Harder 750a discs

[all_arable]

Third version of the 55RC APM discs have landed. Finally, they have matched the bevel on the OEMs. Still not quite as sharp, but I’d guess that very sharp edge is lost quickly anyway. Think I can do a fair comparison now anyway, changing the whole set before drilling starts this autumn.

I'm sure that you will keep us all informed on your findings David! Be interested to see how these new APM discs go

 

[parker]

APM bottom, Spaldings top, Agrilinc right, John Deere left.

Will try them all simultaneously in next batch this summer / autumn as changing pre harvest.

any feed back on how the discs are wearing Robert?

 

[Robert]

Hard going in this seasons conditions, about to change them all and try 1/2 Agrilinc vs 1/2 new APM version so both starting with same size bevel......

 

[Louis Mc]

Tried some spadlings ones this time, they seem a bit crap, bevel too short to start with but gone off in no time

Cheap to buy though

 

[James W]

So what's the next best option then?

Buy hardox 600 sheet cut in hoops and braise it on to the disc perimeter
MTL UK will cut hardox into any shape. Hardox 600 has a vertical massive matrix and Vickers scale 1100 for abrasion resistance which is what is required. HRC Rockwell hardness does not determine how resistant the carbide matrix is against being rubbed-off as opposed to being ground away.

 

[Woodlands]

My original set of discs on a 3 meter have done 500 acres. Deere dealer only has one disc listed N283804 which is obviously the part number. They have no knowledge of disc hardness or what the second number 17096 LLB refers to. Hopefully @Simon Chiles can enlighten me on what I have and what might wear better on sandy soil conditions? Also out of curiosity while pricing discs, I asked for a price on seed boots. There are std. wear boots or Extra wear boots at 2.5 times the price. What is peoples opinion on these?

 

[Simon Chiles]

My original set of discs on a 3 meter have done 500 acres. Deere dealer only has one disc listed N283804 which is obviously the part number. They have no knowledge of disc hardness or what the second number 17096 LLB refers to. Hopefully @Simon Chiles can enlighten me on what I have and what might wear better on sandy soil conditions? Also out of curiosity while pricing discs, I asked for a price on seed boots. There are std. wear boots or Extra wear boots at 2.5 times the price. What is peoples opinion on these?

Your discs are 48-52 HRC Boron steel, without looking up the manufacturers code I couldn’t tell you who made them.
Spaldings discs were meant to be harder than that and some operators reckon they’ve lasted longer than the JD discs however I have heard other operators having problems with them and even one case of them splitting. Years ago when I used to buy my plough metal from Spaldings I used to get varying qualities and sadly it looks as though things haven’t changed. At least with the genuine JD discs you are getting a known quality.
I don’t know anyone who’s tried the harder seed boots, I was considering a set but would now opt for the pro series boot when it becomes available or at least the boots are available but the seed tubes for them fitted to a 750 aren’t.

 

[Woodlands]

Your discs are 48-52 HRC Boron steel, without looking up the manufacturers code I couldn’t tell you who made them.
Spaldings discs were meant to be harder than that and some operators reckon they’ve lasted longer than the JD discs however I have heard other operators having problems with them and even one case of them splitting. Years ago when I used to buy my plough metal from Spaldings I used to get varying qualities and sadly it looks as though things haven’t changed. At least with the genuine JD discs you are getting a known quality.
I don’t know anyone who’s tried the harder seed boots, I was considering a set but would now opt for the pro series boot when it becomes available or at least the boots are available but the seed tubes for them fitted to a 750 aren’t.

Thanks Simon
I was in contact with @Louis Mc today re: Spaldings discs, so think I will stick to the JD ones.
You mentioned in a post somewhere on TFF that you ordered harder discs from JD and they were sent direct from the manufacturer to you. I am wondering if these are an option from JD or was it just in an R&D capacity that you got them.
On the known quality of originals I'm not so sure, I noticed at 80 acres from new my machine had 2 discs started to show uneven scallop type wear in a couple of places around each disc.This has developed into about half inch indents now. Dealer is looking into it etc. but no word yet. They look as if they didn't get properly hardened.
I will try attach a photo but am failing right now.

 

[Woodlands]

This was taken when the drill had covered 80 acres.

 

[SilliamWhale]

My JD originals are lasting quite well

 

[Simon Chiles]

This was taken when the drill had covered 80 acres.

