Field disc. Will my Major pull it?

[Marveltone]

I've been fixing up old implements on the farm to pull behind my Fordson Major Diesel (3 bottom plough, 12' field cultivator, 12' spike harrow) but I still need a disc. I have an uncle who says he knows of a 12' tandem disc with hydraulic lift that I could probably buy very cheap. My uncle is a farmer, so he knows way more than I ever will about this stuff, but I was wondering if 12' is too big for the Major or if it will pull it. My land is flat, so hills will not be an issue. The ground is not rocky at all, but it can be quite sticky, so I'm guessing it could pull heavy. It has been tilled and planted every year, so I'm not breaking new ground, just reworking it.

Also, the tractor in question has practically brand new loaded rear tires, rear wheel weights and about 350 lbs of front weights. I'm guessing the total weight is somewhere between 7000 - 7500 lbs.

I haven't looked at the disc yet, but thought I'd get some opinions before I make the trip. Any thoughts?

Joe

 

[kf4uda]

In the ground that you describe and the tractor weighted the way it is, I think it will pull it. I don't think that it will wont much else. An 8~10' would probably be a better match but if the 12' was cheap I would probably go for it.

 

[RickB]

Maybe yes, maybe no. Not enough info about the disc is known. An Oliver 252 or Deere AW or KBA would be OK; a heavy disc wouldn't be satisfactory behind a Major.

 

[MIKE R]

It should pull it fine. I pull a 6' disk with my Massey 1020 in two wheel drive. It weighs 3500lbs. Pulls fine in the heavy loam soil we have while taking a deep cut on previously plowed soil. If its cheap I would buy it. You can interchange the hydraulic cylinder out with a hand crank jack.

 

[Marveltone]

It should pull it fine. I pull a 6' disk with my Massey 1020 in two wheel drive. It weighs 3500lbs. Pulls fine in the heavy loam soil we have while taking a deep cut on previously plowed soil. If its cheap I would buy it. You can interchange the hydraulic cylinder out with a hand crank jack.

The Major has rear hydraulics, so that won't be a problem. I'm just wondering if the disc is too much for the tractor. I really should heed RickB's advice and make the drive to see what model it is so I have more information to go by. I wasn't thinking of the different weights of the different brands and models.

Joe

 

[MIKE R]

You can always chop a few disks off to make it a 10 footer.

 

[CalG]

You can always chop a few disks off to make it a 10 footer.

YES! The voice of reason!

If the tool is cheap, MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.

 

[RickB]

You can always chop a few disks off to make it a 10 footer.

YES! The voice of reason!

If the tool is cheap, MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.

Subtitle: How to turn an inexpensive implement into an expensive one with scrap resale value by adding unspecified amounts of time, effort and materials.

 

[MIKE R]

Subtitle: How to turn an inexpensive implement into an expensive one with scrap resale value by adding unspecified amounts of time, effort and materials.

I doubt its that much effort. Take the nut off the axle slide the disks off and slide a peice of pipe over as a spacer. It only would take 30 minutes or so.

 

[flusher]

You can always chop a few disks off to make it a 10 footer.

That's what I did with a 13-ft Minneapolis Moline wheel disc (made by Krause) I picked up a few years ago for $600. Removed 4 pans from each axle to get it down to about 8.5 ft wide. Pulls fine with my Mahindra 5525 (55 hp engine, about 6500 lb tractor weight with FEL) in dry soil. Used it yesterday on my 6-acre hayfield that previously had been worked with my 7-ft offset pull disc.

 

[RickB]

I doubt its that much effort. Take the nut off the axle slide the disks off and slide a peice of pipe over as a spacer. It only would take 30 minutes or so.

That could be done if a 10 foot or so disc on a 12 foot wide frame was acceptable. But the two rear gangs would have to be completely disassembled as the gangbolt heads are towards the outside. Narrowing 4 gangs would hardly be a half-hour job, especially if the gangbolts hadn't been disassembled in the last 40 or 50 years. The fastest, easiest way to accomplish the job would be to simply torch the discs off, leaving the disc centers right between the spools and the gangbolts tight. But none of this appeals to me; I'd rather buy a machine suited to my tractor, conditions, and needs.

 

[Marveltone]

That could be done if a 10 foot or so disc on a 12 foot wide frame was acceptable. But the two rear gangs would have to be completely disassembled as the gangbolt heads are towards the outside. Narrowing 4 gangs would hardly be a half-hour job, especially if the gangbolts hadn't been disassembled in the last 40 or 50 years. The fastest, easiest way to accomplish the job would be to simply torch the discs off, leaving the disc centers right between the spools and the gangbolts tight. But none of this appeals to me; I'd rather buy a machine suited to my tractor, conditions, and needs.

Hence, my query. :scratchchin::wink:
Good info folks! Keep it coming!:thumbsup:

 

[MIKE R]

Hence, my query. :scratchchin::wink:
Good info folks! Keep it coming!:thumbsup:

What else do you want to know. Operation of the disks, tricks for smoothing the field better...

 

[Marveltone]

I guess my biggest question is am I more likely to run out of traction or power? Chances are the only way I'll know is to buy the silly disc and try it next spring.

Joe

 

[MIKE R]

I guess my biggest question is am I more likely to run out of traction or power? Chances are the only way I'll know is to buy the silly disc and try it next spring.

Joe

If it don't work you can sell it and make a profit most likely.

 

[kf4uda]

I think if you have a problem pulling it, lack of traction will occur before lack of HP.

 

[MHarryE]

Of course if you have a problem you can get by in a pinch by lowering the wheels and reducing depth of cut, especially in tough areas. I have one field where I had to do that for a few passes this year until I got it worked up well enough I could get it sunk in down to the spools. I use it only behind a L5740 Kubota with a bucket of gravel for ballast in front and cast wheel weights in back. Traction is still my limit in the rough ground. It is a 13 foot tandem with 18 inch blades ballasted with an extra 700 pounds of steel ballast.