Question for the farmer types

BadMojo · Mar 30, 2009

Just wondering what is the largest size disc a YM1700 would be able to handle. I've got a line on a nice 4ft and also have a chance of picking up a 5ft even cheaper. I got three large garden plots plowed up today, and want to get started discing it and getting ready to plant this week before it starts stinking raining again.

HoyeTractor · Mar 30, 2009

My seat time farming has mostly been in tractors with a couple hundred more HP than the 1700 but...I'd personally go with the 4'. You'll be able to disc deeper & faster. Is it a 2wd or 4wd? I think it will all come down to traction. The 1700 is geared low enough you can pull just about anything if you can get traction.

I'd be happy to take that rain off your hands if your done with it.

Aaron
Parts@HoyeTractor.com
(940)592-0181

BadMojo · Mar 31, 2009

Good deal, that's what I wanted to know. I've spent a lot of time in a tractor seat, but it's almost all been bailing hay, this whole dragging stuff through the ground is a little different. Thanks!

California · Mar 31, 2009

My experience matches what Aaron said. I couldn't pull a 6 ft disc after I had enough ballast on it to get some penetration. Then after I had enough ballast on the tractor to control wheelspin, the whole rig was too heavy to disc uphill in my orchard at any useful speed.

Here's an old post with photos of my 4 and 6 ft discs. I was responding to someone with a similar problem who considered removing the outer pans from his disc.

And another old post describing my frustration with the 6 ft disc. Someone else responded that he couldn't pull a 5 ft either. He and I have 20 hp (@pto) compared to the YM1700's 17 hp.

FL_Jerry · Mar 31, 2009

I have a 2000BD and pull a large disk through the FL sand easily (in 4wd). Without 4wd on, it doesn't do so well due to the traction issue Aaron talked about. If I were in clay, I would probably have a problem. I still have the rear rice tires which are like buzz saws on the sand too but they are filled with water.

Also, my disk is adjustable on the angle. The adjustable ones are more expensive but it allows you to take some or add in "bite". Since I only use mine in my garden plot, I set it to max so I can really tear things up.

Jerry

careyo63 · Mar 31, 2009

I went through the same situation at the end of last year of what would work best with a YM2000.After reading threads and talking to the locals most everyone said pretty much the samething go tiller or they wish they would have.Since I wasn't going to be using it all that much that when I started looking for a tiller the cost of new was pretty steep.Ended up finding a used recon for what I would be paying for a used plow and disk in my area.Had to travel to get it but I feel I made a good choice.It works great.There was a new member a few weeks back who lives in my area with a tiller on a YM1700 I believe he stated that it was awesome.

SailorBob · Mar 31, 2009

I have a 4' disc for my YM1700. It is a 12 X 16 and It works great. I have already disced my garden several times this year to cut some lime into the soil.

edmartin · Mar 31, 2009

I'll second careyo63. I have a YM2000 and use a 52" tiller with no problems. The tillers are expensive but, you can find good used ones. Mine is a Bush Hog that I saw in a yard with a sign on it. After some bargining, I got it for $500. Personally, I can see no reason for a set of discs if you have a tiller. Good luck.

BadMojo · Mar 31, 2009

Yeah, I've got an old tiller I picked up free a couple of years ago, I know it needs bearings replaced and not sure about the drive line. I'm just leary of it, would hate to put much money into it. We'll see. I figure if I get the 4ft disc if worse comes to worse I can remove the rear sets and run just the fronts, I've got the plots well plowed and it's nice soft sandy loam, no clay or rocks, shouldn't take much to get it smoothed out.

Thanks for all the advice guys! Heck, I guess I'll see if I can even get parts for the old tiller. Suppose I can always use my big walk behind tiller...but thats more work than the tractor.

FL_Jerry · Apr 1, 2009

Why disc over tiller? Tiller pretty much used for garden prep at beginning of season. After that you really need some other cultivation device unless you space your rows 4ft apart. A tiller does much better at soil prep if turning in compost etc.

A disc isn't much better imo for multitasking. When I seed grass and rye in winter etc, the disc is used again. I don't let it bite like for garden prep, just barely rough the thatch up. You can use it to level ground out without digging in too deep as well.

I found my used disc for 275.00, I didn't have much luck finding a used tiller. I'd like to have one because I had to fence my large garden in due to losing the deer battle. A large disc is a little trickier to get around with. For the money a new one costs, I think I would replace my stolen Troy Built Horse tiller. You can use the walk behind for cultivation.

Jerry