The disc in your photo definitely has quality issues, it shouldn’t wear like that. I’d be amazed if JD didn’t replace those couple of discs. I can’t see anything wrong with the discs in the background, they look normal. Is the manufacturers code ( not the part number, it starts with 3 letters and then a number ) the same on the discs you have issues with as the the ones that are ok?
You can’t spec better quality discs ( at the moment) from JD. Donkey’s years ago I was changing a set of discs every couple of weeks with the workload and soil type I was working on at the time. When I suggested that I needed something better they supplied me with JDS100 ( the standard for disc quality ) on the understanding that if I revealed it’s contents I’d be shot at dawn. Having studied it and after having a chat with some engineering friends I suggested to JD that we needed discs of 55 HRC. They supplied me with sets that came directly to me from the manufacturer. The difference was dramatic, I went from changing discs every couple of weeks to changing once a year ( 2500 acres ) and even then they weren’t completely worn, I just stuck a new set on before I started drilling beans. The discs then became available from JD for a time but they were £60+. I suspect that ( apart from me ) nobody was prepared to pay this sort of money for discs when you can get cheaper discs for the mid £20’s so JD reverted back to the original spec and reduced the price accordingly. I keep asking for a better spec disc but the reply I get is that I need evidence that customers are prepared to pay the extra for them.

 

[Clive]

I’m going to try a set of the new Apm discs on mine next. Sane hardness as jd and now have correct bevel yet half the price

 

[Will Blackburn]

I’m going to try a set of the new Apm discs on mine next. Sane hardness as jd and now have correct bevel yet half the price

I'm surprised they don't let you have them for free?

 

[Clive]

I'm surprised they don't let you have them for free?

happy for you to call them and tell them what a great idea that would be !

no such luck however ! JD dont even support TFF with banners ads never mind give me anything for free !

 

[Woodlands]

The disc in your photo definitely has quality issues, it shouldn’t wear like that. I’d be amazed if JD didn’t replace those couple of discs. I can’t see anything wrong with the discs in the background, they look normal. Is the manufacturers code ( not the part number, it starts with 3 letters and then a number ) the same on the discs you have issues with as the the ones that are ok?
You can’t spec better quality discs ( at the moment) from JD. Donkey’s years ago I was changing a set of discs every couple of weeks with the workload and soil type I was working on at the time. When I suggested that I needed something better they supplied me with JDS100 ( the standard for disc quality ) on the understanding that if I revealed it’s contents I’d be shot at dawn. Having studied it and after having a chat with some engineering friends I suggested to JD that we needed discs of 55 HRC. They supplied me with sets that came directly to me from the manufacturer. The difference was dramatic, I went from changing discs every couple of weeks to changing once a year ( 2500 acres ) and even then they weren’t completely worn, I just stuck a new set on before I started drilling beans. The discs then became available from JD for a time but they were £60+. I suspect that ( apart from me ) nobody was prepared to pay this sort of money for discs when you can get cheaper discs for the mid £20’s so JD reverted back to the original spec and reduced the price accordingly. I keep asking for a better spec disc but the reply I get is that I need evidence that customers are prepared to pay the extra for them.

The rest of the discs are fine. The same numbers / letters are on all discs. I'm sure they will replace them but ultimately they wore at the much the same rate as the rest apart from looking nasty.
They can have my vote on quality over quantity any day, even if the extra cost only covers the extra acres on a pro rata basis you save on labour changing them and longer boot wear.
You obviously have a more direct line to the people that matter than most of us, so please keep the pressure on.

 

[Simon Chiles]

no such luck however ! JD dont even support TFF with banners ads never mind give me anything for free !

Pages and pages of JD bashing and nearly as many on here about where you can source cheaper parts and you’re surprised they don’t want to promote it!

 

[Clive]

Pages and pages of JD bashing and nearly as many on here about where you can source cheaper parts and you’re surprised they don’t want to promote it!

Think they get as much if not more positive than negative and reckon a hell of a lot of 750a's have been sold over the past 5 years after reading stuff on here

but they are no fools, while people are prepared to promote for free why would you pay !

Trouble is there is becoming a lot of very credible alternatives on the market now, 2 or 3 years ago I would have said a 750a was the best zero till drill on the market for the price by a margin, today that's not the case and there are several very credible and well priced alternatives with more appearing all the time

they are going to have to try a bit harder going forward IMO

 

[all_arable]

So as the season is progressing I'm wondering how all these various non-genuine discs are wearing this year?

 

[H.Jackson]

Third set of Spaldings discs this year not as good as before I know a drier year but our stones don't vary in hardness with moisture, if anything the large flints have all been cut down to size by the drill in the last four years, and no new ones brought up. Last 100 acres saw three depth adjustments could see them wear away. Time for a look round for alternatives.

 

[all_arable]

So as the season is progressing I'm wondering how all these various non-genuine discs are wearing this year?

Thought more people would be interested to comment on wear rates this year. I'm particularly interested in hearing about the new 'harder' APM disc.