Offset disc-up close and personal

[GreenWannabe]

Towner was sold by Caaterpillar dealers back in the day. If you check with your local dealer, he may have one you can copy.

 

[arland]

Looks like my disc. Where do I find parts?

Thought there might be some interest in what I'm doing to salvage/refurbish an ancient 6-ft wide offset disc I got from my neighbor. It was in the weeds when he bought his place 14 years ago. No ID tags, but it may be an old Towner. Any help here is appreciated. Plan to use it with my 1964 MF-135 diesel to do a little haying on 7 acres. It's one heavy sumgun. Wonder what something like this costs new.

The disc has two four-disc gangs (20" dia discs) on the left side of the frame and two five-disc gangs on the right side. It appears that the previous owner(s) used it in the clockwise direction since the outer three disc on the right front are worn down several inches. Need to disassemble that gang and replace the worn discs so the implement is level.

Used the Kubota B7510HST and LA302 FEL to lift the corner of the frame.

The discs are pretty rusty, but not too corroded.

I had to cut the large square nut off the end of the axle with my Makita 4-1/2" grinder. Tried the usual penetrating oils for several weeks, but the threads were dry after I pounded off the nut. Messed up the threads a little. Need to clean these up later.

Next job is to remove the bearing block near the end of the axle shaft. Two bolts with 1" square nuts. None of my sockets or box end wrenches fit. Too tight for a cresent wrench. Need to visit the NAPA store in town and get the right tool.

Still trying to get the adjustment mechanism freed up. Penetrating oil seems to be working here. Need to figure out how to work that mechanism loose. Probably have to chain the rear end of the disc to the Kubota and hitch the MF-135 on the front and pull.

It's a real contraption. Looks like the skinny rod with the loop on the end is the release that frees the adjustment mechanism so the angle between the two halves of the disc can be adjusted. I suppose you pull this release while easing the tractor forward or backward to change the angle.

Don't know what that J-shaped piece on the right side in the photo is used for. Any suggestions? There's a length of chain there also that I haven't figured out yet.

More to follow as I make progress.