Putting a heavy log behind a disc

[DRG3]

I have a 7” tarter box frame lift disc and I need to put somthing behind it to level the ground. I tried my chain harrow but it’s really not heavy enough to smooth the ground behind it. I cut a heavy log and I’m thinking that should work

Has anyone done this and how did you set the log to pull behind the disc well?

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Maybe weight down the chain harrow.

 

[BenA]

Is it because of big clods? If so, I've just made a couple more passes with the discs raised to break them up. One of the best things I've ever used to smooth out before planting was one of those rotary arena type harrow drags. Those things really smooth it out.

Edit: I've done the log behind the disc thing. I couldn't get it to work well. It was a pain to turn and it kept getting caught up on the discs. I took it off and just made more passes with the disc raised.

 

[Newbie]

I'd imagine you could fabricate a bolt-on attachment to the back of the disc to serve that purpose, I'm thinking something similar to a land leveler attachment. Being that it would be fixed may solve this issues BenA described. May be easier to just to raise the discs and make a second pass, but if you're handy with metal work it may be a fun experiment.

 

[DRG3]

Is it because of big clods? If so, I've just made a couple more passes with the discs raised to break them up. One of the best things I've ever used to smooth out before planting was one of those rotary arena type harrow drags. Those things really smooth it out.

Edit: I've done the log behind the disc thing. I couldn't get it to work well. It was a pain to turn and it kept getting caught up on the discs. I took it off and just made more passes with the disc raised.

It’s because the outside disc blades where they are cupped out leave almost furrows. I’ve done it with the disc raised up but I still can’t get them out.
Maybe it’s an operator or design issue. I’m open to operating tips. But if tried various speeds disc height and number of passes. So that’s how I ended up on the log

 

[BenA]

It’s because the outside disc blades where they are cupped out leave almost furrows. I’ve done it with the disc raised up but I still can’t get them out.
Maybe it’s an operator or design issue. I’m open to operating tips. But if tried various speeds disc height and number of passes. So that’s how I ended up on the log

After you have it disced good, set the disc angle bar straight. Just run it right over the top to crack the clods open. Soil moisture and type can make a difference too. I've had to make a few passes on heavier clay soils.

 

[jsasker007]

Put the log on top of the chain harrow and maybe throw a few concrete blocks on there for good measure. jmo

 

[DRG3]

Put the log on top of the chain harrow and maybe throw a few concrete blocks on there for good measure. jmo

Any suggestions of the best way to secure the log on the harrow

 

[Newbie]

Any suggestions of the best way to secure the log on the harrow

Good ol' ratchet straps. Or chain/binder if ya have them

 

[jsasker007]

Are you needing to actually level the ground or just trying to smooth out the chunks from discing?

 

[jsasker007]

If it's fairly level when you start but worse after you disc you might need to adjust the side to side depth that you're getting when you disk. I'd start by checking to make sure you don't have one tire lower than the others and go from there.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

No farmer here, but I wonder if a 10' length of rigid (heavy-wall) steel conduit wired on top of the tail end of a section of chain-link fence would do for smoothing? The conduit would at least be heavy & uniform in shape.

 

[somich]

No farmer here, but I wonder if a 10' length of rigid (heavy-wall) steel conduit wired on top of the tail end of a section of chain-link fence would do for smoothing? The conduit would at least be heavy & uniform in shape.

I have 4' x 6' commercial heavy steel gate. I put the weight toward the front to let it dig in a little more and then the back drags to smooth it out.

 

[swat1018]

When I bought one of my farms there was a disc that came with the place. They had a hunk of telephone pole with eye bolts through it and chained to the back of the disc. On my big pull type disc, there is a hitch on the back where I can hook my cultipacker behind. That does a good job.

 

[DRG3]

Are you needing to actually level the ground or just trying to smooth out the chunks from discing?

I’m trying to fix ruts the outer disc blades create on the later passes. The ground is pretty good to start. It’s me/my disc making the furrows

 

[jsasker007]

Also remember to raise the disc whenever you take a corner. Just throwing that out there for anyone who isn't familiar with the process. Not lifting the disc will take out the bearings quickly.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^ ^ ^ ^ What about wide turns at the end of a field? We typically "round-off" the ends of our fields, but no sharp turns. Should we still lift the discs? None of us in camp are farmers/AG guys.

 

[jsasker007]

^ ^ ^ ^ What about wide turns at the end of a field? We typically "round-off" the ends of our fields, but no sharp turns. Should we still lift the discs? None of us in camp are farmers/AG guys.

I think a guy can kinda go by feel after doing it for a while. You don't want the disc to be fighting the tractor. Sharp turns are bad but the slower more gradual turns are not to terrible. Also depends on the kind of ground you're working on too. If it discing up pretty easy it isn't as hard and won't damage stuff as easily. Lifting on the corners is the best bet until you're heading in pretty much a straight line again. Sometimes I go past and then back up to get straight before lowering the disc again. Once you deal with taking the gangs apart and replacing those bearings you will pay more attention. jmo

 

[rocksnstumps]

Lotta folks before fancy equipment dragged a heavy logging chain hooked to the back corners of their disc when working a field. You do hafta flip on top when doing a lot of backing up. I myself use a spring tooth drag to help level a rough field after discing. Extra step but works better than trying to run the disc over and over again and still not that great a level.

Years ago used a buddy's four wheeler to pull a chain link fence sandwiched with a couple 2 x 4's at the front. Speed was actually fairly important for results. Go like heck.

 

[jsasker007]

Lotta folks before fancy equipment dragged a heavy logging chain hooked to the back corners of their disc when working a field. You do hafta flip on top when doing a lot of backing up. I myself use a spring tooth drag to help level a rough field after discing. Extra step but works better than trying to run the disc over and over again and still not that great a level.

Years ago used a buddy's four wheeler to pull a chain link fence sandwiched with a couple 2 x 4's at the front. Speed was actually fairly important for results. Go like heck.

Spring tooth works great. Don't see them used very often anymore. Just keep them out of tall grass if you can help it. Got mine so plugged up with grass I burned it cleaned. Figured everything was metal so what the hell. Worked pretty good. Avoided tall grass after that though.