Disc rating for ct 4045

[thunder86]

I'm looking at buying a bobcat ct 4045. 45 horsepower and 3745 pounds bare tractor. What size disc should I be able to pull with this? Bobcat doesn't make disc so I don't think they have a rating of what size it can use. This tractor comes standard with rear hydraulic hook up so I could use either a box frame disc or one on wheels. And for anyone that's seen my previous post I was able to sell my b2601 and implements out right, so I'm free to buy without trade in.
Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

Do you intend to load the rear tires with liquid?

What tires will you order?

2-WD or 4-WD tractor?

What is your soil?

Are you primarily interested in smoothing plow furrows?

Are you primarily interested in pan penetration rather than smoothing?



MORE: Disc Harrow - Tandem Disc Harrow Selection For Compact Tractors

 

[thunder86]

Yes, tires will be loaded. R1 tires. 4 wheel drive. Southern Indiana.
At one time it was a well cultivated field but then had cows in it for years and now untouched for about 4 years.

I will be disking stands of switchgrass every 3rd year which will need to be heavy.

Disking other parts to enhance native forbs.

I'd like to disc shooting lanes with clover I keep cut.

Dealer doesn't have a good answer on how heavy I can go. Bobcat sells LMC-AG. I emailed that company about ratings for tractors and no reply.

 

[jeff9366]

The Bobcat 4045 weights 3,500 pounds, bare tractor. A tad less than my Kubota L3560.

Yes, tires will be loaded. R1 tires. 4 wheel drive. Southern Indiana.
I will be disking stands of switchgrass every 3rd year which will need to be heavy.

A Bobcat 4045 with loaded rear tires can pull a TPH mounted Tandem Disc Harrow 6' or 7' wide, having 20" diameter notched pans, with 9" spacing between pans. Such a Disc Harrow will weigh 900 to 1,000 pounds. Probable new cost $2,500 - $3,000.

Such a Disc Harrow will require a medium gear selection and full throttle when the gangs are angled aggressively. In clear, moist soil penetration will be ~~5" deep during second over the ground, ~~6" deep during third pass over the ground.

Mech for easy adjustment of gang angles is worth paying for.

Disc Harrow - TANDEM LIFT DISC HAROW, Monroe Tufline 18/20", TH971820B, REVIEW

After two years consideration and replacement of my light Kubota B3300SU by a heavy Kubota Grand L/L3560, I purchased a Monroe Tufline Tandem Lift Disc Harrow, TH971820B, $2,428.15 delivered (no sales tax on ag equipment in Florida) January 2015. Tufline specs this DH with 20" diameter pans...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[jeff9366]

RE: Kubota L4701 tractor.

With 4x4 FEL loader could one fill front bucket with dirt to add weight, then pull a 900 pound Tandem Disc Harrow without rear wheel weights or liquid in tires ??


My L3560 has 35-horsepower powering 3,700 pounds bare weight. I have air in the tires yet pull the 900 pound disc fine in Florida sandy-loam, toggling between HST MED/High and HST MED/Low on the Grand L 'HST+' half step transmission, generally at 75% to 100% throttle.

The L4701 has 47-horsepower but is 400 pounds lighter. From experience I guesstimate supplemental weight on the rear tires will be essential to apply the additional horsepower to the ground. You have to pull a Disc Harrow at a brisk clip for it to even the land properly.

While an FEL does add weight and dirt in the bucket adds more, FEL weight in front of the tractor leverages weight off the rear tires, negating some ( all? ) of the FEL weight bearing on rear tires. So FEL weight is neutral or negative to rear wheel traction.

Most with an SSQA bucket probably drop it for improved forward visibility when harrowing. I do. I once removed the entire FEL when preparing to harrow for several hours.

One can reduce the disc gang angles to reduce draft force resistance. One can raise the disc. One can lengthen the Top Link to shift more disc weight to the rear, smoothing gangs. But above draft force reduction adjustments reduce pan penetration of the soil.

Soils vary a lot. Soil moisture varies a lot. Tractor tire types and tread wear varies. Perhaps half of disc harrow users set their new disc aggressively, then never adjust the gang angles again, which is a shame. Too many variations to really answer your question with certainty.

 

[jeff9366]

I'm looking at buying a bobcat ct 4045. This tractor comes standard with rear hydraulic hook up so I could use either a box frame disc or one on wheels.

Through about 4,000 pound bare weight tractors better to choose greater diameter pans for greater effective pan weight, giving better pan penetration, on gang angles just a tad wider than tire outside to outside width, AT OPERATING ADJUSTED WIDTH OF THE DISC HARROW.

Tractors with 6,000 pounds bare tractor weight and 70+ horsepower have the grunt to pull wheel discs wider than the tractor with enough pan weight to give adequate penetration.