Apply Anhydrous With Your Disk

Apply Anhydrous With Your Disk DISKS Disks (58D) 1-3-13 Everything you need to convert your disk into an anhydrous applicator is included in do-it-yourself kits from Harlan Mfg., Harlan, Iowa. "The add-on applicator doesn't interfere with the operation of the disk, including models with folding wings, and gives you the cost-saving advantage of combining two field operations into one trip," explains Bill Ahlers, advertising manager. The big question in everybody's mind, says Ahlers, is whether or not ammonia knifed into loose, freshly disked soil will seal: "The answer is yes. We mount 314 in. round tines behind the back gangs. These special tines are great sealing injectors in freshly-worked soil." The clamp for holding individual applicator tines is unique. "It's designed to allow each tine to pivot freely," explains Ahlers. "We call it a self-aligning clamp because, as the tine is running through the ground, it pulls straight no matter what angle the disk is at. An added feature is the clamp's ability to hold the tine securely in a non-operating, upside down position. This makes it possible to run the disk alone - without having to run the tines in the ground. You don't even have to disconnect the hoses and it only takes about 5 min. to turn the tines up or down." Toolbars on which the tines are mounted are attached to the disk in sections so as not to interfere with operation of fold-up wings. Individual kits include your choice of two meters, 318 in. clear plastic hose (7116 in. optional) and your choice of spike style. If you already have reversible spikes, Harlan offers bolt-on pipes to save you the cost of additional spikes. The company also offers anhydrous kits for field cultivators and chisel plows. Disk kits are available to fit most makes and models. "The disk should weigh at least 4,000 lbs. so it's heavy enough to pull a tag-along anhydrous tank hitched behind," Ahlers points out. Harlan offers an optional telescoping swivel nurse tank hitch, and an optional hydraulic shutoff called the An-Hydra Posi-Trod which sells for $225 and can be purchased for use with the kit. It eliminates the long rope pull. To give you a rough idea of cost of the kit itself, the price tag is right at $1,200 to equip a 20 ft. disk. If you buy a disk kit now and decide in the future to try the new method of converting "hot" pressurized ammonia to the "cold" nonpressurized liquid form, all you need to update the kit are two additional hoses. If you should decide to switch from a disk to a field cultivator as your main tillage tool, the kit will readily convert with some minor retooling-including new spikes, says Ahlers. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harlan Mfg., Box 712, Harlan, Iowa 51537 (ph. 712 755-5108).

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