Disc Harrow Alterations

[Gary Fowler]

You are going to find that the axle nut will get loose and need tightening several times as the new axle stretches and the blades and spacers settle in. You need to check them at least every round you make by taping (hard) the individual blades with a hammer. Any not ringing are loose. I used to carry a 4 pound hammer and pipe wrench to beat them tight with the disc blade engaged in the dirt. After you get them seated well and the axles stretched, you should bend that keeper washer over. I wouldnt do it now as you will be tightening them several times before you get all the slack out. Using an impact might get them tighter than my old method of pipe wrench and shop hammer, but the advantage was, I could have them in the field and tighten on the spot.
If you are going to impact them, I would tighten, then go over each blade with a hammer making a firm hit from the back side, then try the impact again to see if you get some more turn. Repeat till the nut no longer moves. Striking the blade induces it to seat into the coupling spacer. They should all ring like a bell at the same octave when tightened.

 

[deere5105]

All good suggestions. Picked up some of the fold over washers today. Busy week this week. May be the weekend before can get it all back together. Have used a pipe wrench and sledge hammer in past to get nut tight on other disc. Hopefully impact will make that process easier. May go ahead and put fold over, lock washer and nut on now and just not bend over the fold over for a little while.

 

[deere5105]

Was able to get axle threads repaired, new lock washers for each and the fold over keepers. Picked up a 1/2" to 3/4" socket adapter so I could use my 3/4" socket that fits the axle nut with my impact wrench. Seems so far to have pulled them up tight. Put the fold over on, lock washer and then nut. Going to hold off for a little while before folding over the keeper as was recommended above. Under flash flood warning today so may be a little while before it is dry enough that I can put some time on the unit to check it again for tightness.

 

[deere5105]

While reassembling I had to add a 1" spacer to get my 9" spacing on one section on one axle. Was able to take it back apart this morning and found the correct single piece locally to correct having to have two. Tightened everything good and turned under about 4 acres. Tightened everything again and am getting little to no movement. Everything seems to be tight and staying that way so I folded over the keepers. I made an adjustment to the rear gang and it seems to have helped with cutting more level. Thought I would need the rear as aggressive as I could, but works better moved out one position.

This is the final post I plan to make on this thread. Thanks for all of the input, advice and suggestions along the way. I am very satisfied with the end results of this project. I spent a little more than I planned to, but in the end believe the numbers work out to be around half of what a comparable new disc harrow would run. Here are a few pictures of before and after. I took one of the bottom to show how close it is with the 20" blades and how 22" blades may have been too tight. I think they would have cleared, but not by much.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[jenkinsph]

Great job on the rebuild should be good for many years and suspect it is better than new.:thumbsup:

Please let us know how it works on your fields, how many passes it take to work it up?

I would suggest bushings over the lower pins to reduce slop and wear.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Great job on the rebuild should be good for many years and suspect it is better than new.:thumbsup:

Please let us know how it works on your fields, how many passes it take to work it up?

I would suggest bushings over the lower pins to reduce slop and wear.

2x.

Found this thread with Google when trying to learn more about the Long Model 960 Serial # 245T we bought tonight. They must have went out of business long before the web because I can find no factory manual etc.

With all the raining may go pick up disc and plows tomorrow while everything is muddy. Thanks for posting the bearing part number should I need one. At a glance they did look like standard off the shelf parts.

 

[deere5105]

2x.

Found this thread with Google when trying to learn more about the Long Model 960 Serial # 245T we bought tonight. They must have went out of business long before the web because I can find no factory manual etc.

With all the raining may go pick up disc and plows tomorrow while everything is muddy. Thanks for posting the bearing part number should I need one. At a glance they did look like standard off the shelf parts.

I listed most of my search efforts and decisions made in this thread. I too could find no information on the equipment or company. Fortunately the disc was pretty standard and no issues found while looking for repair parts. I basically rebuilt the entire unit on mine. The only original pieces left were the main square frame and most of the blade spacers.

Good luck with your new to you disc.

 

[deere5105]

Have had opportunity past few weeks to do a good bit of disking. Last weekend while on my last location for the day after four or so hours of disking I noticed my front left blade had come off. After checking closer I noticed the threads on the end of the axle were damaged. Re-cut the threads and reassembled with impact wrench again. Turned under about an acre, checked again and still tight so I folded over the tab.

