Input on this 8ft International disk?

[FlyFishn]

All,

This disk is available (as of right now) within a somewhat reasonable distance. See linked thread for more background detail.

Disk discussion - what is adequate, what is too much?

We're getting going on our first acreage. I won't re-hash everything here, see following link for some info on the process of getting our tractor going. https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/international-444-1968-progress-thread-getting-going.478847/ The tractor is a 1968 International...

www.tractorbynet.com

In short, 42hp International 444 2wd gas. At 5hp/ft - 8' of disk is about the max for this machine. Tractor track width is about 7' so 8' would cover tracks.

I came across the disk in the picture - 8' International of some vintage. It appears to be in good working condition. The seller is asking $875. For what you see - does that sound like a reasonable price? That sounds a bit high to me. But I think this is the ideal size and it is available.

 

[Rockbadchild]

if its in good shape I would say yes... the combination of I need it and it is close to me is worth some money... I have a pull behind with a hydraulic axel its a 10ft I only payed $1500 but I had to put in a other $3600 in parts in it (rebuilt the whole front end)

 

[EddieWalker]

I have something similar that I bought for food plots. I found that it's too light to really do much to ground that has never been disked before. It also makes a big difference in how much moisture is in the ground. Dry ground and it just bounces along the surface. Another concern is if there was grass there that will stop it from getting to the dirt.

My experience with mine was that it takes a very long time for it to start working. You go over the ground, over and over again, and then it starts to break it up just a little bit. So you keep going over the same area, over and over again, and evetually, it will break through and start to work.

I put a milk crate on mine and filled it with sacks of concrete. The extra weight helps, but that's on an area that I've disked twice a year, for over a decade.

Now that I have a bigger tractor, I want to get a pull behind disk. In my opinion, from what I've read and seen on YouTube, they work a lot better then the 3point systems.

 

[FlyFishn]

We had a lead on a 12ft drawn with hydraulic lift wheels for $400 a while back, it sold. This one is more than double the price and 3pt, not drawn. Just trying to weigh the math. New is $3000-ish.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have something similar that I bought for food plots. I found that it's too light to really do much to ground that has never been disked before. It also makes a big difference in how much moisture is in the ground. Dry ground and it just bounces along the surface. Another concern is if there was grass there that will stop it from getting to the dirt.

My experience with mine was that it takes a very long time for it to start working. You go over the ground, over and over again, and then it starts to break it up just a little bit. So you keep going over the same area, over and over again, and evetually, it will break through and start to work.

I put a milk crate on mine and filled it with sacks of concrete. The extra weight helps, but that's on an area that I've disked twice a year, for over a decade.

Now that I have a bigger tractor, I want to get a pull behind disk. In my opinion, from what I've read and seen on YouTube, they work a lot better then the 3point systems.

I agree but these disk are design to break previously plowed ground and not virgin ground ... there are advantage with the 3 point disk and as you pointed out there are also disadvantage. and yes the pull behind are better to break ground but if I am going to have a pull behind I would want a axle to lift it off the ground. I have a 10ft pull behind and it weigh a like 1800lbs and if the vegetation is dense with these reed canary grass it wont break the ground even if its mow raw... the notch disk are more effective to break virgin ground.

 

[Rockbadchild]

We had a lead on a 12ft drawn with hydraulic lift wheels for $400 a while back, it sold. This one is more than double the price and 3pt, not drawn. Just trying to weigh the math. New is $3000-ish.

the draw are a lot more expensive new, then the 3 point, I don't think you would've been able to pull that 12ft... I have a 10ft and with my 60hp hydro it is taxing on it, at times I have to put it on low gear or even lift it.

 

[FlyFishn]

The ground we are needing disked was plowed around a month ago, and ripped prior to that. So this isnt a "break new ground" endeavour, just maintenance tillage.

We are anticipating needing to add weight, regardless, though. As to how that will do on new ground - not real sure, but we will likely have plowed first too when we get that far.

 

[Rockbadchild]

The ground we are needing disked was plowed around a month ago, and ripped prior to that. So this isnt a "break new ground" endeavour, just maintenance tillage.

We are anticipating needing to add weight, regardless, though. As to how that will do on new ground - not real sure, but we will likely have plowed first too when we get that far.

Which are do you live? just to know if you have a freezing winter, in case you don't know this, it is a lot easier to disk a plowed area once it has been frozen and thaw out... so ideally (which is the case) the area is plowed in the fall, left there for the winter and disk in the spring.

 

[FlyFishn]

Central ohio.

We need to work the ground to break up vegetation. It is old, overgrown pasture.

Our plan is to get the vegetation mixed in better, then soil sample. Then once we have recommendations for ammendmentsn- start adding and mix in with the disk as needed, with a pass before planting in the spring also.

 

[FlyFishn]

We got the disk and ran it yesterday before the sun went down. Since we were running over already worked ground (plowed, see 1st picture) the disk was able to work pretty quick. With as messed up as the ground was, though, it took several passes - maybe 4-5 - to get it where it is now.

However, I think we need to add some weight to the disk. Any ideas on how much to add? Maybe 1000lbs - 500 per side? Or would that be too much? I am guessing the disk weighs around 500-700lbs as it sits. It doesn't seem very heavy - I can shove it around on the ground and on the trailer by hand without too much difficulty.

As for weight - I am thinking of making some concrete blocks to fit on the disk frame. Maybe have them encased in an angle iron frame with some welded on rigging points to be able to move and use other places, also?

This is the plowed ground mess from before:

Results after disking last night:

 

[Rockbadchild]

It looks good, I am not sure what was your methodology but just incase here's a few pointer for disking, start longitudinally and do a overlap by half the width of the disk on every pass, then you do the same crossways, once that'd done you are usually in pretty good shape...

As far as weight you don't want to put too much ether, I used to use rail road tie and I would put 3 of the heaviest one so a few 100lbs. Disking at speed works better to break up the ground and the heavier it gets you sacrifice speed so there's a balance there, plus if you hit a rock you will break some disks if its too heavy... My suggestion is put what ever for now like scrap metal and do a few test while incrementally increase the weight to get the optimum weight then do a guess estimation on the weight of that then you can do your weights.

 

[scootr]

I bought an old Towner pull behind with wheels 20 yrs ago. Cheap. It's 6 x7 heavy built. I chained a water barrel on it. I can add or subtract as much weight as needed, up to 500 pounds.
replaced the hand crank wheel action with a hydraulic cylinder. Thing is as old as me. Does a job.

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like it's working great for you!!!

On mine, I have a milk crate that I put stuff in it to add weight. Sacks of concrete, rocks, and I even filled up a five gallon bucket with water and put the lid back on it.

At a friends house I saw the he used rebar. He just cut it to the width of his disk, and tied them all together. Just guessing, I bet he had 40 or 50 pieces of rebar all tied together. He said that he could add or remove them easily, and get it just right.

If you have heavy log, that might work too?

 

[Gator6x4]

Smooth disc are "Finish Disc".

Notched disc are "Rough Cut Disc.

Use a finish disc to smooth out the earth after plowing or using a tillage tool.

Use a notched disc with weights for rough cutting.