Just looking at @lexion610 's post in the workshop project section (he's building a direct drill opener as an A Level project) and my mind went back to something Frederic was saying at BASE yesterday: viz disc openers work much better when the mounting arm faces forwards rather than trailed. The forward impetus of the drill forces the opener into the ground, whereas the trailed design relies on artificial downward pressure from hydraulics or whatever. Don't think I've explained that very well, but I noticed a smattering of drill men at the talk and was wondering what they thought?
Are disc drills built back to front?
- Thread starter martian
- Start date
benferg
Member
- Location
- North Canterbury, NZ
I can understand your though, although trialing might work better in soft soil, & undulations etc.
I could see a forward-facing drill being very easy to bulldoze in less-than-ideal conditions, as the harder it's pulled (pushed?), the harder it pushes the coulter into the ground..
also, breakbacks could be an issue - Hitting a significantly large stone could result in a pole-vaulting drill..
also, breakbacks could be an issue - Hitting a significantly large stone could result in a pole-vaulting drill..
Tractor Boy
Member
- Location
- Suffolk
Wouldn't forward facing bend something the minute you went round any small curve?
- Location
- Nr Malvern... SW Worcestershire
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
Pushing a disc does not work!!!! Period.
Knockie
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Must say after seeing those pics at the meeting did get me thinking 
marco
Member
- Location
- tipperary, ireland
dept control? seed coverage would be average with that machine. Also you go trough a damp spot and that setup is going to nose dive.
Fish
Member
- Location
- North yorkshire
Hasn't all this been tried before, seem to remember a combine drill built in the late 70s early 80s with the discs leading, Taskers or Parmiter ? or someone like that.
Or maybe my memory is just rubbish.
Or maybe my memory is just rubbish.
- Location
- Mid Northants
not quite back to front but clever thinking never the less
see video below
see video below
Last edited:
- Location
- Mid Northants
dontknowanything
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
Depth control is by a chain, so even if you go into very soft/wet soil it can't physically go any deeper (without snapping the chain)
yellow belly
Member
- Location
- south west lincolnshire
imho
with a disc drill the straighter the entry of the disc the more weight needed for penetration
but the more angled the disc the more soil throw at speed
just and idea and theory
variable angleing with a controller would be possible but the cost may be prohibitive with ctf the discs in the wheelings could be angled more than the non wheeled to reduce soil throw
with a disc drill the straighter the entry of the disc the more weight needed for penetration
but the more angled the disc the more soil throw at speed
just and idea and theory
variable angleing with a controller would be possible but the cost may be prohibitive with ctf the discs in the wheelings could be angled more than the non wheeled to reduce soil throw
mikep
Member
- Location
- Arse end of Surrey, UK
Hi
The supposition is incorrect. The difference between pull and push only arises if the coulter (of any type) can dig in, if it does the depth is inconsistant therefore not much use in a drill. If it does not dig in then a disc will not use any less force or gain any more purchase as it is rolling. It is weight that causes a disc to penetrate irrespective of push or pull it will always tend to ride out.
The supposition is incorrect. The difference between pull and push only arises if the coulter (of any type) can dig in, if it does the depth is inconsistant therefore not much use in a drill. If it does not dig in then a disc will not use any less force or gain any more purchase as it is rolling. It is weight that causes a disc to penetrate irrespective of push or pull it will always tend to ride out.