PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STANDARD PAES 120: 2001

Agricultural Machinery – Disc Harrow – Specifications

Foreword

The formulation of this national standard was initiated by the Agricultural Machinery Testing
and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) under the project entitled “Enhancing the Implementation
of AFMA Through Improved Agricultural Engineering Standards” which was funded by the
Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

This standard has been technically prepared in accordance with PNS 01-4:1998 (ISO/IEC
Directives Part 3:1997) – Rules for the Structure and Drafting of International Standards. In
compliance with metrication law “Batas Pambansa Bilang 8” enacted on January 1, 1983,
some data are converted to International System of Units (SI).

The word “shall” is used to indicate requirements strictly to be followed in order to conform
to the standard and from which no deviation is permitted.

The word “should” is used to indicate that among several possibilities one is recommended as
particularly suitable, without mentioning or excluding others, or that certain course of action
is preferred but not necessarily required.

In the preparation of this standard, the following documents/publications were considered:

Indian Standard (IS) 6635:1972 – Specification for Tractor-Operated Disc Harrows

American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) S290.1:1981 – Determining Cutting

Width and Designated Mass of Disk Harrows

American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) EP 399.1:1985 – Preferred Metric

Dimensions for Agricultural Implement Disk Blades.

A web page document on Disc Harrows by Albert Boers. Last updated: July 4, 2001.
Wageningen University.

Stevens G.N. Equipment Testing and Evaluation. Overall Division, National Institute of
Agricultural Engineering (NIAE), Wrest Park, Silsoe Bedford England. 1982.

Regional Network for Agricultural Machinery (RNAM) Test Codes And Procedures for Farm
Machinery. Technical Series No. 12 :1983.
PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STANDARD PAES 120: 2001

Agricultural Machinery – Disc Harrow – Specifications

1 Scope

This standard specifies the requirements for disc harrows used for four-wheel tractor.

2 References

The following normative document contains provisions, which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this National Standard:

ISO 730-1:1994/Cor 1:1995, Agricultural Wheeled Tractors – Rear-mounted three-point

linkage – Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4

3 Definitions

For the purpose of this standard, the following definitions shall apply:

3.1
concave disc
circular concave steel plate used for cutting and inverting the soil

3.2
disc spacing
transverse distance between two adjacent disc edges

NOTE This can be obtained by adding thickness of one disc and length of spool.

3.3
disc harrow
implement used to pulverize the soil to attain a better soil tilth for the seed germination and
growth

NOTE It consists of two or four gangs of concave steel disc. (see Figure 1)
 PAES 120: 2001

Figure 1 – Disc Harrow and its Components

3.3.1
single-action disc harrow
consists of two gangs of discs, placed end-to-end at an angle, which throw the soil in opposite
directions

3.3.2
tandem disc harrow
consists of two or more gangs, in which a set of two gangs follows behind the front gangs and
is arranged in such a way that the discs on the front gangs throw the soil in one direction
(usually outward) and the discs on the rear gangs throw the soil in the opposite direction

3.3.3
offset disc harrow
consists of two gangs wherein one gang is located behind the other at an angle and the
harrow is operated in an offset position in relation to the tractor centerline

3.4
frame
structure on which the gangs are fitted (see Figure 1)

3.5
gang
set of concave discs, which is mounted on a common shaft and separated by a spool

3.6
gang angle
angle between the axis of gang and the line perpendicular to the direction of motion

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PAES 120: 2001

3.7
gang angling mechanism
mechanism by which the gang angles are adjusted

3.8
gang axle
shaft on which a set of concave discs are fitted

3.9
ground clearance
vertical distance between the ground and the lowest edge of the disc when the trailed harrow
is supported on transport wheels

3.10
hitch
portion of an implement designed to connect the implement to the power source (see Figure
1)

3.11
included angle
angle between the axes of two adjacent gangs

3.12
scraper
component which scrapes the soil adhering to the concave side of the disc (see Figure 1)

3.13
side angle
disc angle
angle, in the soil surface plane, between a tool axis and a line, which is perpendicular to the
direction of travel (see Figure 2)

Figure 2 – Side Angle

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 PAES 120: 2001

3.14
spool
flanged tube mounted on gang axle and placed between two discs to prevent the lateral
movement of the discs on the shaft (see Figure 1)

3.15
width of cut
transverse distance between the top or bottom cutting edges of the end discs

4 Classification

The disc harrow shall be classified according to:

4.1 gang orientation (see Figures 3, 4 and 5)

4.1.1 single-action

Rear Wheels

Gang A Gang B

Figure 3 – Single-action

4.1.2 tandem

Gang A Gang B

Gang C Gang D

Figure 4 – Tandem

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PAES 120: 2001

4.1.3 offset

Gang A

Gang B

Figure 5 – offset

4.2 manner of hitching to the tractor

4.2.1 Tractor-mounted disc harrows

These are designed for tractors equipped with hydraulic three-point hitch lift systems
(see Figures 6, 7 and 8).

4.2.1.1 Tractor-mounted single-action disc harrow

Figure 6 – Tractor-mounted Single-action Disc Harrow

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 PAES 120: 2001

4.2.1.2 Tractor-mounted tandem disc harrow

Figure 7 – Tractor-mounted Tandem Disc Harrow

4.2.1.3 Tractor-mounted offset disc harrow

Figure 8 – Tractor-mounted Offset Disc Harrow

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PAES 120: 2001

4.2.2 Trailing disc harrows

These are hitched to the drawbar of the tractor and pulled by the tractor (see Figure 9 and
Figure 10). Transport wheels can be mechanically or hydraulically actuated.

