What size Disc harrow to buy?

[Gary Fowler]

I have a disc exactly like the Countyline shown in the thread you posted.

On top of it I have 4 ford wheel weights for a total of about 300#. I pull it with my 1965 Ford 3000 that is somewhere around 35 engine hp. I run the discs set at about mid position and let them seek their own level....3pt is all the way down.

My soil is Houston Black Clay. The disc is not the primary soil breaker. I come in first with something like the Hay King Pasture Renovator to dig down deep with minimum surface disturbance. Then I come back with this disc and work an x pattern.

I have the 6 speed Ford tranny which is 3 hi, 3 lo range gears. I run the disc in hi-1, essentially 4th gear out of 6 at PTO rpms. The disc works better if you move it at a good clip. I have the engine rpms up around PTO when I start a new run and drop the disc. Works just fine for me. I have a camera and the disc is on the tractor currently so if it keeps me from being called a liar, which some do from time to time, I can post a picture. But it will take some effort in getting the camera card setup for a pic on here.

I just went out to verify the actual weight of the 4 weights and realized I took the disc off as I was finished with the current usage. However, I have nothing to do today and I have a new card in my camera so I will go out and take a couple of pictures to support my claims.


Edit #2. Just so I keep things straight, I used my 6530 to pull the Hay King, obviously too much for the 3000.

I put in a longer set of rear axles in the disc to add a flipper disc on the end. Since the tractor's tire spacing was just inside the width of the disc, when the ground was damp I would get my tires gummed up with the overthrow from the plow into the next row. The added smaller diameter discs flip it back in the plowed area.

Mark

I have what appears to be the same disc as you except mine has 12each of 20" blades per section. It is just same width as my tractor and without any wheel weight on the tractor (water ballasted rear tires) it give the tractor all it wants in the traction dept. when in heavy loose soil.

I have power brushed and repainted it since the photos were taken when I first got it for a sum of $500.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Instead of a 6' disc that you probably don't have the HP or weight to pull, I'd suggest a box-frame 5' disc. As jeff suggested, 9" spacing would be better than 7.5" spacing. You want a disc that will dig in and cut, not just ride on top of the ground.

Few things are more frustrating than a tandem disc harrow just rolling on top of the ground and cutting little 1" deep furrows.

 

[jeff9366]

I have what appears to be the same disc as you except mine has 12each of 20" blades per section.

I am going to add on Gary Fowler's post #21:

Monroe Tufline makes a 24/20" Disc Harrow with 7.5" spacing between pans, an 8' working width and spec weight of 1,404 pounds.

1,404/24 = 58.5 pounds bearing on each pan. This one is going to CUT. Due to all that steel, it is going to cost, too, if bought today.


For, perhaps, further clarification for the OP here is one paragraph of Tufline's TL43 marketing blurb:

"The TL43 is equipped with 7½" blade spacing for smooth finish applications or 9" spacing for deep cutting requirements. A combination 9" front and 7½" rear blade spacing is also available. All units offer 20" or 22" notched blades standard with plain disc blades optional".


LINK:

Agriculture TL43 Series Disc - Monroe Tufline

 

[jeff9366]

I finally looked up full specs for LS3033 on tractordata.com.

LS3033 specs very closely to my former tractor-loader, a Kubota B3300SU, so I am ready to make a firm recommendation:

SCLEARMAN should buy a 16/18" Disc Harrow 5'-0" in width. For Food Plots, you do not want Disc Harrow much wider than rear tires (reputedly 43") because with something wider you too often get hung up between trees. When adjusted to CUT, front gang of 5'-0" width Disc Harrow will be 48" (+/-) in width, rear gang, which is usually set two holes less aggressively than front gang, will be 52" (+/-) in width. ~This is one of the most common Disc Harrow sizes.~

If Disc Harrow was for primarily ag use I would commend 16/18" or 20/18", 5'-6" to 6'-0" in width.

You will only find Disc Harrows with 18" diameter pans with Box Frames and notched pans.

I think you could pull a 16/20" with ag tires OK, but I am not SURE. I am SURE about the 16/18" recommendation.


TractorData.com LS G3033 tractor dimensions information

 

[sclearman]

JUST FOR FUN, TAKE A TAPE MEASURE AND REPORT BACK ACTUAL OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE TIRE WIDTH ON YOUR TRACTOR.


TractorData.com LS G3033 tractor dimensions information

Actual outside to outside rear width is 64"

 

[sclearman]

This is a cell phone photo, the perspective is off. Makes it look like there is a large difference in the mower and rear wheels. None the less, this is my 6' mower on the tractor. Mower is 74" wide, rear tires are 64 on the outside.

 

[clemsonfor]

I Can pull a 4.5 foot disk in my sing line with my 25hp Yanmar that weight just under 2000 pounds with ballast. You can probably go up to 6 ft

 

[jeff9366]

64"----Really? Tractordata.com specs at 43" and that site is not often wrong.

Then you need a 16/18" Disc Harrow 72" wide. You know why 72" width now.

Tires in the photo sure look like R4 Industrial Tires rather than R1 Ag Tires.

 

[sclearman]

64"----Really? Tractordata.com specs at 43" and that site is not often wrong.

maybe they're figuring center line of tires? But center to center I got 48". not sure, I can only tell you what I got.