Tandem Disc Harrows

[sunspot]

I'm looking to buy one mainly to even out some acreage.
I have a 47 hp Ford 3910, 4600 lbs.
The soil is a nice dark loamy mix about 6" deep changing to sandy clay for 4" then 2" of small river rock.
It is pasture grass with silver sumac and some gum trees trying to get big and lots of some other type woody stemmed weed/brush.
The questions are;
How wide. How many blades. What blade size. Notched or smooth blades or Combo.
Anything else I should know? All suggestions and comments welcome. I'm new to all this and trying to learn.

I do have/use a 6' brush hog with dull blades. I've have scalped the ruts and woody plants real well, nor meaning to do that. The gum keeps coming back along with a silver sumac. Another reason I want to level the land a bit more and really chop them up. I'm not talking golf course smooth just less bumping and scrapping.
Also I want to plant a deer plot on a few acres. What is a decent brand?
My local dealer has a Atlas 500 with 20 each 20" disks. He wants $1175

 

[texasjohn]

My preference for the type of work you describe is the scolloped disks as in your photo. They do a better job of chopping surface trash.

What you are showing will get the job done.. however, I believe you will want to put rocks/weight on it to get better penetration. Your horsepower is well matched to this width disk. You could pull one wider, but there might be situations where you would need to set the disks at less of an angle or remove weight or remove an outside disk to get the results you want. This kind of disk kinda puts extra stress on the 3ph arms and jounces you on the tractor some.

The benefit of a 3ph disk is you can lift it and make a sharp turn. There also is a disk that is pulled and has two tires that are raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. I personally prefer this type of disk because it is heavier, typically just a little wider and you can adjust the depth of cut while operating by raising/lowering the wheels. Disadvantage is that to make 180 degree turn you must stop, raise the disk, execute turn and straighten out, then lower disk. This leaves a larger area at the end of the field...however, a circular trip around the ends of the field with lowered disk takes care of this. However, since this disk is drawbar pulled, the only stresses are on the drawbar and drive train, and the tractor isn't skittered about when you pull it, making for a straighter pull.

I don't think brand particularly matters. The rather easily replacable parts include the disks and the bearings. On used disks, sometimes the disks are so worn they need replacement, or bearings are gone and need replacement. I have done both and it's a relatively easy job if you can turn a wrench, have jacks, etc. So, you don't HAVE to purchase new... I got mine at local farm auctions where you can talk to the owner, find out why he's selling it, how he's used it, etc...

Welcome to TBN and I suggest you fill out your profile... helps us to answer if we know how many acres you are dealing with, etc.

 

[john_bud]

A similar 6.5 ft wide heavy duty KK tandem disc (750#) with notched front and smooth rear is about $800 on sale this time of year.

The eq may be good, but the deal isn't.

jb

 

[Soundguy]

Sweet gums will come back even if you bust the stump up pretty good. I have a stand of them that I took out 6ys ago.. and some of the trees in that stand have 3" to 4" bases again.. I'v given in and let them grow to break up the property a bit.

That tractor will handle -any- 6' disc.. and work an 8'er well.

Ditto onthe scalloped discs for vegitation..

soundguy

 

[JoeinTX]

You're definitely in the ball park..........6.5' tube frame with notched discs is a nice fit for good, deep, soil work. As noted above, you could handle a larger disc if your soil was worked and conditioned but for your situation you need something narrower, heavier, and working deeper.

As for prices, well, KK and Howse do make similar good discs but the prices on them may not be that much better enough to prevent you from picking this one up. If you can catch a sale or special at TSC or Northern Tool or any other dealer of the two you might get something equivalent for a few hundred less.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

With any disc, probably the most telltale "spec" is lbs per disc. Weight equals mass. Mass USUALLY equals strength. It ALWAYS equals soil penetration. When considering different models, compare lbs per blade.

A lightweight disc can have weight added, but consider that lightweight frame may or may not respond well to adding substancial amounts of weight. Some fold like a tent when put to the test.

Notched blades cut better, but will tend to bend (or break) easier than plain. More an issue in rocky soils.

I personally prefer a disc with scrapers. That's more important in plowed ground (or muddy conditions)

If the info is available, pay attention to gauge of disc blades. Some mighty thin ones on the market. They bend easier and wear out quicker.

You'll find 3-point disc's with either sealed bearings or cast "boxings". Both are acceptable. Sealed bearings are good if maintained. Boxings will remain servicable long after wear becomes evident. For a disc that'll see ocassional use, I personally would prefer the boxings. The deal with wear/dirt/water/rust/abuse in a much more forgiving manner.

The disc in your picture appears to be a decent model. From appearances, the gang frame (black box tubing) appears hollow. Some are solid bar stock. Besides the obvious strength issue, solid bar has more weight.

 

[dixiedrifter]

One thing else to think about is blade spacing... my disc has them 7.5" all around... and it does OK for finishing, but for cutting it doesn't do worth a crap... go for the 9" spacing on the front and 7.5" on the back.

 

[Glowplug]

Does anyone know what the recommendation is for the minimum pounds per disc that will cut and chop up sod and small vegetation using notched discs?

 

[firefighter9208]

I'm looking to buy one mainly to even out some acreage.
I have a 47 hp Ford 3910, 4600 lbs.
The soil is a nice dark loamy mix about 6" deep changing to sandy clay for 4" then 2" of small river rock.
It is pasture grass with silver sumac and some gum trees trying to get big and lots of some other type woody stemmed weed/brush.
The questions are;
How wide. How many blades. What blade size. Notched or smooth blades or Combo.
Anything else I should know? All suggestions and comments welcome. I'm new to all this and trying to learn.

I do have/use a 6' brush hog with dull blades. I've have scalped the ruts and woody plants real well, nor meaning to do that. The gum keeps coming back along with a silver sumac. Another reason I want to level the land a bit more and really chop them up. I'm not talking golf course smooth just less bumping and scrapping.
Also I want to plant a deer plot on a few acres. What is a decent brand?
My local dealer has a Atlas 500 with 20 each 20" disks. He wants $1175

Sunspot,

Where in Alabama are you located?

I just bought a 6.5' disk from Lowery Manufacturing in Boaz Alabama. It is a 500 Series 20x20 and weighs almost 900#. You can buy directly from them. I paid $900.00 tax and all. I live just outside of Springville. Here is a link to their website Lowery Manufacturing Company-LMC .

I bought the one with friction bearings. It was a little cheaper than the sealed bearings and the grease won't dry up from me letting it sit most of the year. Just grease before use and then every 4 hours of use. We've been using disk with greasable bearings all my life.

Chris

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Does anyone know what the recommendation is for the minimum pounds per disc that will cut and chop up sod and small vegetation using notched discs?

Not sure if there is a set number, but I'd look for AT LEAST 35# per blade on a 3-point model, and would guess by my own experiences that something to the effect of 40-45lbs would be better. Additional weight beyond that point, all the better yet. Some extra heavy duty models will go as high as 80lbs per blade.

Better "AG type" wheel disc's generally start in around 60lbs per blade. Offset's and primary tillage models go WAY higher than that.

Remember ground speed has a lot to do with the success of any disc, regardless of weight. Too slow and you get little or no "soil action" to break up and mix soil. Too fast and the disc wants to ride up out of the ground rather than cut. 4 to 5-1/2mph seems to be a good working speed for MOST disc's.