Disc Harrow

[GKThompson]

I have a NH TC40DA and need to periodically till several 1 to 2 acre wildlife food plots. I have been looking at both the cheaper and lighter weight models as well as the heavier more expensive ones from Tufline, Leinbach, Land Pride, and King Kutter. I think I will be happier with one of the heavier more sophisticated models, but for what I'm doing is it worth the increased cost? I am looking at models that run between $500.00 and $1500.00, and am thinking about buying the roughly $900.00 Leinbach made from tubular steel with adjustable disc angles. I'm looking for advice from those who have more experience tilling than I do. thanks, KT

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A couple years back, I bought one of those tube-steel Liembach disc's. It looked heavier than some comparable models. I found out otherwise.

The problem I had with it was it just wasn't heavy enough to work "un-plowed ground". It did OK in tilled soil, but it wouldn't touch sod ground. And when I added enough weight to it to do what I needed, the REAL trouble started. The front gangs would dig in. The disc would try to rotate around them. (bending the brace from the top link attachment point to the rear of the disc.) If I added enough weight to the rear of the disc to counter that, I couldn't lift it. And I also found I had 1000 lbs of added weight on a disc that barely weighed that much going in.

I'd suggest finding an older, heavier model. (Massey Ferguson made a GREAT 3-point disc through-out the 60's, 70's, and 80's)

I bought an 8' International Harvester wheel disc. It's a real piece of farm equipment, as opposed to a light-wieght substitute. I paid about as much, but have something that'll be around for the duration. (and get's the job done now)

 

[Egon]

They just ain't made for turning sod.

Egon

 

[GKThompson]

So what do you suggest that will "turn sod"?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'll grab this one!

Moldboard plow,
Chisel plow,
Disc plow,
Offset disc,
Bog disc,
Glyphosate from a sprayer THEN a good heavy disc.

 

[wejones]

GK - Farmwithjunk is right, you need heavy equipment to turn your soil. I grew up and live on a farm about 30 miles east of you and it takes very heavy equipment to break that soil you have. You may want to try a 7 or 9 shank tph tiller on your soil when it has good moisture. It will break up the soil about 4 to 6 inches to where a lighter disk will cut it up fine. It will give your tractor a workout and you will need to use the 4wd. A heavy offset disk may be the best bet if you plan to do this often or do not want to purchase very many implements. With a good drag behind it you can prepare a nice seed bed, especially if the disk has wheels that allow you to control the depth.

willie jones

 

[Egon]

Perhaps - yes I did err. Discs can turn sod but it will have to be very heavy with lots of horse power in front of it. Like 200 or more. This is equipment usually is not owned by members of this board.

This would be an excellent breaking disc.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GKThompson]

Thanks, additional comments from anyone regarding various brands like Land Pride, King Kutter, Leinbach, Tufline, etc.? It seems I have a number of local dealer choices.

 

[sweettractors]

This is the type of spring loaded 9 shank tiller we use on our farm to perform many difficult soil prep jobs.--Ken Sweet

<font color="blue"> </font> <font color="blue"> </font>

 

[have_blue]

GK,

I have a cheap King Kutter, and it works great. I paid $400 for it 3 years ago. It's called a "5 foot" harrow, but it measures 66" wide.

You do not need to turn over sod for a game plot. I don't think anyone really does that. All you need to do is wait until soil conditions are right, hit it lightly with a disk harrow, and seed it. A garden quality bed is not needed, and is even considered harmful by some. (Not me. I just consider it wasted work and fuel)

My KK is light, but plenty heavy for doing a game plot. Preparing a game plot is the lightest duty application I can think of for a disk harrow. If you are impatient for the soil moisture to be right, you can add a few concrete pavers or a 1/2 of plastic drum full of concrete.

Don't try to disk up knee-high grass and weeds. It will ball up your cutter shafts and make a huge bird's nest. Bush hog it first, and re-cut if there is any excessively long grass cuttings.

The KK should last forever just preparing a 2a game plot once a year. But, if you will be using it for other heavier-duty applications, you would be justified paying more for a beefier unit.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( will have to be very heavy with lots of horse power in front of it. Like 200 or more )</font>

I've found a good 12' pull type dis cweighing a couple thousand pounds behind a 90hp tractor will turn sod over pretty good... course.. a 17' or 24' and 200hp machine does it in half the time!

Soundguy

 

[Egon]

New Holland data.

Note the working depth and HP per foot listed.

Egon

 

[Soundguy]

Uh... yeah.. looks about like I said.

The numbers look like a 12' is fine on a 90ish hp tractor... etc...

Soundguy

 

[NewClimber]

So if I was looking to tiller some clay for the first time..would I use a tiller...This is what I have been looking for recently. Hopefully I am looking for the correct peice of equipment. I am planning to turn the area that is currently weeds into a garden area.

 

[Egon]

Yep - but your not turning over sod at the depth listed.

Egon

 

[Egon]

For a garden area a rotatiller should work fine. I know my B7100 will not be able to pull a disc that would do an acceptable job breaking fresh ground.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slamfire]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Perhaps - yes I did err. Discs can turn sod but it will have to be very heavy with lots of horse power in front of it. Like 200 or more. This is equipment usually is not owned by members of this board.

This would be an excellent breaking disc.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>]

I don't think I could pull that with anything smaller than a D8, and bigger would be better. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

A single row cultivator usually has multiple holes to adjust the shovels. Filling all the holes with s tines ought to make a small version of Ken Sweet's monster. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Swanee]

Will finish up a foodplot this weekend. Method was brush hog, Roundup, using an implement almost identical to the one shown by Ken Sweet and than disking. The spring loaded S-tine tiller works great behind my JD4600. Pulls basketball+ sized rocks right out of my sandy loam and just pops back and resets on the bigg'ns. These have to be dealt with by digging around with the pallet forks on the FEL. Working things up, letting it rain and coming back later for a few more passes helps too. Good luck with yours.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yep - but your not turning over sod at the depth listed.
)</font>

whoops!, my bad.. Very true.. fast reading.. I missed what you were trying to say, bout the depth vs turning sod.

When i disc.. if there is sod.. I figure one pass just to cut it up.. no depth achieved.. etc.. then sucessive passes to actually get discing done.

Could plow it.. but then.. I've only got a 2-bottom.. and that would take all day..

Soundguy

 

[FarmerJeff]

What about a spike-tooth harrow. May be a good alternative.