What size tractor would pull this disc with ease?

[RollingsFarms]

Hello TBN! I've learned alot by just browsing this past week when I came accross this board and have become addicted. I hope to continue to get some excellent advice, make some new "tractor loving friends", and even offer advice when I can. This is my very first post and I wasn't sure where to ask this question, because it leads into the discussion of purchasing a new tractor in the future. I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum. Anyways, I own about 740 acres of property in South Carolina(just east of Columbia). I raise long needle and short needle pine trees, also have alot of hardwoods, and a few open fields. I currently have a 1978 JD 970 27hp 2WD and while it's been an overall good tractor, it just is too little for what I need. To make a long story short, take a look at this pic i have posted of my disk and give me your suggestions as to what size tractor you would use to pull this disc with ease. Keep in mind that while only a 4'-5' size disc that doesn't look like much, it's made out of solid steel(no hollw angle iron/steel that todays discs are made of)...it is just wayyy too much for the tractor i have. Also keep in mind that my friend hooked his 5105 2wd to it and it made that tractor realize something was back there. Looks can be decieving....its a super heavy disk for its size(we need it for cutting fire breaks). Thanks for your suggestions and advice to all who reply!

 

[john_bud]

Welcome to TBN!

If a 50 hp 2wd tractor is huffing and puffing, then a 60hp tractor with 4wd and fluid filled R1's should be able to pull it with ease. Given you have 700+ acres, a tractor that size isn't out of the relm of reasonable.

jb

 

[RollingsFarms]

hey! I wouldn't go as far as to say his 5105 was huffing and puffing, BUT it did make it buck a little when he lifted it with the 3 point hitch and he admitted he had to run one gear lower then what he normally runs with his 6' disc. to make the tractor not work as hard. my 950 will pull it, but it struggles quite a bit. I was considering looking at 5203,5303 JD's along with other brands but wasn't sure what models to consider. Whatever I buy will be my only tractor and will be put to work no doubt, so I'm looking for something that can bush hog a cut corn field on a 90+ degree day for several hours without overheating(just an example of one of many tough tasks my future tractor has to look forward to). Mostly looking for something that will only be used for disc-ing and mowing(still debating a loader....I've lived without one this long but I see things i could use for it and with a loader there's always SOMETHING I could find for it to do.) thanks for your reply! any model suggestions?

 

[vallyfarm]

John Bud is on the money, or add 10-15 HP more and a 2wd if you like. If a traqctor has to drop a gear to do the job it is overloaded. Also, the bigger tractors should give a boost to the hyd capasity and should help alot in transport mode. That many acres normally would require a 100+ HP machine. Mike

 

[RollingsFarms]

acctually i only disc about 150 acres(fire breaks, food plots, road) but i would probably disc more when i get a larger tractor. i also mow a couple fields that are about 30-50 acres a peice, and i also bush hog cut corn feilds for dove season and when you are cutting 2 rows at a time along with it being 90 degrees that can take its toll on the tractor if its not suited to do that hard of work. i cant get too big of a tractor because meneuvering in the woods can get tight.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Normally people think of a disc as a "secondary tillage" tool. Any attemps at "primary tillage" with a conventional disc would be a compromise at best. But that isn't a conventional disc. It's made specifically as a primary tillage implement. (deep single-pass tillage of previously untouched ground) Probably even heavy enough by design to handle being used around tree roots.

The rule of thumb that I've always heard was 12 to 15 hp per foot of width on deep tillage tools. So 5'---60 to 75 hp. There's the line of thought that says a smaller HP 4WD will pull it.(say 50hp) Maybe it will... But why not use a 4WD of the same power to pull it EASILY. If it were me, I'd look at MFWD, 60HP(+)

 

[RollingsFarms]

hey thanks for the insight! so i'm looking at least getting something comparable to the 5303 JD or the 5205 4wd JD? I'd most likley opt for the manual tranny since I've always had that and would get the most use out of it(loader or no loader). Does 4wd help with pulling a disc through sandy soil? If so then yeah I would deffinatley have to consider 4wd really hard or either get a good size 2wd ballasted right with loaded tires. i'm not partial to any brand, just happen to always have a JD so im more familiar with them however i want to consider each and every brand.

the ones that are within driving distance on my area are as follows:

New Holland-4 dealerships

Kubota-2 dealerships(one is very close to me and a good friend of mine owns it....this is the only person i know personally out of all the stores/brands, so I feel I have to give him a legitimate chance over all others.)

JD- 4(2 dealerships close to me, however theyre owned by the same people and sometimes they want to talk to you, other times they could care less...just depends on the day I walk in their to look/buy I guess).

