[Auscocky]

Has anyone done or seen a comparison on the "V" type prickle harrows (Phillips or Phoenix) compared to the segmented ones like K Line. Do the segmented ones follow the ground well.
I'm looking for something to incorporate pre-emergent chemical and my agro says prickle chains are getting good results.

 

[Doctor 650]

Has anyone done or seen a comparison on the "V" type prickle harrows (Phillips or Phoenix) compared to the segmented ones like K Line. Do the segmented ones follow the ground well.
I'm looking for something to incorporate pre-emergent chemical and my agro says prickle chains are getting good results.

We put prickle front and back on our Kelly chain and it did a great job incorporating Canola seed, It is similar to the Phoenix prickle, not quite as long..

 

[madsnake]

Has anyone done or seen a comparison on the "V" type prickle harrows (Phillips or Phoenix) compared to the segmented ones like K Line. Do the segmented ones follow the ground well.
I'm looking for something to incorporate pre-emergent chemical and my agro says prickle chains are getting good results.

How are you looking to use a prickle chain? Is it in combination with tillage like behind a chisel plow or after the seeder?

Learnt to weld making prickle chain out of second hand heavy chain and reo bar or rod.

 

[Auscocky]

How are you looking to use a prickle chain? Is it in combination with tillage like behind a chisel plow or after the seeder?

Learnt to weld making prickle chain out of second hand heavy chain and reo bar or rod.

I'd mainly use it to incorporate chemical, Dual for grass control in sorghum and maybe Stomp in Mung Beans. I'm no til and working towards controlled traffic so won't be used behind a plow. I also like the idea of giving the ground a tickle before a rain event to get as many weeds up as possible. I understand your question though Madsnake. The segmented ones would be better behind a plow, seeder or combine. Do you think the fixed drum version (K Line) do a better job than the chain version (Phillips) for incorporating chemical?

 

[BoSoT]

Has anyone done or seen a comparison on the "V" type prickle harrows (Phillips or Phoenix) compared to the segmented ones like K Line. Do the segmented ones follow the ground well.
I'm looking for something to incorporate pre-emergent chemical and my agro says prickle chains are getting good results.

If I may join...
I am also looking for a something to break up harvest residue, specially canola stubble, to improve trash flow.
Whats the difference between a Kelly chain/prickle chain? Disc chain is also there.
Will it break up residue?
Which one will work best?


Tired of pulling a bunch of truck tires around, using a lot of fuel to get the job done.

 

[Auscocky]

I can answer one of your questions BoSoT. Kelly is a manufacturer, I believe, and have made a name for themselves with the "Kelly Chain", which is a chain of cast iron disks that do a similar job to a light offset disk. It is a diamond shaped machine that can have a prickle chain fitted instead of the disks. I'm not interested in a Kelly chain. They compact the ground. I don't think their prickle chain has enough spikes to do a decent job either, when you look at the spikes on a Phillips. But, horses for courses.

 

[BoSoT]

I can answer one of your questions BoSoT. Kelly is a manufacturer, I believe, and have made a name for themselves with the "Kelly Chain", which is a chain of cast iron disks that do a similar job to a light offset disk. It is a diamond shaped machine that can have a prickle chain fitted instead of the disks. I'm not interested in a Kelly chain. They compact the ground. I don't think their prickle chain has enough spikes to do a decent job either, when you look at the spikes on a Phillips. But, horses for courses.

Attached photo is what I know as a prickle chain, we get them here in our part of the world. Not really interested in the disc chain, I am no-till/min-till, so just looking for something to help with straw break-up. Will prickle chain work for that.
Ppl use them here on sandy soils to cover oats and lupins seeds on a cultivated field

 

[madsnake]

I'd mainly use it to incorporate chemical, Dual for grass control in sorghum and maybe Stomp in Mung Beans. I'm no til and working towards controlled traffic so won't be used behind a plow. I also like the idea of giving the ground a tickle before a rain event to get as many weeds up as possible. I understand your question though Madsnake. The segmented ones would be better behind a plow, seeder or combine. Do you think the fixed drum version (K Line) do a better job than the chain version (Phillips) for incorporating chemical?

Disc or tyne seeder? I think you may find that a prickle will not move enough dirt if all disc seeder for stomp. (Stomp is like traflane I think) a disc chain maybe batter option. If you were seeding with a Tyne and press wheel you are going to have some hill to move into the trench and a chain may work well.

Please note do not know your soil, conditions or dual gold. Only a very rough thought.

 

[mick.]

We have a set of Phillips, use them after sowing Chickas with a Tyne machine, they move enough to fill the trench and level the field without being too aggressive. Our set is good for 18m but I find if you run them on a sharper angle at around 12m they do a better job. They will mow though heavy stubble loads with ease, and are pretty simple to maintain. The only time they seem to break is when some muppet tries to fold them up with the chains on the ground.

Have also used them to incorporate barley flown on to irrigation fields, which they also do well.

 

[Doctor 650]

If I may join...
I am also looking for a something to break up harvest residue, specially canola stubble, to improve trash flow.
Whats the difference between a Kelly chain/prickle chain? Disc chain is also there.
Will it break up residue?
Which one will work best?


