Can My Tractor Pull XXX Tandem Disk Harrow??
Tractor factors in declining importance:
1.
Tractor weight ((traction))
2:
2-WD or 4-WD tractor power transfer to ground ((traction))
3. Tractor tires in relation to vegetation and soil ((traction))
tire tread
rear tires inflated with air or filled with liquid
4. Tractor horsepower
Objectives for Disk Harrow use:
Smoothing a field previously plowed with a moldboard plow or a disc plow.
This is the traditional use for Disk Harrows, since horse and mule motive power.
Penetration less important than smoothing and disk width.
Less draft force resistance than other Disk Harrow applications. (( easier to pul l))
This function is SECONDARY TILLAGE.
Maintenance tillage of previously "broken" ground.
Gardens, fire breaks, fence margins, annually planted game food plots, reducing ruts and hillocks in established fields.
This function is SECONDARY TILLAGE.
Tilling virgin/unbroken/unplowed ground and hooved animal grazed pasture.
This function is PRIMARY TILLAGE.
A Tandem Disk Harrow is not very good at PRIMARY TILLAGE.
A specialized ((one trick pony))
"Offset Disk" is designed for PRIMARY TILLAGE.
Implement Issues:
Total Disk Harrow weight bearing on each pan.
Adjustment of gang angles, aggressive for penetration, relatively 'flat' for smoothing.
(( Ease of adjustment varies from Disk Harrow model to model a great deal. ))
Pan structure, scalloped for compact category tractor use, smooth/round for utility category tractor use.
Field Conditions:
The first pass over a field with a tractor/ tandem disc harrow combination has the lowest draft force resistance. Disk pans may or may not penetrate but first pass has the lowest draft force resistance.
Successive passes over the softened ground allow the pans to penetrate deeper and tractor tires sink in, increasing draft force resistance during second, third and successive passes.
Dry soil is much harder for pans to penetrate.
If too dry, pans will simply roll over hard soil surface.
Verdure on the field usually wraps around pans and axles, decreasing penetration.
Wet soil may bog tractor/ tandem disc harrow combination.