Case-1

Massey Ferguson-1

I'm also looking to buy a good used tractor if it comes along(if i find the size tractor I want and its in good shape and I get a good price I'll pull the trigger on it in a heartbeat), so any suggestions for that would be appreciated as well.

Off hand, does anyone know who makes a 60+ hp 2wd(or 4wd) tractor with the manual transmission?

 

[N80]

I'd say a Kubota 6040 or 7040 in 4wd would be perfect. They have manual trannys.

That is the most 'built' disk I've ever seen (for its size.)

With the acreage you have to disk and mow, it might be worthwhile to use you current disk for firebreaks but something in the 8' size for the food plots and something in the 10' size for a rotary cutter.

I bush hogged less than 10 acres a week or so ago with a 6 foot mower and it was tedious!

Where in SC are you?

 

[BobinIL]

Here ya go

Just what the Dr ordered

2004 JOHN DEERE 5420 For Sale at TractorHouse.com

 

[Z-Michigan]

You may want to start a tractor buying thread!

I have a 5105 and am very happy with it. I was shopping largely against the Kubota M5040; I finally got to see a ROPS platform M7040 yesterday, and while they are a perfectly good tractor I am very happy with my 5105. Only thing I miss is the hydroshuttle (optional on Mxx40, also optional on JD5x25 series, not optional on 5105). Every utility tractor over 50hp made today has a manual transmission; the options are basically pure manual, hydroshuttle, and at the higher price/power end, powershift.

 

[scott_vt]

acctually i only disc about 150 acres i also mow a couple fields that are about 30-50 acres a peice, and i also bush hog cut corn feilds for dove season and when you are cutting 2 rows at a time along with it being 90 degrees that can take its toll on the tractor if its not suited to do that hard of work.

Mornin RollingsFarms,
I think youve probablly gotten some good advice on tractor selection and size, but you might also want to think about a factory cab with airconditioning if your doing that much tractor work out in the hot sun and heat in SC ! I mowed off one 5 acre field last summer in the Vt heat and I was toasted for the day ! I always thought cabs were for sissies, but I changed my mind that day ! Just another thought for you to mull over !

 

[DuaneW]

Seems with the limited amount of work you would be doing you could get away with an older HEAVIER tractor. That would allow you to keep your JD for other things that it does fine now. You could look at a 1550 or 1650 Oliver, as these are VERY manuverable (sp?) tractors and very solid tractors. We have pulled a 12' areorator with a 1650 that had stopped 5500 MFWD JD with a cab. It tended to overheat the tractor if you tried to pull it two fast (4th direct) but was fine in 3rd overdrive (1/2 gear lower). Heck, I would even consider a weighted Ford 5000, MF 165, or some of the older Deere's ( not sure of how their model #'s work ). Take the money you save and buy some more implements that allow you to get your work done quicker. This is just my opinion as I like the older stuff better (no electrics to get buggered up, just good ol tractors that will work )

DuaneW.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I'd say a Kubota 6040 or 7040 in 4wd would be perfect. They have manual trannys.

That is the most 'built' disk I've ever seen (for its size.)

With the acreage you have to disk and mow, it might be worthwhile to use you current disk for firebreaks but something in the 8' size for the food plots and something in the 10' size for a rotary cutter.

I bush hogged less than 10 acres a week or so ago with a 6 foot mower and it was tedious!

Where in SC are you?

those sound like good options, I'll have to check then out for sure. If i could find a good used Kubota 6800 4WD I'd be in business. That disk is made by Hardee, it's about 30 years old and i recently re-painted it two years ago. I haven't seen another one that size that was built as solid and as heavy either, and when I tell people it's only a 5' disk they laugh....until they see it...then their eyes get really big when they realize how heavy it is. It'll tear up some of the hardest ground South Carolina has to offer with ease, my only problem is when it's digging, my tractor sinks itself. 3rd gear low range is what I usually pull it in, and I use the word "pull" loosley.haha I like your Kubota 4400, size, looks, everything and would settle on something like that but I'm just not sure with that disk of mine. Maybe oneday I'll have my big tractor AND a 4400 with a loader and MFWD

I live just outside of Sumter, SC in a town called Pinewood.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Here ya go

Just what the Dr ordered

2004 JOHN DEERE 5420 For Sale at TractorHouse.com

Thanks, I sent him a message. Shipping it would be my only problem as I dont have a trailer, but maybe he and I could work out something if we could come to an agreement on price.

 

[RollingsFarms]

You may want to start a tractor buying thread!

