disk for a 640 ford tractor .

GROUCHY GRUMPY CRANKY · Feb 17, 2014

what brand of disk would be best to buy for a 640 ford tractor sand size ?

Cvans · Feb 17, 2014

6' , 3 point, tandem disc. I just purchased a used 6.5' Tandem disc for my Dexta. The condition of the disc is more important than a particular brand. It will need to be compatible with a category 1, 3 point hitch.

Soundguy · Feb 19, 2014

yep.. size and condition way more important than brand.

construction as well. I prefer box frames...

ovrszd · Feb 19, 2014

If you have an iron scrap yard close, stop by and visit with them. You'd be surprised what people sell for scrap. Last Summer I bought a 12' tandem wheel disc without cylinder for $140. Hitched it behind my pickup and pulled it home. Tires even had air.

Soundguy · Feb 20, 2014

yep. i've seen 'running' tractors at a scrapper for a couple hundred...

DJ54 · Feb 20, 2014

I've got an old Massey 22 similar to this one, although mine has better blades: http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=8394505 Does a great job, and is fully adjustable in seconds.

I do mainly use it in the garden, but have roughed up the hay field in the fall to open things up for spring frost seeding. Ran over the garden last fall twice at full cut to open up to sow a cover crop. Adjusted back to the second notch to cover the seed & smooth things up. Does a nice job..!

Bad thing is they do have wooden bearings. A company up in the NE U.S has them, and not all that bad considering.

Being you're at Ashville, stop in at Houser's on 159 north of Chillicothe, or Mike's Equipment, just north of Chillicothe. Can't remember the name of the road Mike's is on, but directly across the road from the main entrance to Great Seal Park. Good guy to deal with. Both are for that matter. Houser has pretty decent stuff on his lot. Mike does too, but out back has some items he may make you a deal on, if you're able to do a little work on something. Not many of those small jockey's around anymore. Both sell new & used equipment.

Soundguy · Feb 20, 2014

good old wood and / or grey iron bearings.

wolc123 · Mar 1, 2014

1.) Will you need to transport it onto a trailer more than one time per year? 2.) How big are the areas you will use it on? I will tell you one thing, from my own experience, Stay away from 3-point disks. However, if your answer to my first question is yes, and/or, your answer to question to the second question is: "less than 1/2 acre areas" then a 3-point a 3-point, in a 6-7 foot width would be best, for that tractor. A pull-type disk, whether it be hydraulic lift, or the old "drag-type", will draw less horsepower, and use less fuel per unit width, allowing that tractor to handle an 8-10 foot width. IF you need to transport this type, over the road, pulled by the tractor, then make sure your disk has hydraulic lift and wheels. These are the most expensive type of disk, but are definitely worth the money, due to their superiority in every category on larger acreage. For myself, an old "drag-style" (lacks wheels or lift capability) works best on tractors of that size, or a little smaller. The plots I work are all between 1/2 and 2 acres. For several years, I used a 6 foot 3-point disk, and found myself using about twice the fuel, to get the job done, than I did prior and after, with an 8-foot drag-type. At 3.81/gal for gas, and nearly $5 for diesel, there is no way I could afford the acreage that I plant these days, if I still had that 3-point disk. Seeing it leave my place in the back of a "craigslist" customer's pickup, a few years ago, was close to the prettiest site I have ever seen on my farm. Drag-type disks are definitely the cheapest of the 3 types I have talked about, and can often be found for scrap price (or less). I have used a few different brands, and John Deere is my favorite, followed closely by Bissell. These were about the most popular brands out there, so finding them ain't much of an issue. The John Deere was a little easier to change angles on, and always left the least "center ridging". My uncle, next door, uses an 8 ft IH, that I don't particularly care for. Your tractor probably has about 32 drawbar hp, which would make it plenty big enough for an 8-ft disk (probably the most popular, and easiest to find size out there.). My 20ish hp Allis Chalmers "C" handles the 8 ft JD disk pretty good in most soil conditions, at the most aggressive setting, but definely struggles in tougher conditions. My 28 hp Ford 8n handles it well in all conditions. In real tough conditions, I use it behind my 4 wheel drive, 43 hp JD 4120, That disk is on the small side for that tractor, which never has even seemed to feel it behind. The 4WD certainly plays a big role here, and I can think of no operation that benefits more from 4WD, than pulling a disk. Untill I hear the answer to those questions, I would say, hands down, for the best performance, and least cost, you should go with an 8 foot wide, John Deere, or an 8 foot wide Bissell disk. We do have a 6 foot wide Bissell drag-type, on our other farm, where it gets used behind an 18 hp, 2wd tractor (JD "M") with unloaded ag tires, or a much newer, 20'ish hp JD 750 diesel, with turf tires. Other than a little more center ridging, that little Bissell also does a find job behind those tractors.

Cvans · Mar 2, 2014

Wolc123:
You bring up some interesting points on your in your post concerning pull as opposed to 3 point disc. I do have a couple of questions. It has been my experience that most pull type disc are heavier (this can be a good thing) than the three point disc types. This being the case why would it take more fuel to pull a lighter load if the blades are the same size and angled the same in relation to the direction of travel?
I use a John Deere pull type 14" two bottom plow. I have considered a 3 point plow for mobility reasons and ease of storage. Also taking into account the fact that it takes a known amount of energy to move a given mass a given distance I figured it would take less fuel but this is sounding like it might not be the case?
There is another thought concerning three point attachments. I am finding that working on or maintaining things near the ground just isn't easy anymore. Being able to raise the implements higher on the three point makes the job much more pleasant.
Enjoyed reading you post and found your views interesting.