Disc Harrow for my 790

[foggy1111]

OK....So I have gleaned all I could from posts on disc harrow sizes and tractor suitability. Some good advice / some questionable advise so far....but I like the analogy that FWJ had on discs and then looked at suitable models for my 790.

I have looked at the specs on just about all the small discs available to me. I chose those models with 16 18" notched disc blades and all which have a box frame and are adjustable. Here is what I found:

Woods DMH5 735# /46 lbs per blade

Land Pride DH1060 533# /33 lbs per blade

Land Pride DH1560 628# /38 lbs per blade

King Kutter 18-16NBF 720# / 45 lbs per blade

Frontier DH1066 445# / 28 lbs per blade

Frontier DH1166 660# / 41 lbs per blade

Howse LTR1682 618# / 38.5 lbs per blade

I dont want more blades or a bigger disc as I get concerned about pulling more blades with my 790....especially around trees and obstacles in the woods. I have the 91CID (older model) engine on mine and I figure with the R1's loaded and the loader weight I will have about 3300 lbs or more pulling weight against the disc. My soil is sandy loam, and I don't have thick sod to break and the soil is not very compacted....but the land has never been tilled. I am putting the shims in the hydraulic system....so I should be able to lift any of these discs...even if I have to weight them a little bit. To seed clovers and small grains I dont think I need to till too deep.

Based on what I see...the woods or the King Kutter seem to be the best choices available to me. Which is too bad as last night I found a demo Frontier DH1066 for about $650. on the web (which I still am still considering and then add weight to it - as its about 1/2 the price of the others).

I have not seen much information offered for a disc to fit the 790....thus the comparison here. I hope this is useful for others in the same boat (light tractor and tillage needs for wildlife food plots).

So many people advise a tiller instead of a disc (and that's on next years list for me) but a disc works so good for incorporating fertilizer or lime, working trails (1.5 miles) and working over tree roots, brush, and rocks and such (I have very few rocks and pine trees are not like hardwoods in their root system).

The dealers don't seem to stock the good heavy small discs (just the lighter angle frame ones)....so, I probably will need to get one going on a special order pretty soon....as I got lots of plans for spring. Any comments from those with a similar situation?

 

[BATTY54]

I can't remember how many discs I cracked or broke while going too near, 6'-10'away from trees in my woodlot while harrowing. The blades will grab a root and snap it as quick as you can blink. You will trash a set of disks running them over rocks too.

The purpose of the disk, wheelharrow as I call it, is to throw the soil out then in breaking the clumps and clods of freshly plowed soil into a good seedbed. I set my 6' (with 16" disks) drag harrows to the max in freshly plowed ground it will darn near kill my JD 850MFWD. Harrowing takes a lot of power, my father told me about using horses to harrow. You better have a good team and keep them healthy.

They work great for open areas I would love a tiller for my 1 acre garden but would never finish tilling my 12 acres in a day, thats where a plow and harrow comes in.

 

[AKfish]

Couple of things...

1.) It's always taken me alot of work and time (read money) to get the equipment and implements that I need.

2.) I usually do all my own repairs and maintaince.

So, I don't "chip" my trucks and I wouldn't "shim" my tractor (unless it wasn't up to JD specs - psi and gpm).

You're doing extensive comparisons and information gathering on your options. That's alot more than many folk's do.

IMO - get the disc that's **** for stout but within the lift specs for your 790. Why set yourself (and your tractor) up for earlier failure and/or repairs? The extra 6" in width or the extra 10lbs per blade isn't gonna translate into substantial "time savings" or significant increase in efficiency is it?

But, having to split your tractor to repair a broken down 3pt system - is a substantial "time and money cost".

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[JiminGa]

if the Frontier set is in good shape I'd go with that. off brand equipment always scares me, parts for the Frontier will be readily available. I consider the kk stuff "off brand" and I've heard alot of people complain about build quality with some of their stuff. I don't think any of the list is going to tax your 3pt as is tho.

 

[foggy1111]

I'm not too worried about taxing the 3 point or lifting the disc's shown above (unless I need to weight em down a bit)....what concerns me is getting some work done with a minimal number of passes. I read so often that these little discs don't penetrate the ground or "just ride over the top".....therefore my post with the weights per disc. Also, with a light tractor such as this...when you do get the disc down in the soil...pulling it without spinning is a concern. Therefore the 5 foot size limit...at least for me. I feel it's all a bit of a balancing act.

I'm getting pretty partial to that Woods unit....from the pictures that little disc is really built. Just maybe it will stand up to a little larger tractor in the future . I just wish I could "see" one. And....I haven't got a price on one...yet.

 

[mfreund]

Just so you are aware, Most of the Frontier tillage equipment is made by Woods. Both are owned by John Deere. I am not sure if they qualifiy as off brands After you decide on the size and weight my main concern would be parts availabity 5-10 years down the road.

 

[foggy1111]

Just so you are aware, Most of the Frontier tillage equipment is made by Woods. Both are owned by John Deere. I am not sure if they qualifiy as off brands After you decide on the size and weight my main concern would be parts availabity 5-10 years down the road.

That well may be the case...at least for the frontier cutters. There are so many companies being merged, bought, and traded, who knows who owns whom and where it was produced anymore?....that could be a topic on TBN in itself. Earlier today I looked at pictures of a Cimerron Disc....a brand I am not familiar with....it looked pretty nice, weighed allot and may be made by Buhler?....who knows? Many of these implements can be painted and badged for who ever has a market.