Tired of pulling a bunch of truck tires around, using a lot of fuel to get the job done.

This is our first year with our Kelly Chain and we did a lot of country with discs and prickle. I think it does a good job promoting weed germination and conserving moisture below 3 cm. You get over a lot of country and the machine is tough. As far as smashing stubble and improving trash flow, I don't think so, cuts it off and lays it on top, I think it makes trash flow worse..To break up stubble I think you will need at least 2 passes. IMO this machine should be used strategically, where you have weeds or need to level, I wouldn't be doing everything with it, we are learning it's weaknesses and strengths as we go along.

 

[Auscocky]

Attached photo is what I know as a prickle chain, we get them here in our part of the world. Not really interested in the disc chain, I am no-till/min-till, so just looking for something to help with straw break-up. Will prickle chain work for that.
Ppl use them here on sandy soils to cover oats and lupins seeds on a cultivated field

That is a prickle chain BoSoT, and my guess is it is a Phillips.
They make both the V type and segmented ones for behind a plow.

 

[Auscocky]

Disc or tyne seeder? I think you may find that a prickle will not move enough dirt if all disc seeder for stomp. (Stomp is like traflane I think) a disc chain maybe batter option. If you were seeding with a Tyne and press wheel you are going to have some hill to move into the trench and a chain may work well.

Please note do not know your soil, conditions or dual gold. Only a very rough thought.

Disc planter for sorghum Snake. I think there would be enough loose dirt and residue on top to mix in with chemical.

 

[Auscocky]

We have a set of Phillips, use them after sowing Chickas with a Tyne machine, they move enough to fill the trench and level the field without being too aggressive. Our set is good for 18m but I find if you run them on a sharper angle at around 12m they do a better job. They will mow though heavy stubble loads with ease, and are pretty simple to maintain. The only time they seem to break is when some muppet tries to fold them up with the chains on the ground.

Have also used them to incorporate barley flown on to irrigation fields, which they also do well.

Thanks Mick, good info, and good photo too by the way.
Is your ground worked before you seed the barley, so enough loose dirt can be thrown on the seed? How would it go incorporating urea that was put on with a spreader?

 

[silverrod]

I also have had a set of Phillips for awhile. They will smash up straw but you need to do it on a hot day. Incorporates chemical brillant. I have spread canola in fallow and covered with the chain with good results. Also if you get crusted soils you can open them up and break the crust with minimum damage to the emerging crop. I bought them to put behind a Shearer 4150 for sowing and they do a good job on levelling.

 

[Auscocky]

I also have had a set of Phillips for awhile. They will smash up straw but you need to do it on a hot day. Incorporates chemical brillant. I have spread canola in fallow and covered with the chain with good results. Also if you get crusted soils you can open them up and break the crust with minimum damage to the emerging crop. I bought them to put behind a Shearer 4150 for sowing and they do a good job on levelling.

Thanks Rod. Are they the V type trailing harrows you pull with the tractor or segmented ones that attach to machine like in the photo?

I'm trying to work out which is the best way to go.
There are also the fabricated ones like K-Line.

Anyone done a comparison on the two?
thanks.

 

[silverrod]

They are V type 45'

 

[mick.]

Thanks Mick, good info, and good photo too by the way.
Is your ground worked before you seed the barley, so enough loose dirt can be thrown on the seed? How would it go incorporating urea that was put on with a spreader?

Mate I have used them on country which has just been side busted to country that has just been laser levelled and smooth as a billiard table for incorporating barley, the key is always a good front on the way to even think about it! A little bit of loose soil makes for a better job in my opinion, but it only needs to be say the lose stuff on top of a fallow no till field.

I rarely spread urea ( unless before big rain) so couldn't really tell you either way on fertiliser incorporation in less than ideal conditions.

They always seem to go cheap at clearing sales these days as Kelly's are the flavour of the month!

 

[lynas]

Other things to consider, would be the speed these things need to run at, to be effective.
Mounted prickle chains would be travelling at planting speed so probably would not move as much soil as a V-type Phoenix harrow which, I presume, would be a separate operation?
Also, the phoenix V harrow would be able to be run at a more aggressive angle than the mounted would.
I have a 60' V-type Phillips (Phoenix)
Regards.

 

[CTS2]

I have the K-line type mounted on the back of a Bourgault 8800, and not been very impressed with their levelling ability.

I have thought that the segmented Phillips type ones look like they would work better. Kelly also make segmented ones with their spike chain. But these types are heavier than the K-line ones, and the Bourgault 8800 is rear-heavy enough already.

So I have never done a comparison.

 

[Auscocky]

Other things to consider, would be the speed these things need to run at, to be effective.
Mounted prickle chains would be travelling at planting speed so probably would not move as much soil as a V-type Phoenix harrow which, I presume, would be a separate operation?
Also, the phoenix V harrow would be able to be run at a more aggressive angle than the mounted would.
I have a 60' V-type Phillips (Phoenix)
Regards.

I won't be putting them on the planter, I'd build a frame for them probably on linkage and use them at harrowing speed. The V type machine would work better though I think. Just hard to come by up here.