48", 54", or 60" disc Harrow?

Tim1983

Member
Jan 3, 2021
46
28
18
Wisconsin
Getting a B2601 and deciding on a disc harrow. Soils should be relatively easy to till. Deciding between a 4 and 5ft disc, both with 16" discs. Am I correct to assume if I error on the side of the smaller one I could go a little faster? Or should I get the bigger on and go slower? I've also heard putting weight on the discs help.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
926
113
SE, IN
Getting a B2601 and deciding on a disc harrow. Soils should be relatively easy to till. Deciding between a 4 and 5ft disc, both with 16" discs. Am I correct to assume if I error on the side of the smaller one I could go a little faster? Or should I get the bigger on and go slower? I've also heard putting weight on the discs help.
Sizing a disc depends upon your soil and intended usage (plowed ground?) as well as your tractor.

It helps to move at a reasonable speed for finishing work but less ground speed is appropriate for a cutting disc.

What are you intending to do?

SDT
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,957
4,085
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Greensville,Ontario,Canada
discs should be a bit wider than your tire 'track' ( width) Speed is based on soil AND angle of the discs. Alway ran tandem pull disc with weight on the rear section. The shallower the angle, the faster you can go but less 'cutting' of the soil'. I also dragged a channel and chains behind to smooth out the soil. After using them for 10 years on about 15acres, I sold them, now just subsoil,plow and rototill...skipping the discing....
 

Tim1983

Member
Jan 3, 2021
46
28
18
Wisconsin
Sizing a disc depends upon your soil and intended usage (plowed ground?) as well as your tractor.

It helps to move at a reasonable speed for finishing work but less ground speed is appropriate for a cutting disc.

What are you intending to do?

SDT
Intended use is light tilling for food plots and reworking a garden once a year. Soil is relatively sandy, should be easy to work. I think a 5' will be fine, but figure a 4' might give more options if the soil is harder to till than expected.
 

NHSleddog

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B2650
Dec 19, 2019
2,149
1,824
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Southern, NH
I run a 60" with added ballast behind my B2650. The tractor has plenty of power, it runs short on weight/traction at times.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
926
113
SE, IN
Intended use is light tilling for food plots and reworking a garden once a year. Soil is relatively sandy, should be easy to work. I think a 5' will be fine, but figure a 4' might give more options if the soil is harder to till than expected.
I agree that you should be OK with a 5' disc with 16" discs.

SDT
 

UpNorthMI

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Equipment
L3200, L3901, MX5800, SVL75-2, KX040
May 12, 2020
850
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Up North, MI
Weight is important as is disc angle. I run a heavy wider set on my MX5800 that I purchased from Everything Attachments.

I think 5’ wide unit should work for you.
 

Tim Horton

Active member
Mar 22, 2018
249
42
28
Lake Superior
I run an older 60" that my mother in law gave us..
Running it with 32 hp hydrostatic.. Don't use it often but in our ground it works well..

Agree, ground type, sod or established crop ground will make a big difference..
 

Creature Meadow

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2012 L4600, Disk, Brush Hog, GB60 Garden Bedder, GSS72 Grading Scraper
Sep 19, 2016
1,063
135
63
53
Central North Carolina
I use my disk for food plots and having the ability to adjust the pitch is nice.

My first pass each year is more aggressive to cut in the organic material left behind.

Second pass less angle to smooth the ground.

I then broadcast my seed and cover with my disk set to the angle one less than straight. Covers wheat and oat seed perfect.

Be cautious putting too much weight on the disk things could bend and break!

A 5' footer should be good.
 

Tim1983

Member
Jan 3, 2021
46
28
18
Wisconsin
The King Kutter 60" harrow has 14" discs. That seems small but would N inch of cutting depth really matter? I doubt I would pull it at 4-5" deep anyway.