Did about another four hours or today and noticed it was loose again. Any suggestions?

 

[Mace Canute]

........Did about another four hours or today and noticed it was loose again. Any suggestions

Clean the threads and apply some medium strength (or high strength...just have to heat to remove in the future) Loctite and tighten it up again. I have a suspicion your lock tab is moving.

 

[Kioti Tom]

Clean the threads and apply some medium strength (or high strength...just have to heat to remove in the future) Loctite and tighten it up again. I have a suspicion your lock tab is moving.

I agree. The tab lock you have is too soft and not holding on the big hex. Also, I suspect looking at it, someone made it and it is too thin. If too thin, it will act as if too soft and move to allow rotation.

Tom

 

[deere5105]

Hope to get it taken back down this week and work on it again. I thought about the Loctite and wondered if it would work as stated. I do not have a lot of experience working with it. The tabs were purchased from a local tractor dealership. The hole in the center of the tab is round so it spins around on the axle. The collar behind it doesn't seem to be locking down squarely on the axle and may be the culprit too. I picked up a new spare collar yesterday while in town. May try substituting it to see if that helps. I would question if I was doing something wrong on this axle, but it is consistent with what I have done on the other three axles that have not had any issues.

 

[jimmysisson]

The lock tab usually has an internal tab too that engages a keyway in the axle. I think if that were mine I'd snug it up and drill and pin right through the nut, shaft and all. Better yet, get you a castle nut and just drill the axle and pin it.
Jim

 

[deere5105]

The lock tab usually has an internal tab too that engages a keyway in the axle. I think if that were mine I'd snug it up and drill and pin right through the nut, shaft and all. Better yet, get you a castle nut and just drill the axle and pin it.
Jim

Have never seen one of these done that way, but sure sounds like it would work and be easy to undo.

Wondering if anyone has tried this on a disc axle?

 

[mikeg135]

What about something like this. It uses the axle to hold it without spinning

1-1/8 Lock Plate For Disc Axle

 

[deere5105]

What about something like this. It uses the axle to hold it without spinning

1-1/8 Lock Plate For Disc Axle

Had one similiar on. You can see it in the pictures in previous post. Makes me wonder if collar is not going onto the shaft where the two square pieces would join preventing the spinning. Picked up another one to replace a spare one had. The new one looks just like the one in the link. May give it a try and try it one more time. The Castle Nut idea seemed sensible.

 

[deere5105]

Was able to take down and re-tighten the axle nut. I chose to try the new collar instead of the old one. One thing I noticed was the collar didn't go far on the square part of the axle. By hand, I was able to get it far enough on to not spin freely so I believe it is on enough. I







run the nut on with the impact and tapped on blades with 4 lb hammer and kept tightening. Beat the keeper down with same hammer. Got a good bit of plowing planned for this weekend. Will be a good test. Made a paint mark to help see if it is moving. If this doesn't hold, I am seriously considering the Castle nut idea and drilling the axle.

 

[jimgerken]

The indicator paint is a good idea. Its too bad there is not enough thread length to allow use of two nuts locked together. My JD has that, there is no way its coming apart on its own.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Many times a new axle will also stretch a bit as everything wears in and you will need to tighten the nut many times till all the parts mesh tightly together. I think you have the right spacer on the end now so the nut should not loosen. Using a hammer to "ring" each blade as you tighten is also standard practice for tightening.

 

[deere5105]

Any thoughts on effectiveness of the nylock, think thats correct terminology, lock nuts in conjunction with the lock washer?

I understand the stretching issue, but waited a while before folding the tabs over and so far have had no issues with any of the other three axles. Makes me wonder if, even though I re-cut them after they were damaged, there is a thread issue. Would question the installation if were having issues with more than just this one axle. Could have got the axles longer when/since I ordered and replaced them all, but at that the time didn't seem necessary.

 

[jenkinsph]

deere5105,
Have you considered the possibility of shaving the outside spacer spool just enough to get an extra thread or two? If you can do this it should help with getting the square shoulder more room to lock on too. I am referring to the spacer between the last two blades on this gang.