help with Ferguson disc

[Boulter]

Hi:

I picked up a disc along with a plow at an auction last fall. Got the plow to do something reasonably sensible, but don't even know where to start with the disc.

Foir a start it would sure help to even identify it. I can't make out the nameplate, but perhaps someone who knew the possibilities might be able to infer what it is from the worn nameplate image below.



It is a two gang, is that the terminology? The gangs are currently separated. I was hoping to just mount the first gang and be able to lift it clear of the ground to disk a small garden area, about 60 feet long by 16 feet wide. If I can't lift the disc here, I can't use it as I'll chew up all the grass etc coming around for the next pass. It is not clear to me how or even if the first section can be lifted clear of the ground. Maybe the lift just controls the attack angle of the discs and is not meant to actually lift the gang off the ground. As I said, I am clueless.

Here are pictures of the two gangs.





This next photo shows a slot that looks to me to be broken. Not sure what is going on here. It seems to mate up somehow with the rectangular piece in the following photo.





Some other photos.









I'd be most grateful for any assistance.

Regards,

Boulter

 

[flusher]

Check this out

Ferguson Single/Tandem Disc Harrow - ad brochure

I have an old Ferguson tandem disc that I use in my hayfield.

 

[JoeinTX]

No. "Gangs" are the cumulative left and right axles of a disc.............one left, one right, is a single gang disc plow. Each act with another and are thus considered a "gang."

As for the angling mechanism, you are correct. You aren't going to lift this thing out of the ground, no. The individual axles can be angled to not cut, and rather ride over, the ground like simple wheels when you don't want to cut. May leave a mark, but you're not plowing anything.

Your plow will cut and throw inwards........creating a ridge......which is not what you want for a field or normally worked ground. May be good for occasional scratching. Apply some serious weight and it's a very decent fire guard plow. Even more and it's a field ridging plow for creating moderate terraces.

 

[Boulter]

Thanks guys:

Flusher, yours sure looks alot like mine, but neither exactly match the brocure reference you supplied. For example, yours doesn't have a 3 point mount from what I can see.

I wonder if there were different versions over the years, or a succession of folks have hacked them to their own purposes?

It is a fantastic starting point to understand the basics: nothing lifts off the ground here, and the 3 point is to dynamically adjust the angles.

Depending on how things go, I might ask you for some more photographs if you wouldn't mind, but don't go out just yet. I'll take a few days to see what I can figure out.

The internet is a wonderful thing. Pose a question at midnight, and wake up the next morning to useful responses. Thanks guys.

Boulter

 

[dcyrilc]

My John Deere disc is a 3PH mouned disc where yours is a drag disc. Mine came with my tractor and I have yet to use it so don't know much else about it.

 

[Boulter]

Well I was out pondering my disk this morning and I am 99% sure that a piece broke and needs to be welded back together. First photo is two pieces separated, second is how I propose things should be. Can anyone confirm?





The fourth and fifth pictures in my original post show these two pieces in a more zoomed out view.

I tried pulling the first section and playing around with the 3PH to see if anything controls, but the disks just stayed parallel to the direction of travel and I got a bent 3PH tierod end for my efforts. Sigh, it looks to be metric (Kioti), so there won't be one within 100km of here. Probably should just acquire an entire top link with regular threading I suppose. I have read that guys straighten these out, but I imagine it takes a pipe set in 2000 pounds of concrete on one end, and me weilding an 8 foot pipe on the other end, and a sprinkling of good luck.

Boulter

 

[Boulter]

Hi:

Still plugging away at it. I hate corrosion.

My welder buddy came over, and even with heat, only two of the 4 shaft nuts released so far. And this is after a week of occasional liquid wrench treatments. He left his large impact wrench, so I will continue twice daily liquid wrench and "give it a try" treatments. He welded the broken bit while he was here too.

Of course the first spacer on one of the shafts with the nut off is stuck too. Sigh.

The good news is that I salvaged 4 pans from a part disc that came with the house. These pans are about 1/2 inch larger in diameter that the ones on my Ferguson, and they are a little more dished, but should be close enough. The square holes in the centre are in excellent shape, so here's hoping the hole is the right size. Plus I have another 7 pans on another piece of junk that came with the house if 4 are not enough.

Maybe in another week ...

Boulter

 

[sweettractors]

Hi:

Still plugging away at it. I hate corrosion.

My welder buddy came over, and even with heat, only two of the 4 shaft nuts released so far. And this is after a week of occasional liquid wrench treatments. He left his large impact wrench, so I will continue twice daily liquid wrench and "give it a try" treatments. He welded the broken bit while he was here too.

Of course the first spacer on one of the shafts with the nut off is stuck too. Sigh.

The good news is that I salvaged 4 pans from a part disc that came with the house. These pans are about 1/2 inch larger in diameter that the ones on my Ferguson, and they are a little more dished, but should be close enough. The square holes in the centre are in excellent shape, so here's hoping the hole is the right size. Plus I have another 7 pans on another piece of junk that came with the house if 4 are not enough.

Maybe in another week ...

Boulter

If you get those nuts cherry red with the torch, I guarantee they will come off with a good impact wrench. Ken Sweet

 

[Boulter]

hi:

D'oh! Left hand threads on two ends! Now they come off.

I have 3 of the 4 shafts loosened up, just one to go. The first spacer (at least, maybe more) is stuck. I am wondering if the shaft yielded a bit in rotation because the shaft and the spacer are rotated a few degrees out at the one end I can see. I had this heated by my welded buddy with his torch. It just might be gummed up with dirt too. I can't get the dirt to fall out the other side because the centre 2 or 3 inches of the mating disk is now a washer blocking the exit, while the disk with it's big hole is floating freely.

I had a look at some of the wooden bearings. They were replaced by the previous owner, but are showing signs of wear again, especially one. I have a wood lathe, so in theory I can make new ones, just not this year.

Inching closer.

Boulter

 

[Boulter]

Hi:

Finally got that last spacer off, and then the bearing next to it was stuck. After much liquid wrench, banging, and time ... I broke the bearing casting flange off. Then after more liquid wrench, banging, and time I got the rest of the bearing off. Took it over to my welder buddy and put it back together, but I understand welding cast iron is dodgy and it may not last.

I put the whole unit back together and took it for a spin yesterday in the field. With the 3PH down, and once it hit some ground resistance, it assumed the "X" shape. 3PH up straightens it out for turning and travel on the paths.

Now to research weighing it down, 45 pounds/lineal foot if IRC. As I am playing with concrete these days, proabbly the easiest thing is to cast some weights.

Thanks again for assistance.

Boulter