The first and most crucial step in choosing the best used harrow is deciding what you will be doing with the device. Various types of harrows exist, from chain harrows to tine harrows, and even disc harrows, and each type serves a different purpose. Research each type before you commit to one so you can be sure the tool will accomplish your tasks. Next, you will need to decide how you will be pulling the used harrow; some can be pulled by hand, while others must be pulled with a towing vehicle. Still others are intended for use with a tractor's power take-off (PTO) system.
Once you have decided which type of used harrow is right for you, it's time to search the market for options. You will have two general routes for buying a used harrow: you can either buy one from a dealer or from a private seller. The steps you will need to take can differ slightly depending on where you buy the device, but in either case, you will need to do a thorough inspection of the device to ensure it is in proper working condition. Look for signs of excess wear on frames and towbars, as well as on any cutting devices such as discs or tines.
Make sure, too, that the used harrow you choose will be compatible with whatever towing devices you will be using. Some harrows are designed to be used exclusively with PTO systems that will allow you to raise or lower the unit from the cockpit of the tractor or towing vehicle. If this is important to you, make sure the device can work with the PTO system on your tractor. This is most useful if you will be driving the towing vehicle over areas that should not be harrowed either for fear of damaging the harrows themselves or damaging the areas that should not be harrowed.
It is important to choose the correct size of used harrow for the intended application. Harrows can come in a wide variety of sizes: very small chain harrows can be pulled by hand and are useful for breaking up clumps of soil and removing debris on smaller plots; larger disc, tine, or chain harrows are usually so heavy that they need to be towed by an ATV or tractor. These are suitable for larger plots of land or regular use. Make sure all discs, tines, or chains move freely and are not frozen in place from corrosion or damage.
