Pulverizer size

[plh3]

Anyone have any thoughts as to a 72" Woods pulverizer pulled by a JD 2305. I looked at a used Woods today in great shape for $600 which is hard to pass up. My tractor can lift it for sure but was a little concerned when I looked at he Woods website and they said it was designed for 30-60hp tractors and my tractor is only 24hp. My soil doesn't have a drop of clay and is basically river loam since I live next to a river but want to use the pulverizer to groom a horse paddock. Love my JD and don't want to screw it up pulling something to big. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[deereguy]

Welcome to TBN! I don't think you would have any trouble in your arena with that combination. What area of Cincy are ya in? I'm north- outside the belt.

 

[plh3]

I live just inside 275 on the border of Symmes township and Loveland Madeira Rd. on the Little Miami. So the soil is beautiful but after the winter and wet spring I like to try to even it back out from the horse traffic. I care much for my wife's horses but it's a **** of an excuse to get more equipment and a little seat time.

 

[plh3]

That's a "I don't care much for my wife's horse's" but a h*** of an excuse to work outside and get seat time.

 

[Lindy]

I think for your application (grooming a finished area) it should be fine.

Now if you wanted to do a lot of heavy duty scraping, reshaping and ground engaging, that might be another story. I have a 72" Gill Super Pulverizer to use behind my Kubota B3030 (30HP). It's plenty for my tractor when I use it more aggressively like this. For the type of work you're talking about though, no problem.

Do you have a loader? You'll want that weight in the front end to maintain 4 wheel traction for pulling power.

 

[plh3]

Yes I have a 200X loader up front on my 2305. So you think with that weight out back I should scoop up a load of gravel to act as front ballast? Pretty much my thought is that the pulverizer is a great economical tool to basically prep and resurface and area chewed up by the horses in the winter/spring plus some. Any thoughts on the $600 used price of a Woods? As I've looked around that seemed really good, and after looking at the implement it's in nice serviceable shape, with a little deterioration on the paint from being left outside.

 

[Lindy]

Re: front ballast -- I'm not really sure on that one for your particular situation. I'd just try it and see if it helps. You may be fine with just the weight of the loader. That will help right there to load up the front wheels. I did discover quickly that I had to be in 4WD to use the implement effectively with my tractor. 2WD didn't work well, and I didn't even attempt it without the weight of the loader on the front.

$600 sounds like an excellent deal on the used Woods. I would have snapped up a deal like that if I'd found one when I was looking. Mine was cheaper, but it's old, really beat up, and missing some parts (e.g. springs for the rear roller). The new ones I considered started around ~$1k (Leinbach, Bush Hog). These may have been smaller, single roller units -- I don't remember all the details.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Pulverizers are NOT a big HP drain. The rating has more to do with their ability to withstand the punishment a tractor can dish out than the power it takes to USE one. I've got a couple Leinbach 6'ers. They normally get used behind a 47 or 60 hp tractor but have seen duty behind a friends Kubota 7610. (not sure of HP, but around 25 + or - I do believe) They're ideal for arena maintenance.

$600 for a Woods (Gill) pulverizer is a mighty big bargain! I'd be all over that!

 

[plh3]

I put a deposit on it today. It's in great condition with a little weather from sitting outside. Springs appear to be good and there was grease in the roller bearings. Thanks for the advice and confirmation. I was a little concerned that I perhaps was going to buy a little too much implement for my subcompact and then not be able to get the intended use out of it.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

For whatever it's worth, even if you find out later that the pulverizer is too heavy or just not what you expected, at $600, you can turn that around (at the right time of the year) and make a few pesos. I've seen 'em re-sell for as high as $1000 in "average" condition. One sold on EBAY last spring for $1290. That one was about 5 miles from my place. I bid it up to $850.

But, I believe you'll be VERY happy with it.