Looking at a small disc harrow

fish6942 · Apr 9, 2008

We have about 2-3 acres of lawn where I need to loosen the soil and smooth it some before I reseed the whole thing. I'll also be looking for some type of pull behind drag of some type for the final smoothing.

Wifey also wants me to look into getting a tiller for her new garden. I'm hoping to be able to do an adequate job with a disc so I can avoid the expense of a tiller (either walk behind or PTO).

Questions on the application:
1) Will a 4' disc work for the lawn work? The topsoil is mostly good black dirt.
2) Some units have smooth discs and some have notched discs. I'm guessing the notched type will do a better job of breaking up topsoil and vegetation?

I've located a used 4' 3PH tandem disc with smooth discs. It sounds like it's pretty well used but for the lawn work it's only a one time use. Here are some questions on that:
1) What should I be looking for when I go to check it out?
2) How easily should the discs rotate?
3) Are there any adjustments on these?

Thanks so much!!

N80 · Apr 9, 2008

Make sure all the welds look good. Make sure general geometry is symetrical. The disks, when raised, should rotate freely with a push of the hand or foot. The primary adjustment will be in the angle of the disk gangs (the bar on which the disks are hung.

I think a disk will be fine for what you want to do, but once you are done the soil will need some finishing and probably more than just a drag harrow. When you initially disk it, do it with the gangs set at the most aggressive angle. This will make the disk act sort of like a plow. then go over it several more times, each time setting the gangs closer and closer to being straight out. This will make things progressively smoother. But, you still may need to rent a cultipacker to put a good final, smooth finish on it.

The smooth round disks should be fine.