M7040 and pulling a subsoiler?

[tom4018]

Would a M7040 pull a 2 shank subsoiler or should I stick with a one shank? Looking at a couple old Ford subsoilers and wondered if sticking with one shank would be better.

 

[Toolguy]

It all depends on your soil type and how deep you going. 24" in heavy clay would make one hard to pull, but sandy soil would be a lot easier. It is usually only the heavier soils that benefit from subsoiling so if that is what you have then start with one and see how it goes. Good luck.

Some 30 years ago a farmer friend who was also a darn good engineer/machinist designed and built a two shank subsoiler with hydraulic trip resets from a JD plow. It was designed to trip and automatically reset when hitting rocks in the ground. He pulled it with a 2WD JD4020. He demonstrated it in the area to see if there was any interest in the hopes of building and selling them. It was a good idea, but nobody bought one so the prototype was the only one he made. The 94hp 4020 handled the two shanks OK in medium heavy ground.

 

[gwdixon]

I've only used a single shank in clay soil. It worked well.

A two shank should be just fine but as Toolguy mentioned, it depends on the soil. Exposed bedrock would make for tough going.

 

[Tom_H]

Worse than clay is hardpan. Two things can help. Make the top link as short as possible to get a better bite. Use ballast on the subsoiler:

 

[Tom_H]

Here's what vintners around here use for "subsoiling" when planting new vineyards:

 

[red4now]

Here's what vintners around here use for "subsoiling" when planting new vineyards:

You mean that isn't a parking brake on the back??

 

[art]

Worse than clay is hardpan. Two things can help. Make the top link as short as possible to get a better bite. Use ballast on the subsoiler:

I'd be making the top link longer to hold the point under and you won't need the weight!

 

[Tom_H]

I'd be making the top link longer to hold the point under and you won't need the weight!

No, it works the other way around. Shortening the top link makes a greater angle, which actually bites in better. I was doing it with the link long, like you said, and that wasn't working. Several TBNers told me to shorten the link instead for it to work. They were correct: when I shortened the link, it worked.