Single disk vs double disk on older drills

1370rod

Well-known Member
Hi, for the next couple years I need to sow a few acres of grass and some alfalfa. Noticed in ads some they mention the single and double disk openers, is there one or the other I should avoid? Or should I just broadcast? Thanks, Rod.
 
(quoted from post at 09:52:00 08/23/17) Hi, for the next couple years I need to sow a few acres of grass and some alfalfa. Noticed in ads some they mention the single and double disk openers, is there one or the other I should avoid? Or should I just broadcast? Thanks, Rod.

They both work but double would be considered the premium option to go with. Make sure parts availability is good for the model. I have a pretty nice Massey 33 and parts are not dime a dozen.
 
I only used ancient double disc drills. Can't comment on singles. Double the parts when repairs needed on doubles. Mine are/were JD brand and '60's vintage.
 
All grasses and alfalfa that I do know you have no use for the openers at all as the grass seed is supposed to drop in back of the openers on top of the ground with just the dragging covering chains to cover the seed that you do not want deeper than a quarter of an inch and putting in with the disks you cannot do that. In other words the drill is putting the seed on just the same as you would have to do broadcasting it, the only thing the drill will do is make a guide for you to go by on the next pass so you do not either double up part of the field or drive wide enough you skip strips in the field.
 

Ditto what Leroy stated as disks are not utilized when putting out grass or Alfalfa seeds. As to type of disks both styles work fine but double disk handle trashy conditions better than single disks. As Mark mentioned double disk cost twice as much to replace as single disk
 
I have planted hundreds of acres of grass/alfalfa mix here for hay fields, and I plant in April and March but it is always planted as deep as I plant small grains 1 1/2"-2 1/2" deep,, I was always told a farce about how it will not grow if its planted too deep, But shallow planting darn sure works in a wet year/area,, here we have dry years so planting it deeper keeps the young plants in better moisture, out where you are Rod, I would not be afraid of the shallow planting, I Like a double disc unit better myself as they work better when planting in winds I have found with grass seeds, I also use press drills and get a much more even germination rate ,,
cnt
 
It's always wet and heavy clay soils here, double disk openers are common, rarely see a single disk and they are considered old/ poorer 'here'.

Might be different in different dirt types.

Small grass/ clover/ alfalfa seeds are scattered on top and very lightly worked in 'here' even with the drill, but again heavy clay wet soils 'here' can be different other places. Here you don't want those small seeds so deep in the dirt.

Paul
 

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