Hp rule of thumb for a disk

[Jziemer]

Whats the rule of thumb for determining how much hp it will
require to pull a disk? Is there a certain amount of hp for each
foot of width of disk? Thanks for any help
 

[IAtractorKid]

I have always been told 7hp per foot is needed. Thats here in central IA anyway...
 

[paul]

The trouble is there are heavy offset disks that take 350 hp tractors to pull less than 20 feet, and there are little finishing disks with the blades worn down to 14-15 inches on easy ground that don't need 40 hp for a 12 foot disk......

In general I'd put a 10 foot average finishing dik behind a 50 hp tractor. Would be a heavy pull in spring in plowed soft ground, and wouldn't hardly know it's there in hard fall bean stubble.

If you have new, bigger blades, or you are weighting it down and trying to work hard with it, a few more hp don't hurt.

Then again, I recall pulling the 12 foot trailing disk with the 36hp Farmall as a kid in just the right conditions and getting along with it.

Simple and easty answer, eh? :)

--->Paul
 

[DeltaRed]

Thats kind of a 'loaded' question.My 95 horse turbocharged(310)706Farmall will easily pull 16 ft in stubble,cornstalks,etc.It will just barely pull the same disk in freshly plowed ground.
 

[DoubleR]

Our old friend Hugh McKay used to say about 2.5 hp per blade was a good rule of thumb. I have found that to be pretty accurate around my neck of the woods. As we all know conditions vary alot depending on the ground and what you are disking.
 

[Leroy]

Paul, I think you are pretty close on those figures. I know I have pulled a 13' Keawanee behind a 38 HP John Deere A but at times it was all the 65 HP Ford 5000 wanted. And at times the 9' Mccormick that was normal for the Deere was all a 52 HP rated Ford 4000 with the 38" wheels wanted but again at times the 28 HP Deere B would handle the McCormick. And the 9N Ford the disk sold for it was a either 6 blade that cut 7' or 7 blade that cut 8' but then that disk was light enough in weight that 5 guys, one on each gang and one on toung could pick it up and carry it, not unlike the wheel disks of later.
 

[thurlow]

Question is basically not answerable; kinda like asking, "How long is a rope?" You'll probably get some 'good' answers if we knew what model/size/weight/blade spacing/overall condition of the disk; what model/condition/specifics of the tractor; kind of/condition of the soil, etc. Had a 9 ft PKH JD disk that I could barely pull with a dualled/almost new 4020 diesel..........
 

[Jziemer]

It would be a international 480 18ft with 9 inch spacing.
 

[thurlow]

I'm retired, but when I was still farming..... in MY soils, you'd need at least 150 hp and more would be better, if you were gonna DISK and not just scratch.
 

[hoosierhog]

I pull an 8 foot kewanee with a 45hp ford 4000 it's 7.5 in spacing and 18in blades I also use a 18ft white 252 7.5 spacing with 18in blades with my Oliver 1850 around 92hp my neighbor uses a case 2590 180hp and he bought a 30ft IH disc wich I think is to big a disc but we will see in spring. The disc you mentioned here would need 90min 110-120hp would be perfect but that's in my soils. My uncle out west say 100hp in his soil pulls a 12ft disc but all depends on where you are.