Walco vs King Kutter

[Eric_Phillips]

I am in the market for a 5-6 ft disc harrow. When I was down at at TSC on Monday they found in the catalog a 5 ft King Kutter disc for under $600. I have not been able to find that disc on their web site. I am assuming it is just an angle iron model not the box frame. The dealer I bought my tractor from has a Walco 1618, 16-18" discs for $750. My plan is to loosen up 2 year old farm land to plant lawn and pasture. This fall I will be doing about 2 acres. Next year I will start takling the other 9 acres for pasture. If I could find a used unit I would jump on it. But if I have to buy new are there any thoughts on these two discs?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Farmwithjunk]

They're BOTH light-weight models. That has a two-fold NEGATIVE aspect. One, light-weight spells low stregnth in most cases. Two, light-weight means they don't like to "dig in". They do OK in plowed ground. (Just BARELY OK) In established sod, you will find yourself going over, and over, and over the same ground literally dozens of times, without cutting into the sod much at all. Enough weight ADDED to that disc to make it cut, will be OVER-LOADING the frame.

A disc is much like a box-blade in one regard. They need "built-in weight" to do a decent job.

 

[Eric_Phillips]

The heavy duty Walco discs are only about 20 lb more than the light duty one, coming in around 530 lb. I noticed the King Kutter angle frame is 540 lb but the box frame is 720 lb. Will the box frame KK be heavy enough? Most of the area is weedy not grassy. I will be spraying round-up before trying to prepare for seeding. Do you have any other suggestions for brands of discs?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Farmwithjunk]

There are a number of heavier-duty 3-point disc models on the market. They aren't cheap though. I don't remember the model #, but Massey Ferguson made a GREAT 3-point disc a few years back. I'm personally a fan of "wheel disc's". (Pull-type). More weight, longer frame, usually more rigid, and fairly easy to find. Also, adding weight to a wheel disc doesn't upset the balance of your tractor nearly as bad as adding lots of weight to a 3-point model.

Still, there's no substitute for the convenience of 3-point equipment.