Which disk?

[hoosier43fan]

I’m looking at trading a 13’ JD AW Disk for an 11’ 115. Both are in excellent condition and appearance. My reason for trading is I’d like something more aggressive on corn stalks. My AW is a great piece, but the 115 has notched blades and is a rock flex and I’m just wondering if it might chew and cover stalks better than the AW. I know it’s a stretch but anyone have experience with these two pieces. I don’t want to trade for something with the same result. My AW is top condition in every way. Thanks!

 

[Mcrafty1]

Any chance you could try the one you are looking to trade yours for? Or at least see it work on corn stalks? That would be one way to get your answer and know without a doubt trading is the right move.

 

[caterpillar guy]

To cut and cover corn stalks you need a heavy disk like the Landol or Sunflower disks to do that. IF you went to one of them you would never look back.They are heavy solid disks.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree with Caterpillar Guy! I once owned a JD 210 disk harrow which is heavier than a model 115 & wasn't impressed with it's soil penetration. I sold it and purchased a model 310

 

[hoosier43fan]

Good advice, as usual. I like the looks of the sunflower stuff. Ill keep looking.

 

[Scott 730]

I wish I could find a 110 or 115 "here". I think it would work well on small grain stubble in my sandy ground.

 

[ss55]

Check the remaining blade diameters to determine how worn the blades are. Heavily worn discs do not have much dish left so they act like flat colters that do not cut as well as a full disk blade. Most finishing disks start out with 18 or 20 inch diameter discs, heavier plowing disks use larger diameter blades. Deere did offer cone blades that retain their shape as they wear.

 

[hoosier43fan]

Thanks Scott good info. The AW had new blades/bearings/shafts 4-500 acres ago. The issue is probably just a matter of weight. I’ll probably keep it based on its condition. If I work stalks now and let winter do its thing they’ll disk in well next spring. Would love a sunflower but don’t farm enough to pay 20-25 K for a 12
Foot!

 

[flying belgian]

I’m looking at trading a 13’ JD AW Disk for an 11’ 115. Both are in excellent condition and appearance. My reason for trading is I’d like something more aggressive on corn stalks. My AW is a great piece, but the 115 has notched blades and is a rock flex and I’m just wondering if it might chew and cover stalks better than the AW. I know it’s a stretch but anyone have experience with these two pieces. I don’t want to trade for something with the same result. My AW is top condition in every way. Thanks!

When the front blades on my Case disk wore down I replaced the front gangs with notched blades. There is an enormous difference what they will do to cornstalks.

 

[JDIH]

I know nothing about the 2 disks you mentioned but the spacing between the blades matters too. A disk with close blades is more for finishing to make a nice seed bed and the wider spaced ones are more for tillage, probably like you're wanting to accomplish

 

[Richard Nixon]

I’m looking at trading a 13’ JD AW Disk for an 11’ 115. Both are in excellent condition and appearance. My reason for trading is I’d like something more aggressive on corn stalks. My AW is a great piece, but the 115 has notched blades and is a rock flex and I’m just wondering if it might chew and cover stalks better than the AW. I know it’s a stretch but anyone have experience with these two pieces. I don’t want to trade for something with the same result. My AW is top condition in every way. Thanks!

I don't want to start any arguments here but I remember some trials being done on which blades were more effective, notched or smooth. The findings were that smooth blades were more effective than notched for cutting cornstalks. I have one disk with notched blades in front and smooth in rear and another with smooth blades and the disk with both smooth works better but that's comparing apples to oranges because the disc with smooth blades is larger and heavier.

 

[Tx Jim]

Well Richard I sure would like to have witnessed the trials you referred to. Notched disk have more weight per inch of disk contact with the soil/stalks than solid disks so I see no way solid round disks could have the advantage over cut-out/notched disk. For some reason a lot of older plowing disk harrows offered cutout disk front & rear.

 

[flying belgian]

I don't want to start any arguments here but I remember some trials being done on which blades were more effective, notched or smooth. The findings were that smooth blades were more effective than notched for cutting cornstalks. I have one disk with notched blades in front and smooth in rear and another with smooth blades and the disk with both smooth works better but that's comparing apples to oranges because the disc with smooth blades is larger and heavier.

Maybe I need to explain my findings a little more. I guess I don't know if the stalks are cut smaller with notched blades but the ground is considerably blacker. No comparison.

 

[paul]

Well Richard I sure would like to have witnessed the trials you referred to. Notched disk have more weight per inch of disk contact with the soil/stalks than solid disks so I see no way solid round disks could have the advantage over cut-out/notched disk. For some reason a lot of older plowing disk harrows offered cutout disk front & rear.

But the notched blades are only cutting 1/2 to 2/3 of the stalks, so the notched blades are working real well on some stalks, and not at all on other stalks.

This leaves a fair amount of long stalks.

As Belgian says the notched blade cuts deeper and throws a little more dirt, if this is what you are looking for. They have their place.

Paul