Has anyone re-built a disc harrow? sigh.

[andrewj]

I have a 6.5 foot king kutter harrow. Looks like something my dad would make, yet I paid over 600 bucks for it 2 years ago. As a disk would crack or break (haarrow saw a LOT of use) I would replace it with a disk that had a combination small hole, and large hole. So the hole looked like a square, and then a smaller square at a diagonal to the first, so the star had 8 points.

Well, my harrow square shaft wobbled out the holes inthe discs! So not only do I need new discs, now my square shaft has worried itself round where it contacts the disc.

Do I need new shafts and better discs?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I have a 6.5 foot king kutter harrow. Looks like something my dad would make, yet I paid over 600 bucks for it 2 years ago. As a disk would crack or break (haarrow saw a LOT of use) I would replace it with a disk that had a combination small hole, and large hole. So the hole looked like a square, and then a smaller square at a diagonal to the first, so the star had 8 points.

Well, my harrow square shaft wobbled out the holes inthe discs! So not only do I need new discs, now my square shaft has worried itself round where it contacts the disc.

Do I need new shafts and better discs?

Sounds to me like you need to TIGHTEN the axle nut a good bit more than what you have been. If the axle is tight enough, the spools (cast "spacers" between disc blades) will "clamp" the disc between them, holding them fixed in place. They need to be seriously TIGHT and not just "snug". (Not sure of torque value specifically. On any disc I've ever owned, I tighten with BIG impact wrench, then re-tighten with socket and long pipe "cheater bar".

As tight as you can get them......

 

[Gamemaster]

I recently bought a used vineyard set. I tried to c-clamp the disks to keep from rotating when trying to remove the nut. They keep spinning. The head of the axle bolt is square and recessed. How do you keep the disks from spinning when trying to remove the nut ?.

 

[hudr]

I agree w/ Farmwithjunk. The spools between the discs do the clamping. I have always sunk the disc in the ground to break the axle nut loose, and I use a big pipe wrench to clamp the other end when going back with it.
It is amazing how much money one can sink into a disc overhaul. I have spent close to $1200 on a 21' pulverizing disc (pans and bearings) and only have the front 4 gangs done. Now I have bearings going out in the rear wings.

 

[wushaw]

I recently bought a used vineyard set. I tried to c-clamp the disks to keep from rotating when trying to remove the nut. They keep spinning. The head of the axle bolt is square and recessed. How do you keep the disks from spinning when trying to remove the nut ?.

Big pipe wrench will work also affixed to a spacer.

 

[Soundguy]

I have an old square axle ford disc that I have repaired many times and pretty much used 120% of the life out of it.

I've welded up rounded out parts of the axle and then ground them square.. and when money was tight for buying new disc pans.. I'd take a big fender washer and work the center hole into a square with a file or drill cutter bit.. then finish with a file.. then weld er on... one on each side. .. eats some time but works.. when ya got time but no money..

I've got quite a few repaired disc pans like that still ont he old disc.. which is slowly becoming an iron ore deposit in the back of my pasture... You have to have a tetanus booster just to walk near the darn thing now..

Soundguy

 

[whitetiger]

I have a 6.5 foot king kutter harrow. Looks like something my dad would make, yet I paid over 600 bucks for it 2 years ago. As a disk would crack or break (haarrow saw a LOT of use) I would replace it with a disk that had a combination small hole, and large hole. So the hole looked like a square, and then a smaller square at a diagonal to the first, so the star had 8 points.

Well, my harrow square shaft wobbled out the holes inthe discs! So not only do I need new discs, now my square shaft has worried itself round where it contacts the disc.

Do I need new shafts and better discs?

There is no need to replace the shafts, just strip everything off them and install a thick flat washer on first, then reassemble. The washer moves the shaft over and your disc blades will contact the shaft right beside where it is worn.

 

[andrewj]

well i'll be durned. great idea. you just saved me hundreds of dollars...

 

[tnau664]

If you end up needing harrow parts give these guys a try,

Agri Supply® - Where we have Something for Everyone for your Farm Shop & Home - NC, SC, GA, VA, Tifton, Garner, Florence, Statesboro, Petersburg, Greenville, Lumberton

I've bought from them for years. It's amazing how much you can save even after paying shipping.

Merry Christmas

 

[have_blue]

I have a 6.5 foot king kutter harrow.

I partially rebuilt my KK 5.5 foot harrow last summer. A 4" circle on 2 of my cutters had cracked out. This wrecked 2 of my axle threads, which I replaced. Come to find out, the flanges on the axles were welded on crooked, and put uneven clamping pressure on the cutters, eventually causing them to crack. I replaced several spools while I was at it because they were extremely worn.

Lesson learned: Don't use the disk to move and level deep piles of powdery dirt. It gets in the bearings and the grease immediately disappears.