Guys:
K, here are some pics...
HELP
This is the McCormick-Deering Out Throw Disk Harrow 6 Foot
This is a pic of the harrow mounted to the drawbar in the reversed position far front mounting pads. You can see the lack of clearance between the front mount brace of the harrow and the rear tires.
Here, you can see the clearance issue much better. The harrow was actually fetching up on the tires as I moved it. As soon as I turned..
not a pretty sight......
Here you can see how the tongue gets mounted to the drawbar. I hope yo can see how only the pin is secured so that the drawbar actually pivots as it is supposed to do. I cannot raise the harrow in this position.
I tried the substitute drawbar.. nope no workee... I tried the drawbar in it's normal configuration.. nope no workee... I tried the drawbar in every conceivable way, but .. nope no workee.
The only way the drawbar will mount up properly so that the harrow frame is at least 12 inches on the bias from the rear tires is in the reversed setup and mounted to the rear mounting pads. With this setup, I will be able to actually turn a fair degree with the harrow in the down and working position... and the frame will not come in contact with the rear tires... so that problem is solved.
But.... as you can see, I also had to insert the bolts -- make the drawbar non pivoting to be able to lift the harrow. This is not smart and I know that.. I would probably end up breaking the castings.... but not sure what to do to overcome the problems...
As you see here, I have hooked up the new brackets for adjusting the cutting angle on the discs... this is basically going to be it's permanent setting. I have also put in the eyebolts and hooked up the new chains. And yes, you can also see the flex in the two piece tongue. I still need to rebuild that part of the setup -- but that is pretty straightforward.
Better angle of view. Oh, I will be adding a second set of lift chains. They will be mounted via eyebolts as well in the next part of the frame just forward of the discs and scraper assembly. This should help in lifting the harrow... much like Ron (Kodiak) did on his setup.
Here is the harrow in the fully UP position... and I tried moving Ellie around with the harrow in the air... pretty cooooool
I like it.
Now if I can get the rest of the problems solved...
Ideas please.... I have gotten some energy, and I really would like to be able to put this project to bed in the next few days or so. Tomorrow morning I am going to get some proper length chain.. I might lighten the chain from 1/4" link to 3/16" link -- thoughts
Need to buy another pair of eyebolts and some other hardware as well...
If you have any ideas
... and maybe a quick sketch
so my poor tired NON-Mechanically minded brain
can cope with the info...
all would be appreciated..
Thanks