Disk Advice

[Ozarkian]

I'm needing a disk harrow, but don't really know what I'm looking for. I need a little advice on the sizing. I have a mid 80's Ford 2110 4WD 38HP (Shibaura built) that's really only ever been used to brush hog. With the rear tires filled and the loader it probably weighs 5000 lbs+, has good R1 tires, and is impressively low geared. For reference, I have been turning over heavy clay sod that hasn't been turned in 50 years or more with an old Dearborn 2-12 plow. I am plowing in 6th gear going 4.5 mph at 1800 RPMs and my tractor isn't even breaking a sweat. The ground is filled with roots too. I suspect I can handle a bit heavier disk than what you see recommended for a modern day compact tractor.

I am seeing several old 6' and 7' disks coming up for auction but don't really know what I should be looking for, or what will hook up to a Category 1 3-point. Would appreciate some advice.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Take a tape measure with you when you go to look at a disc. This chart should be useful with dimensions. There can be some variation in the lower hitch spacing because there is no actual industry standard:

Category​	Hitch pin size​	​	Lower hitch spacing​	Tractor drawbar power​
​	upper link​	lower links​
0​	17 mm (5/8″)​	17 mm (5/8″)​	500 mm (20″)​	<15 kW (<20 hp)​
1​	19 mm (3/4″)​	22.4 mm (7/8″)​	718 mm (26″)​	15-35 kW (20-45 hp)​

 

[DanielW]

I'd be looking at the Massey 3 pt. hitch discs, 6' wide. The Massey mounted discs were superb (their model 25 was the most popular - made for many decades): There were oodles sold, they dug in as well or better than several much heavier discs. All parts are still available. They uses a 'boxing'/sleeve type bearing rather than roller bearings, which some people might dislike, but I'm a fan of. It's almost impossible to find a used disc with the bearings in decent shape: they'll either be seized up or been washed out and pooched. But those boxing style bushings will last pretty much forever as long as they were kept well greased. And even if they weren't always kept greased, the parts for them are still available for better prices than most bearings. And unlike bearings, they're still pretty usable even when worn out. The 25's also had bolts on the centre support bars you could take out to allow the gangs to float around, which was a little better for uneven ground.

Whatever you look for, check over the bearings and make sure the gangs roll ok without growling (turn them by hand when in the air). The bearings tend to be the weak/worn spot on any used set of discs.

 

[Ozarkian]

Thank you both! There are a couple auctions coming up with several for sale that I am going to check out.

There is also a Ford 6 for sale at a local implement dealer I am going to have a look at. What is the reputation of the Ford 6?

 

[rustred]

you should pull the old 8 ft john deere quite easily. even the 10 ft. of course that depends on the soil conditions , as a plowed field will pull harder fully deepened than a hard field. u are pulling 2/ 12 plow thats no load for that tractor. for comparison the old mccormick w6 the john deere 10 ft is what we pulled quite easily. unless u want newer hyd disc.

 

[Mac AR]

The Ford disk that you mention, as long as it's priced right, ought to be what you're wanting. Six foot cut is about right for your tractor; it can pull larger but carrying it on the 3 point lift might get dicey. From your user name, I assume that you (like me) reside in the Ozarks and as such are familiar with the effect of heavy implements on the rear of tractors on hillsides. I pull a 6' JD disk with my IH 340 utility, and it has no trouble with it other than getting slightly light in the front occasionally. When it does, I just throw a couple rocks or concrete blocks in the rock box to keep the front down. You having a loader on your tractor will offset a lot of the rear weight, and if it gets too light up front just grab a scoop of dirt or rock and keep on truckin'.

Mac

 

[Ozarkian]

... From your user name, I assume that you (like me) reside in the Ozarks and as such are familiar with the effect of heavy implements on the rear of tractors on hillsides. ...

Yep, I'm in Taney County MO! I'm all too familiar with the thrill of tractoring on rough knobby hills.

 

[Mac AR]

Yep, I'm in Taney County MO!

It don't get much rockier than there! I'm not far from there, about 2.5hrs south in Izard County AR. Plenty of rocks here too, but I lucked out and got a good piece of creek bottom ground to play with.

I got to thinking after I responded, you mentioned heavy clay sod. You're gonna have your work cut out for you getting that stuff disked down; you'll probably have to put some weight on your disk unless your Ford has down pressure. I had to work some similar ground down for a neighbor; my 300 Farmall and 8' JD disk really struggled to get that fixed right. Took 3 or 4 passes best I remember.

Mac

 

[Ozarkian]

It don't get much rockier than there! I'm not far from there, about 2.5hrs south in Izard County AR. Plenty of rocks here too, but I lucked out and got a good piece of creek bottom ground to play with.

I got to thinking after I responded, you mentioned heavy clay sod. You're gonna have your work cut out for you getting that stuff disked down; you'll probably have to put some weight on your disk unless your Ford has down pressure. I had to work some similar ground down for a neighbor; my 300 Farmall and 8' JD disk really struggled to get that fixed right. Took 3 or 4 passes best I remember.

Mac

You're not kidding about rocks! You can't dig a hole around here without a backhoe. You won't believe this though, but I turned over a 1 acre test area last weekend in the corner of an old pasture and there wasn't a single rock! I've lived here my whole life and I've never seen anything like it.