What size disc harrow works best for the sandy loam soils found around Fairfield/Mexia area?
Do you have notched blades front and back or notched front and smooth rear?
Do you have 9" or 7" between each blade?

Light Duty, Medium Duty or Heavy Duty?

I've got a 50HP, 4WD tractor ready to go and will buy a 6' disc harrow

Any suggestions on best set up would be appreciated
Thanks!!

This is what I have. It's 8' wide with 20" diameter disks. My 50 hp. John Deere pulls it in our sandy loam with no problem.

AWESOME---Thank You TexasKC

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

Make sure the bearings are replaceable.

I pull an 8’ behind my 50 hp Tractor in very heavy soil. Notched blades, double gang.

This one is 6’ on 59HP. It could use about 300lbs more to make it actually dig good.

The heavier built disc you buy the better off you will be if your soils get pretty hard.
I pull a 10' behind my 85hp machine and have added 800lb of water filled 6"X18" tubing 8' long to mine to get it in the ground better.
Before the added weight I was lucky to get 2" when it was dry and now it will get down 5-6" easily.

59 hp Kubota, 8'+ ... scalloped/notched disks on front and smooth on rear. I have 2 5-6' pieces of railroad rail on mine for added weight and set up with front digging slightly more than the rear. I used to pull same plow behind an old 50 hp 2wd Ford.

we have a place NE from Fairfield, pretty sandy soil and this set up cuts all our plots with a single pass once established.

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We have a disk very similar and a 2 wheel drive 50 hp john deere. The tractor struggles for traction in our sandy soil.

I prefer offset disc harrows, even small 3 point type. I also like scrapers on ay disk.

If you have to add weight to a tandem disc to get it to bite, you're using the wrong implement for the soil conditions.
They float because the soil is too hard or dry, tandems are not initial ground engaging / breaking implements.

If you don't mind running over the same ground a few times you won't hurt a tandem.
An offset pulling a heavy chain harrow behind it will make quick work of it. Usually a single pass depending on how aggressive you set the angle and if the chain harrow is used upside down or spikes forward or rearward.

If traction is a problem add iron wheel weights or load tires with ballast, water/antifreeze,rv antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, beet juice/rimguard.
If your tractor can't pull a disc buried to the bottom of the axles at the correct speed, you don't have enough weight or tractor.

light duty


heavy duty

This, as well as other parts. I currently have a 6' that i bought on CL. Its either a no name knock off or a shop built disc. I cracked one not too long ago and cannot find a replacement.

with grease zerk fittings ... learned that the hard way on a cheap disk I had years ago ... had to take it apart to grease the bearings, what a PITA!!!

I have an older 6 ft one like TexasKC has It works great in sandy soil while in 4wd.

We have a disk very similar and a 2 wheel drive 50 hp john deere. The tractor struggles for traction in our sandy soil.[/quote]

Armstrong Ag - exact same disk I am pulling. Very well built...

I have a 6ft Howse disc which I pull with no difficulty with my NH TC 30 it cuts deep and is a rugged piece of equipment,

A middle buster is a good thing to have to break soil that hasn't been broken in many years so that a disk can do its job quicker and easier.