Disc Harrow Need advise on used disk and box blade

[theg]

What is a decent price in N TX for a used disk harrow and/or box blade. Looking for 5'-6'12" wide. The ones i have looked at either look like it's from early 30's or slightly used and almost as much as new unit. I get old doesn't mean wore out but this is a new world for me and $$ are limited so need tips on what to look for, stay away from, & what is reasonable.

 

[jeff9366]

With a Mahindra 1533 you can pull a Box-Frame Tandem Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans in all soil. Howse should be around $1,200 in Texas, new. Other brands of hobby farm Discs similarly priced.

You can pull a more effective weight Disc Harrow with 20" diameter pans in light soil but probably not heavy soil.

Width means nothing. Weight bearing on each pan is everything. Pan diameter is where the weight is.

Disc Harrows with 9" spacing between pans cut better.

Disc Harrows with 7" or 7-1/2" spacing between pans smooth plow furrows better.

Consider a PTO powered roto-tiller as well as a Disc Harrow. Both implements are soil mixers. Are you seeking a soil mixer?


LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=

TractorData.com Mahindra 1533 tractor information

 

[theg]

Rally had not thought of one. I have part of a pasture that I just mowed and wanted to cut up all the junk. (Thinking) of messing with planting grass to maybe cut some hay.

 

[jeff9366]

If horses or cattle have been on the pasture, a light Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans will not cut such compacted soil. A heavier weight Disc Harrow with 20" diameter pans will probably not cut animal compacted pasture either.

How many acres do you want to renovate? What is the soil composition? ~~~~clay? loam? gravel? sand?

If it is a small area you can rip it with a Subsoiler, then roto-till. Subsoiling alone should improve ground productivity.
VIDEO: using a subsoiler - YouTube
TBN LINK: Google

Subsoilers cost $300 to $400 new. Consider only Subsoilers with shear bolt protection and a replaceable foot.


If it is a large area you will need to chisel plow, or moldboard plow, then Disc Harrow or roto-till to mix and smooth.

Plows and Subsoilers are PRIMARY tillage implements. Disc Harrows and PTO powered roto-tillers are SECONDAY tillage implements.

There are specialty pasture renovating implements but they are expensive.

LINK: Hay King Renovators - Hay King - Miller


If it is a hay field, rather than a pasture which animals have compacted, another implement such as a Field Cultivator, may be satisfactory.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Here's a visual to add to Jeff's description of a subsoiler.
Our EA Subsoiler has shear bolt protection and will ship free to your home within 1,000 miles of Newton, NC.
Travis

 

[theg]

Thanks for the info and videos. Save me some doing stuff in wrong order.

 

[jeff9366]

How many acres do you intend to renovate?

What is the soil composition? ~~~~clay? loam? gravel? sand?

 

[Mitkof]

I just bought a used Leinbach 240 disc harrow it has 16 notched 18 inch discs for $500. here in PNW.
EA video on this 240 disc harrow shows the weight issue for cutting deep appears to float [so add weight].
Ref: How to Use a Disc Harrow - The Gardening Series - YouTube
The subsoiler or ripper idea is a good one. If its super packed soil might have to plow first.
I got a disc harrow because the garden residue is too much for cultivator to handle. I will disc end of season plant white clover for winter cover crop then come spring disc again and finish with cultivator before seeding.
Good farming, life is good

 

[jeff9366]

Note: Leinbach 240 - 16/18" has 9" spacing between pans. Leinbach in video would have cut pre-plowed soil better if: 1) front/cutting gang had been adjusted more aggressively; 2. Top Link had been shorter, shifting more implement weight to front/cutting gang from rear/smoothing gang.
(Photo - Howse 16/18" - weight distribution 75% front/25% rear)

In field work, where objective is to mix and redistribute soil, the Disc Harrow would be pulled at 3-5 mph rather than 2 mph.

In a garden and small fields, a PTO powered roto-tiller is a more effective soil mixing implement.

VIDEO: How To Till and Rotovate Your Garden With A Subcompact Tractor/Kubota BX - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

MITKOF: This link may be useful.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ing-three-point-hitch-mounted.html?highlight=

Adding weight to Disc Harrows too often results in broken frame welds. Better to buy a Disc Harrow with larger diameter pans yielding more implement pressure on ground per pan. A 16/18" has about 37 pounds implement weight bearing on each pan. A 16/20" has about 52 pounds implement weight bearing on each pan.

Nothing whatsoever bad about a Leinbach Disc Harrow.