Test driving a somewhat broken disc harrow?

[icehorse]

I'm thinking about buying a 16 x 16 disc harrow. In other words, the discs are 16 inches and there are 16 of them. Its working width is about 5 ft.

Two of the discs need to be replaced, they're spinning independent of the axle they're on.

I'd like to test out the harrow a bit before I buy it. I know those spinning disks won't work well, I can deal with that. The question is, if I do a little test harrowing, can I make things worse for the harrow? I can't see how, but I might be overlooking something?

 

[TheOldHokie]

I'm thinking about buying a 16 x 16 disc harrow. In other words, the discs are 16 inches and there are 16 of them. Its working width is about 5 ft.

Two of the discs need to be replaced, they're spinning independent of the axle they're on.

I'd like to test out the harrow a bit before I buy it. I know those spinning disks won't work well, I can deal with that. The question is, if I do a little test harrowing, can I make things worse for the harrow? I can't see how, but I might be overlooking something?

You are mot going to harm anything. You have a tandem 5' disc harrow

 

[icehorse]

I did a little test harrowing. Honestly, it's hard to see that the 2 loose discs had much negative impact on the process. Not that I won't get around to replacing those discs at some point, but it seems less urgent.

 

[woodman55]

My concern would be, if every thing else is turning except for two disks. What is wearing, the hole in the disks or the axle they are mounted to ?

 

[SDT]

My concern would be, if every thing else is turning except for two disks. What is wearing, the hole in the disks or the axle they are mounted to ?

Both.

 

[icehorse]

My concern would be, if every thing else is turning except for two disks. What is wearing, the hole in the disks or the axle they are mounted to ?

Well those two discs are shots. Instead of square-ish holes, they now have round holes.

So yes, the question is really about the axle.

 

[BAP]

Is the nut loose on the end of the axle? If so, then there may be more worn than 2 discs. I have a lot of experience replacing bearings and discs on disc harrows. We had a 21’ folding Sunflower disc harrow that covered 1800 acres a year. Bearings lasted 3-4 years and discs around 5-6 years. We had a 1” drive air wrench with a 3-3/4” socket for removing and tightening the nut on the end. Once you get the nut tightened, you tighten it some more. It was one of the most UN-Fun job there was, repairing the harrows. Everything is heavy and easy to get fingers and hands hurt.

 

[icehorse]

Is the nut loose on the end of the axle? If so, then there may be more worn than 2 discs. I have a lot of experience replacing bearings and discs on disc harrows. We had a 21’ folding Sunflower disc harrow that covered 1800 acres a year. Bearings lasted 3-4 years and discs around 5-6 years. We had a 1” drive air wrench with a 3-3/4” socket for removing and tightening the nut on the end. Once you get the nut tightened, you tighten it some more. It was one of the most UN-Fun job there was, repairing the harrows. Everything is heavy and easy to get fingers and hands hurt.

Yeah, I suspect that I'll also need to replace a spacer or two, because the two discs that spin, also wobble a bit. (Is that what they're called, spacers?)