I have a 5105 and am very happy with it. I was shopping largely against the Kubota M5040; I finally got to see a ROPS platform M7040 yesterday, and while they are a perfectly good tractor I am very happy with my 5105. Only thing I miss is the hydroshuttle (optional on Mxx40, also optional on JD5x25 series, not optional on 5105). Every utility tractor over 50hp made today has a manual transmission; the options are basically pure manual, hydroshuttle, and at the higher price/power end, powershift.

I really like the 5105's. my friend has a 2WD and he loves it. does yours have a creeper gear? are the gears in yours low enough for disc-ing? If I decided on one, or a 5205 I would opt for MFWD and maybe a loader.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Mornin RollingsFarms,
I think youve probablly gotten some good advice on tractor selection and size, but you might also want to think about a factory cab with airconditioning if your doing that much tractor work out in the hot sun and heat in SC ! I mowed off one 5 acre field last summer in the Vt heat and I was toasted for the day ! I always thought cabs were for sissies, but I changed my mind that day ! Just another thought for you to mull over !

I would LOVE a cab but the only two problems would be $$$ and worrying about being in the woods and destroying the cab over time due to tree limbs and such. for those hot days bush hogging though, I would always prefer a cab!

 

[RollingsFarms]

Seems with the limited amount of work you would be doing you could get away with an older HEAVIER tractor. That would allow you to keep your JD for other things that it does fine now. You could look at a 1550 or 1650 Oliver, as these are VERY manuverable (sp?) tractors and very solid tractors. We have pulled a 12' areorator with a 1650 that had stopped 5500 MFWD JD with a cab. It tended to overheat the tractor if you tried to pull it two fast (4th direct) but was fine in 3rd overdrive (1/2 gear lower). Heck, I would even consider a weighted Ford 5000, MF 165, or some of the older Deere's ( not sure of how their model #'s work ). Take the money you save and buy some more implements that allow you to get your work done quicker. This is just my opinion as I like the older stuff better (no electrics to get buggered up, just good ol tractors that will work )

DuaneW.

I am with you on those older tractors being easier to work on. My '78 I would work on with my eyes closed in the dark! Heck it doesn't even have a fuel guage on it!haha I am looking around for a good used tractor if I can come accross one. I plan on selling my current tractor along with a JD 205 bush hog to knock some of the new cost down.

 

[bucmeister]

I have a '95 model JD5300 with MFWD and a 540 loader and I promised you it would pull that disc with no strain, likely faster than you might want to stay in the seat on rough ground. I have a ACME drag offset disc that is just under 8' and weighs about 2000lbs (it is so heavy that I have to be very careful with my tractor position when lifting it onto the gooseneck deck or the rear end starts up in the air and this is with the rear tires as full of water as I can get them). This is a primary tillage disk that will go to the axles on the first pass over grown fields when the moisture is right and my tractor will pull it 2nd range 2nd or 3rd gear depending on moisture and area.

Frankly, with that many acres I would be looking at something in the size of a 5400 or 5500 series with loader and MFWD. My place is only 215 acres and no way would I want anything smaller than what I have.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I have a '95 model JD5300 with MFWD and a 540 loader and I promised you it would pull that disc with no strain, likely faster than you might want to stay in the seat on rough ground. I have a ACME drag offset disc that is just under 8' and weighs about 2000lbs (it is so heavy that I have to be very careful with my tractor position when lifting it onto the gooseneck deck or the rear end starts up in the air and this is with the rear tires as full of water as I can get them). This is a primary tillage disk that will go to the axles on the first pass over grown fields when the moisture is right and my tractor will pull it 2nd range 2nd or 3rd gear depending on moisture and area.

Frankly, with that many acres I would be looking at something in the size of a 5400 or 5500 series with loader and MFWD. My place is only 215 acres and no way would I want anything smaller than what I have.

I acctually came accross a 1994 5300 2Wd with a loader and canopy with 1,230 hours for $17,500. Tractor seemed to be in great shape. Is that a good deal?

here's the link if you'd like to see for yourself
John Deere 5300 Tractors - Utility (40-100hp) s - John Deere MachineFinder.com

 

[bucmeister]

Well, not sure about the price, have to ask myself what I would take for mine. If memory serves the MFWD option was only about $1500 addtional to the price and I paid about $27K for the package deal which included up-sized tires 3rd SCV and the 540 FEL. Not sure I would take $19K for mine, but equally not sure if I would pay $17.5K for a 2WD model even though that is likely the going rate. Just don't know for sure.

I am right with you on the cab issue. As much as I would like to have one during all those dog days of mowing and discing I don't know how well it would survive the roads and trails in my woods. I would have to do a lot of limbing work that I can get by without as it stands now.