Disc Harrow Disc Harrow - Too MUCH hp?

[Will_C]

Just realize that you may have the potential to damage a smaller implement, and use it accordingly.

Will

 

[jeff9366]

The Howse is almost 900 lbs. I had thought about putting a tray on top and getting 4-6 80 lb bags of Quickrete and forming a couple blocks to put on top and fit them with some rebar loops to lift them with. Four bags would put me over 1200 lbs.

Howse is a fair Disc Harrow. I owned a Howse 16/18". However, a Howse is not really that strong, it is a hobby-farm disc. I think you have a good probability of bending pans in collision with subsurface rocks or breaking the frame should you weight it AND pull it behind your heavy tractor. Strapping 350 pounds of concrete on a 900 pound Disc Harrow is ludicrous. Note that Howse gang angle adjustment pins penetrate through the main frame, weakening it.

Is it possible to have too much hp for pulling a disc harrow? I have a Mahindra 6530 4wd with Ag tires.

I've been looking for a good used disc for some recently cleared land and found a Howse model# HTR22022B.

It's 22 notched 20" discs and weighs 887lbs. I realize this is a top of the ground vs in the ground implement so I don't see a lot to bend or break.

With 22 pans, spaced at 7", this Disc Harrow will have a lot of float. My guess would be that max penetration of the soil will be about 6" with the gangs set aggressively, after 3 to 5 passes. It requires a MINIMUM of forty pounds total Disc Harrow weight bearing on each pan to accomplish much. Fifty pounds plus bearing on each pan is much better.

Is about 6" soil penetration enough for your needs?

How much patience and restraint is in your character?

 

[HAPPYNC]

@HCJtractor I'll put it most aggressive first but I figured I'll have to add weight. Of course, instead of using blocks of Quick-rete, I could use an assortment of BIG rocks I relocated to the edge of the property.

 

[HAPPYNC]

@Will_C I hear that! But sometimes you have to break something to find out where that "accordingly" was suppose to be! :laughing:

 

[HAPPYNC]

@jeff9366 I wasn't really clear. The disc weighs almost 900 lbs. I was talking about adding four 80 lb bags worth of concrete blocks. That would give me a 900 lb disc plus 320 lbs of concrete. = 1220 lbs.

As for weight, with 20" disc at say 18 lbs each that would equal about 400 lbs so I have about another 450 lbs of frame, etc. So if I understand correctly, 22 disc X 40 lbs = 880 lbs so I would need an additional 430 lbs of weight? 22 x 50 would be 1100 lbs minus 450 for the frame and I'd need another 650? Sounds like an awful lot!

Is that right or did I completely misunderstand what you're saying?

 

[HAPPYNC]

@jeff9366 Also, I'm not 100% certain but I think it has 9" spacing. You mentioning the adjustment pins through the main frame does give me second thoughts though. I looked back at the King Plow harrow picture that I posted and saw that it DIDN'T pin through the frame. But, again, it's a foot and a half narrower, $200 more, and the disc are much more worn.

As for soil penetration, 6-7" is probably enough. If I have to make several passes then it is what it is. Once I get this done I doubt I'll have much need to work it that hard again.

As for patience and restraint..............:dance1::confused3:

 

[jeff9366]

@jeff9366 Also, I'm not 100% certain but I think it has 9" spacing.

No, it has 7" or 7-1/2" spacing between pans; trust me.

I would be patient and look in the newspaper, farm auction announcements, on Craig's list and eBay for a used
Category 2 Disc Harrow. Get "enough" Disc Harrow in the beginning.

If an implement is not 'right' you will find you do not use it; it will just sit.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Jeff, keep looking for a more appropriate sized cat 2 disc for your tractor.

 

[bindian]

Ideally, I'd like a drawbar type but most of those are out of my price range even used.

HAPPYNC,
No matter how much extra weight was on a 3PH disc I used in the past, it was never enough. That is why I bought this 9 foot Amco Offset disc at a Richie Brothers auction for $2500. It weighs around 3300 pounds and I absolutely love how my Mahindra 6520 pulls it. I replaced lots of bolts to a bigger size and painted it RED. Just pulling it out of the barn after painting.
As you can see, I bought it green with just two wheels on it.
hugs, Brandi

 

[HAPPYNC]

bindian That's a very nice looking disc. I just can't afford to spend that kind of money on something I'll rarely use after this project so I'm stuck trying to find something to make work.

My brother-in-law has a 10' pull behind but with the amount of money I think I'd have to put in it to get it transportable then I'd rather just buy my own even if it's much smaller. He estimates it is in the 6000 lb range. He pulled it with a Ford 9000 (110hp/12k lbs) and said it's all the tractor wanted. I've got partially hilly land so I'm not even sure I could pull it even with the tires partially down. Plus I'd have to pull it 5 miles just to get it to my land.