Disc Harrow What size disc can I pull with my compact JD 4520 ?

[Gary Fowler]

I have a heavy tandem 3PH 8 foot wide disc that I could pull with my 50 HP 4 WD but only in hard dry soil. In damp loose soil so it really dug in, I had to carry it due to lack of traction. Now I pull it with my 70 HP tractor and it has to be in 4 WD to pull it when cutting to the axles. So much depends on your soil that it is impossible to say what size disc you can pull and to what depth. If you carry it with the hydraulics/wheels, you might scratch the ground with a 14 foot disk but don't expect to be cutting more than a couple of inches deep. This may be enough if you are just preparing food plots so you have enough loose soil to cover seeds.

If the 470 is a really good buy, and I have seen 21 foot used disc's sell for less than 6-8 foot due to demand, you could always remove blades till you get down to what you can pull. As long as frame width isn't an issue, the blade width can be shortened.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a heavy tandem 3PH 8 foot wide disc that I could pull with my 50 HP 4 WD but only in hard dry soil. In damp loose soil so it really dug in, I had to carry it due to lack of traction.

Pray tell, what diameter pans and what pan spacing? How aggressively are the gangs adjusted?

I can learn here.

 

[jim4520]

You have not read my dissertation--------

Disc Harrows come in even pan diameters, ie: 18" -20"-22" etc. Up to 22" pans are almost always offered only notched, also called scalloped. These cut better, compensating for light weight. (Minor issue: Notched pans deform a little easier, wear a little faster.)

The key factor is implement weight bearing on each pan, with forty pounds per pan being minimum effective weight in sandy soils, really for field use rather than food plot use.

For food plots you need fifty to sixty pounds bearing on each pan, because the ground has not previously been broken with a plow, usually, therefore you cannot adjust the gang angles as aggressively and because usually you want to complete soil prep in one pass because of a lack of maneuver room or because of operating on slopes, where you do not want a second pass over disturbed ground.

You get more weight per pan with larger diameter pans (Pi = 3.14), which are also thicker, or by spacing pans at 9" rather than 7", which yields less pans per gang. Fewer pans mean less pan "float", better cutting action.

Seven inch and 7-1/2" spaced Disc Harrows are for smoothing furrows created by a moldboard plow in fields. Nine inch pan spacing is for cutting in food plots and fire breaks.

(Monroe Tufline offers heavy Disc Harrows with 9" spacing front, 7" spacing rear, for those who have difficulty with decisions.)

BUY HEAVY.


After seeding the optimum implement to maximize small seed germination and curtail erosion is a Cultipacker.

There are NO TILL Food Plot mixtures based on clover. Being low, less yield than general food plot mixes. I do not have experience in NO TILL category.

Guilty as charged ! I was trying to get ready for family gathering today and "looked over" your dissertation. A lot of good info I will read it closer now that I have more time to sit down. Thanks You and thank you so much for this info. I'm glad you took the time to explain. I feel better about what to look for.

 

[jim4520]

I have a heavy tandem 3PH 8 foot wide disc that I could pull with my 50 HP 4 WD but only in hard dry soil. In damp loose soil so it really dug in, I had to carry it due to lack of traction. Now I pull it with my 70 HP tractor and it has to be in 4 WD to pull it when cutting to the axles. So much depends on your soil that it is impossible to say what size disc you can pull and to what depth. If you carry it with the hydraulics/wheels, you might scratch the ground with a 14 foot disk but don't expect to be cutting more than a couple of inches deep. This may be enough if you are just preparing food plots so you have enough loose soil to cover seeds.

If the 470 is a really good buy, and I have seen 21 foot used disc's sell for less than 6-8 foot due to demand, you could always remove blades till you get down to what you can pull. As long as frame width isn't an issue, the blade width can be shortened.

Glad to hear your opinion as i was wondering if this would not be an option. $1000 for this disc with wings which I would remove. It is dual wheels which good or bad is going to add weight. Sounds like I'm over shooting and need to stay at 8ft. or less.

 

[AGRIMAN]

A 470 is way to much harrow for a 53hp tractor even with the wings removed. Sure, you could scratch around on hard dirt with it, but you will be much better off with a 10' (20" disc).

The 470 is a really good harrow and I have one myself, but I pull it with a 140hp Tractor.

 

[jim4520]

Thank you. That's what I need to know

 

[k0ua]

You are an Engineer. (Note capitalization.)

I am a punky retired wine marketer. Thus, when I write, people believe I know more than I do.

Not any more They decided they didn't need a bunch of us after a merger, and I am an Insurance agent now specializing in selling Medicare supplemental insurance and dental plans. :shocked: Ain't life grand? (talk about culture shock)

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

You have not read my dissertation--------

Disc Harrows come in even pan diameters, ie: 18" -20"-22" etc. Up to 22" pans are almost always offered only notched, also called scalloped. These cut better, compensating for light weight. (Minor issue: Notched pans deform a little easier, wear a little faster.)

The key factor is implement weight bearing on each pan, with forty pounds per pan being minimum effective weight in sandy soils, really for field use rather than food plot use.

For food plots you need fifty to sixty pounds bearing on each pan, because the ground has not previously been broken with a plow, usually, therefore you cannot adjust the gang angles as aggressively and because usually you want to complete soil prep in one pass because of a lack of maneuver room or because of operating on slopes, where you do not want a second pass over disturbed ground.

You get more weight per pan with larger diameter pans (Pi = 3.14), which are also thicker, or by spacing pans at 9" rather than 7", which yields fewer pans per gang. Fewer pans mean less pan "float", better cutting action.

Seven inch and 7-1/2" spaced Disc Harrows are for smoothing furrows created by a moldboard plow in fields. Nine inch pan spacing is for cutting in food plots and fire breaks.

(Monroe Tufline offers heavy Disc Harrows with 9" spacing front, 7" spacing rear, for those who have difficulty with decisions.)

BUY HEAVY.


After seeding the optimum implement to maximize small seed germination and curtail erosion is a Cultipacker.

There are NO TILL Food Plot mixtures based on clover. Being low, less yield than general food plot mixes. I do not have experience in NO TILL category.

One thing not mentioned in your post (but I'm sure is included in the treatise "Jeff on Disc Harrows" ) is that people using disc harrows in gummy, sticky clay should look for one that has scrapers on each disc that forces the dirt off the disc as it turns.

 

[jeff9366]

What? You have not read Magnus Opus?

 

[LouieJunior]

Lupe a chain between each disc and you'll prevent dirt from building up and creating big mud wheels.