Quick Hitches Packed Clay. Ripper? Subsoiler? Disc? Scarifier?

[Egon]

I'd go for the ripper type implement. If the pulling gets tough reduce the depth or take out rippers. Rip numerous times and then do the windrow thing numerous times. Going back and forth in the same direction will do a good job Of moving soil along the track and mixing it.

Bigger cat with three ripper on the back would be perfect for the job.

 

[Dadnatron]

I would go ripper/subsoiler. Given the relatively finite width and distance, you don't need many shanks to do the job. A chisel plow will put a lot of stress on your 3pt given what you are trying to tear up. They are designed for field cultivation, not purposely compacted material.

You could probably purchase a single or double shank Cat 3 ripper and get everything loosened up quickly. Regardless, you are likely to also need a disc to break up the larger chunks which will invariably be brought up by the ripper or whatever implement you choose. The track will break along fault/stress lines through the compacted material and since you have compacted the entire track, as densely as possible, the chunks are likely to be large initially.

I would just get a Cat 3 subsoiler, 2 or 3 shank, just make sure they are heavy. The parabolic shape would be fine for your purposes although the curve causes more compaction along the shank midpoint in a field. Take a more shallow pass initially and see how it fractures as well as how your tractor pulls. Then alter as needed.

I suspect a disc will be able to break up the chunks enough to begin mixing.

But, as was mentioned above, you might just need to fix the problem spots, but you would certainly know better than I, how that would affect the track and subsequent racing.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . Most Chisel Plows are sized for a Category III Three Point Hitch . . . .

??? Chisel plows come in all sizes and 3 point hitch categories. I've got one about 6-1/2 feet working width with a Cat 1 hitch on it.

 

[jeff9366]

Chisel Plows are PRIMARY TILLAGE implements. Most frequent use is to cut through hardpan.

OP has a 14,000 pound, 4-WD tractor.

OP can push a spade into the moist track 3". Therefore track is not too compacted.

Wheels, even race car wheels, pack ground less than animal hooves over time.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Coming from someone with track prep experience, my first choice would be a heavy cross cut harrow. This will do three things for you, help keep the clumps down, help to keep it somewhat level and it will help mix the dirt.

It you can't get a cross cut, I would use a tandem harrow along with a chisel plow. I would alternate between the two. This will help keep the clumps down.

I would not use a ripper. If you end up with any deep furrows from the ripper (below your working depth) it will be difficult to possible to get them packed back. You may think you have, but after some laps, the cars will knock the dirt back out of them and you wil end up with a rutted up mess.

 

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the whole getting deeper into the ground....

if fixing up all the ruts in lawn has taught me....

dig up / till area were ruts are. wider than rut itself is. and just a bit deeper than rut itself. and then shovel off a few inches loose dirt, compact the lower dirt, toss on a couple more inches of dirt, compact it, then toss on some more dirt, and compact it, till within a couple inches of surface for grass.

digging deep to bust stuff up. and then not going back and compacting a couple inches at a time. results in a bigger muddy mess. ((just as AGRIMAN noted)) this goes for dirt driveway to rock driveway, to dealing with culverts placed under the driveways as well. each few inches you need to compact the clay. and not just dump a bunch of dirt on 12 plus inches thick and only compact the top.

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getting the correct moisture in the dirt for compaction. you can have to much water, and you can have it to dry as well. to wet = muddy sloppy mess that makes ruts, to dry and you get a dust storm and only compact top 1 inch maybe a little more.

if it is to wet, stay off of it, you will cause more issues. clay by nature loves to slip and slide when it is wet.