4.2.2.1 trailing tandem disc harrow

Rear Wheels

Figure 9 – Trailing Tandem Disc Harrows

4.2.2.2 trailing offset disc harrows

a) offset with b) offset with flexible c) offset with squadron

rigid gangs in-line gang beams arrangement

Figure 10 – Trailing Offset Disc Harrows

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 PAES 120: 2001

5 Size

The size of the harrow shall be determined by the number and diameter of the discs and the
width of cut. For size determination, width of cut shall be calculated by the following
formula:

a) For single-action :

0.95 NS + 0.3 D
W =
1000

b) For tandem type :

0.95 NS + 1.2 D
W =
1000

c) For offset type:

0.95 NS + 0.6 D
W =
1000

where : W is the width of cut, m

N is the number of discs
S is the disc spacing, mm
D is the diameter of the disc, mm

NOTE For measuring the width of cut, gang angle shall be set at 18° (in case of the offset
disc harrow, included angle shall be set at 36°).

6 Materials of Construction

6.1 Mild steel shall be used in the manufacture of the frame, gang axle, scraper, gang
angling mechanism, and hitch.

6.2 Cast iron shall be used in the manufacture of spool.

6.3 Carbon steel shall be used in the manufacture of hitch pin.

6.4 Carbon steel with at least 80% carbon content (e.g. AISI 1080) or alloy steel with at
least 0.0005% boron content shall be used in the manufacture of the disc blades.

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PAES 120: 2001

7 Construction Requirements

The disc harrow shall conform to the following requirements:

Items Requirements
Length, m 2 to 8
Width, m 1 to 10
Height, m 1 to 1.5
Number of gangs minimum of 2 for offset and single-action
disc harrow
minimum of 4 for tandem disc harrow
Type of disc plain or notched
Number of disc minimum of 4 in each gang
Diameter of discs, mm 400 to 650 (600 maximum for four disc gang)
Thickness of disc, mm 4 to 6
Concavity (depth), mm 100 to 300
Disc angle, ° 24 maximum
Length of spool, mm 175 or 225 + 2
Ground clearance, mm 125
*
Weight per disc , kg 25 to 70
Drawbar power requirement per disc, kW 1 to 2.5
* It is the total weight of the harrow divided by the number of discs.

8 Performance Requirements

8.1 The maximum depth of cut of the harrow specified by the manufacturer shall be
attained.

8.2 During operation, the harrow shall produce good quality of work such as: the ability
to harrow throughout the complete implement width and capacity to cut and incorporate plant
residues in the soil at minimum blockages.

9 Other Requirements

9.1 The frame shall be rigid and durable.

9.2 Gangs

The gangs shall be so attached that their angles can be easily changed to desired position with
gang angling mechanism.

9.2.1 The rear gang(s) in offset and tandem disc harrows shall be so arranged that the
disc(s) of rear gang(s) shall not make the same path formed by front gang(s).

9.2.2 Bumpers may be provided in the inside end of the front gangs of the single-action and
tandem disc harrows to prevent the inside discs from rubbing each other at any gang angle in
which the gangs are set.

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9.2.3 The discs in each gang shall be firmly fixed by spools and there shall not be any
relative movement between the disc and the axle.

9.3 The scrapers shall be set in such a way that they shall not touch the face of disc and
shall be able to scrape the soil effectively. Arrangement for adjusting the scrapers shall be
provided.

9.4 Adequate arrangement for lubrication of bearings shall be provided. The bearings
shall be reasonably dust-proof and shall be properly aligned.

9.5 Ball or tapered roller bearings with special dirt seals shall be used.

9.6 Both faces of spool coming in contact with the disc face shall be finished for proper
gripping.

9.7 The hitch of disc harrow shall be compatible with the hydraulic system and the three-
point hitch of the tractor specified in PAES 118.

9.8 In single-action disc harrow, provision may be made for attaching a shovel or a sweep
to cut and uncut the soil between two gangs.

9.9 The harrow shall be easy to operate such as:

a. hitching to and unhitching from tractor;

b. adjusting the depth of cut;
c. changing the position of the harrow with respect to the line of pull of the tractor;
d. moving the standards laterally on the frame;
e. varying the angle between the bodies;
f. maneuverability during operation;
g. clearing blockages;
h. changing from transport to work position and vice versa; and
i. adjustment of the scrapers.

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10 Workmanship and Finish

10.1 The disc harrow shall be free from manufacturing defects that may be detrimental to
its operation.

10.2 Except for disc blades, other uncoated metallic surfaces shall be free from rust and
shall be painted properly.

10.3 The disc harrow, except for disc blades, shall be free from sharp edges and surfaces
that may injure the operator.

11 Warranty for Construction and Durability

11.1 Warranty against defective materials and workmanship shall be provided for parts and
services except for consumable maintenance parts such as discs, bearings and seals, within
six (6) months from the purchase of the disc harrow.

11.2 The construction shall be rigid and durable without breakdown of its major
components within six (6) months from purchase by the first buyer.

12 Maintenance and Operation

12.1 A set of tools required for adjustment during field operations shall be provided.

12.2 An operator’s manual which conforms to PAES 102 shall be provided.

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13 Marking and Labeling

Each harrow shall be marked in English language with the following information using a
plate, stencil or by directly punching it at the most conspicuous place:

13.1 Registered trademark of the manufacturer

13.2 Brand

13.3 Model

13.4 Type and size

13.5 Serial number

13.6 Production date (optional)

13.7 Name and address of manufacturer

13.8 Name and address of the importer, if imported (optional)

13.9 Country of manufacture (if imported) / “Made in the Philippines” (if manufactured in
the Philippines)

13.10 Safety/precautionary markings

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