSC.

klrobert · Feb 21, 2009

Riddler, the disc is made by Lowery Manufacturing Company in Boaz, AL. Here is a link to their web site Lowery Manufacturing DBA L & S I see you are in California, so I doubt if they have any dealers that far away.

Riddler · Feb 23, 2009

Robert, I was unaware of Lowery. Thanks for the lead.

nybirdman · Feb 24, 2009

Why not look at a cultivator(TCS 2128139) , a lot less weight for a scut,
my experience with a three point hitch disc was not good:not enough weight. May-be you can find one for your required width.

Riddler · Feb 24, 2009

Birdman, because my experience with implements is somewhat limited, I can't quite picture what you refer to as a "cultivator." I have 40" rototiller that I have used previously for weed control in the vine rows. The three problems with that are (1) rototilling isn't all that great for the soil chemistry/texture over the long haul, (2) I have to take two passes down each row to do a complete job, and (3) although the area looks superb as soon as I am done, I have a hunch that I hasten the growth of new weeds by churning up the seed bank.

I'm thinking that a light duty disc may be just the ticket for knocking down weeds (in relatively soft soil) while not damaging the soil too much or exposing latent weed seed. Will the cultivator you refer to accomplish that? Thanks.

farmeratheart · Feb 24, 2009

Riddler,

nybirdman is right- a cultivator (aka-spring tooth harrow) sounds like it might be just the ticket for you. I don't know much about the soil in CA, but your reference to it as "relatively soft" leads me to believe that a set of harrows would work. Can you rent from anyone nearby for that most important of all test (the one in your vineyard!)?

Good Luck and please keep us posted.

tomnky · Mar 14, 2009

Riddler,
My Father-in-law and I decided to buy the Landpride DH1048 with notched discs and will actually have them sometime next week.

We just split them after deciding they were what We wanted.