I bought something better than a Sweco, and as tough as a Rome. Custom built for Mr. D4E along with several others. Don’t know if any of my 5U’s would pull it, other than closed up!
I’m swimming in disks here. JM

For ctsnowfighter I should have used the more common term of sweeps. But sweeps go with a ROPS. Many people call my cobbled mess a ROPS  which I know they are not. Just the heavy fenders on all my old D6 9u's, 1/4 by 2 square tube any piece of lite plate for a sun shad/vibration *** damper on top with "sweeps" to lift the limbs over the exhaust and more importantly my head. In the good old day's orchards were pruned every year or 2, not anymore. For a number of years discing orchards was a good supplement to my other farming, now most have been dozed and wine grapes planted. Nuts have always been hand picked because the extreme sloops of most orchards. So a nice discing job 2 ways and drug or ring rolling paid for itself by the crew finding the nuts easier. As well as moister retention in the clay soil with the old dust mulch method of farming. I could explain it if you really want to know, but farming technique discussions bore some dozer operators a lot 😉😉.

*** I inherited some very crude operator protection on tractor I bought all vibrated terribly. Gussets and a piece of steel on top for sun shade did wonders.


As per other discussions the skip row method was the way to go to make left turns on the ends. Tying to do more than piece of pipe real close to the disc was a disaster waiting to happen. The pipe even cost a small tree once. Rolled up on a rock at just the wrong time disc jumped down the hill tree was between the disc and pipe. The pipe had it uprooted before I could push the clutch.

As for Kurts comment about crossing plow furrows at an angle, I always tried to do that when pulling field cultivator. My rules where to cross the disc furrows at an angle, as well as following contour to stay in higher gears and not shift so much. So making some woopty doo's to bring a line up or down the hill to catch up to the hill was common for me.







 

My dad must have wanted to toughen me up. When I thought he was coming to take me home, he would leave fuel and exit quickly; Now I know why my brother made sure the lights did not work on any of his tractors. My mom was not too pleased with dad, she would come get me at 10 pm, and then make me dinner, because dad ate the one he was supposed to bring me... yes, I am still whining about it after 50 years. LOL.
Ray: we had an east indian farmer that used a D8H to farm his walnuts with. The sweeps helped break limbs off. I never understood why he would not just use a smaller tractor.
We still don't own a tractor with a cab here; don't need no stinkin' cab! hahaha. JM

Juiceman if I counted the scrapers right that is One Fine Looken 12-21 KILLEFER disk, I bought one in Live Oak in 2015 from an older gentleman a retired rice farmer rebuilt it took it to Washington and use it for a finish disk. Beautiful!! You will be very happy with it. As for a top on a cat I have seen many a day that if I did not stand up while driving especially landplaning I would have to take bottled AIR! I would be interested in a Towner stubble disk if you had one you could part with. THANKYOU. 17afarmer. Mike

I know i’m gong to stir the pot. I had all Rome discs 8’ 11” spacing 28-30 blades Also 8’ Romes with our modified shop built 5’ wings off the right side . Pulled by D4E SA s They were left hand turn discs. You close them up when you turn then as you straighten out you open it back up . Cutting fire breaks you always had to be cutting . I had 13 Romes at one time other than a crack once in a while on a bearing hanger and a timken bearing goung out once in a while never had any issues. Don Willitts at Rome new me well. We would usually meet up at the Tulare Farm
show .I miss working with guys like Don . A lot of knowledge .

Juiceman or D4E,
What is the horizontal rings between some of the blades on the heavy foldup disk? Depth rings. To control the depth of the cut?
Mike B

yes depth gauges