Disc Harrow Field cultivator

[marcin]

Hi there, just wondering what make, model, size of a field cultivator you would recommend to use with a Deere 5020 tractor (approx 140hp). I have a Deere twa disc plow that I use for first pass or two but am looking for something to use afterwards to smooth the field further prior to planting. I am looking for a used cultivator and am wondering what I should be expecting to spend. Thank you.

 

[oldnslo]

Pull type I would think 15 - 18 ft depending on soil type, hills, etc. Fully mounted 20 - 24 ft should work fine.

We used to pull 18 1/2 ft fully mounted with 85 HP and neighbor pulled 15 ft pull type with JD 4240 both with duals.

 

[marcin]

15-18ft does not seem like much, this is a 15 000b tractor. I currently pull a 14 ft disc with it in 6th gear. I do not have duals, however. I was hoping more 22-24'. Any thoughts?
How much more do dual wheels help?

 

[LD1]

I think soil conditions and how deep you run it are gonna play big roles.

Second, just what are you calling a cultivator? Used to be simply an implement with nothing but cultivator points on spring shanks.

things have kinda evolved. What is now called a cultivator......may have a disc gang on the front, cultivator points/shanks in the middle, possibly a spike or chain harrow in the back, and maybe followed by a cultipacker or rolling baskets. Lots of different combos and designs that that are still technically called a "cultivator"

The neighbor that farms in this area, just got a soil-perpetrator / soil finisher to go over the fields this year before planting as he ripped them with a subsoiler last year and they were pretty rough. The local deere dealer just took it in on trade. It was a 24' model and according to spec his ~140 HP 7230 4wd w/rear duals was gonna be too small. Which it is listed at just a tad less drawbar pull than your 5020. Dealer agreed to let him try it first to see if he could pull it. It worked well but certainly wouldnt want any more back there. I think it was called a turbo-till or something like that. IIRC, it had two gangs of wavy flat discs, with very little angle to the gangs (vertical tillage), then a rolling spike harrow, followed by a rolling basket/reel.

Perhaps you have a dealer nearby that would let you try a 20 or 24' of whatever "cultivator" or "finisher" you want and if it works...you're good, and if not....get a smaller one?

 

[jeff9366]

There are a few big ag Field Cultivators on eBay: Field Cultivator in Heavy Equipment Attachments | eBay

 

[oldnslo]

How much more do dual wheels help?

Two biggest differences I noticed with duals Vs without duals is the ride comfort and fewer tire tracks / impressions in the fields when we were done. Neighbor ran a White 2-105 with out duals and struggled to pull an 18 1/2 field cultivator. He had 20.8 x 38 tires filled with "liquid lead" so he had to be in the 15,000 lbs range. You could see every tire track in his fields.

We had a White 2-85 with 18.4 x 38 filled with fluid and duals. With out the duals in soft peat ground (not wet & muddy)we were spinning the tires with duals in the same ground it never slipped a wheel. Ran this across the scale with out the duals and was right at 13,500 lbs.

 

[marcin]

Thank you for your input thus far. We have mostly light clay soils. I use an 11 shank chisel plow (IH 45) to plow deeply, and follow with the TWA disc plow to smooth things up. I was hoping to use the cultivator to mostly prepare the seedbed one last time before planting. I am not interested in purchasing a new unit, I want to stay away from the trend of spending everything you make on new equipment. What older brand would you recommend? It seems that Krause used to be a popular brand. I have noticed that the rear wheels slip a lot with the chisel plow all the way down - do you recommend I invest in duals? That would mean purchasing hubs, rims and tires - this may be quite costly. Thanks again.

 

[Catchad81]

We use KMC brands.

 

[oldnslo]

Do you have the option for band type duals? These don't require hubs but will not allow with row crop use and can also fill with mud between the tires since the gap between the tires is usually only a few inches. You would ahve to check to see if these are an option for the 5020.

Is there anyone in your area running duals taht you can talk with to see how much difference they make in your soil type?

We had JD field cultivator. Major wear component to check is the spring tine pivot point. If you can wiggle the shank side to side the pivot is worn and these can be an expense to replace.

 

[marcin]

This is my current situation on the tractor. I think this will require hubs and rims. Most people I see run duals here on their tillage tractors.

 

[MHarryE]

I see you are all set up for bolt on duals. All you need to do is find a set. I've seen your size tires on rims your size go for $50 each at auctions in MN, but you need to be in the right place at the right time. Something that has been popular here, but company Long out of production (Melroe, the Bobcat people who discovered there's a lot more money in building skid steers) made a harrow called a Multi-Weeder. Your tractor will easily pull 30 feet. It has a standard S-tine harrow, 4 rows I believe, with a 4 row coil time spike tooth behind to smooth everthing down for a perfect seed bed. Around here they go for about $1,000 at auction, possibly $1,500 for a 40 footer. I am sure there are regional manufacturers. Melroe farm equipment was located in Fargo, ND, which is why you see so many of them on the used market here in MN. As you have a 2wd, you will really like the duals for preparing a seedbed. When we had 2wd tractors we always dualed up for spring planting. With MFWD the fronts pulling greatly reduce the soil compaction so we have not needed duals with our tractors about your size.

 

[marcin]

MHarryE,

Thank you for the information. What would be the difference between the end product of a field cultivator and the Multi-Weeder? Would the Multi-Weeder be able to handle the trash left behind corn harvesting.

Thank you for the duals advice. I am new to this and did not really understand what I needed. I see the difference between the bolt-on duals and the other types - essentially the rim for bolt on duals is one piece with the center. Can these still be put on 30" centers to allow for use with a planter? Thanks.

 

[oldnslo]

I suspect that with the hubs you have you could get a set of duals that would allow running with 30" rows.

 

[marcin]

I was able to find a pair of used bolt on wheels. I am a little confused about the spacing, though. For 30" rows, what should the spacing be on the inside of rear tractor tires. How about between the first tire and the dual? Thank you.

 

[MF283]

How big of a field are you talking about doing?

 

[oldnslo]

30" center to center distance between tire sidewalls depends on the tire width

 

[marcin]

I would like to use it on an 80 acre field. For now, I will likely plant wheat and so the row distance should not matter, but am considering corn in the future.

I may be misunderstanding the row distance thing. If the tire distance is 60 center-center, then 2 30 inch rows will go in between? Is this important so the soil does not get compacted by tires prior to the planter? What happens if the spacing is different? I do not plan on cultivating between rows after emergence, only using herbicide. Thank you again.

 

[Catchad81]

I would like to use it on an 80 acre field. For now, I will likely plant wheat and so the row distance should not matter, but am considering corn in the future.

I may be misunderstanding the row distance thing. If the tire distance is 60 center-center, then 2 30 inch rows will go in between? Is this important so the soil does not get compacted by tires prior to the planter? What happens if the spacing is different? I do not plan on cultivating between rows after emergence, only using herbicide. Thank you again.

What it appears you have already on the tractor is a boom axle adapter and a spacer. The first part connects to the axle itself and you can adjust this in and out on the axle. The spacer bolts to this and they can be purchased in various sizes.

For 30" rows, you want 60" center to center of your tires. Think 30" rows under the tractor plus 15" to get midrow on each side. Then you need another 30" center of tire to center of dual spacing.
The dual doesn't have to be spaced as exact as the regular tires. Have planted many acres with duals and no spacer.

36" rows are more common down here so we do 72" tire to tire.