What to look for when buying a chisel plow?

[wemsit]

Hey,

I have a 50hp john deere 5103 and I am looking to buy a chisel plow. I have silt loam soil and was looking at this fred cain 7 chisel plow. Fred Cain 7 Shank Field Cultivator with 66in bar

however, is that a chisel plow or a field cultivator? I am hoping to get 8" deep since 10-12" deep should be nothing but clay, although maybe a chisel plow won't even affect that?

Anyways, any help on what to look for in a chisel plow is greatly appreciated.

 

[Big Barn]

The link shows a cultivator. Chisel plows have heavier longer tines.

I’ve owned three point hitch units and tow behind with hydraulic wheel lift.

The trailed units would be easier to maintain depth with a lower HP tractor such as yours. You may need to remove a couple of tines.

If your 50 HP JD is 4 wheel drive it should be able to pull 7 or 9 tines in sandy loam.

 

[jeff9366]

I pull a 66" five shank Dirt Dog brand Field Cultivator behind my 3,600 pound, 37-horsepower Kubota L3560. A good match. The Fred Cain F/C and Dirt Dog F/C seem to be constructed of identical components.

Your Deere 5103 is around 5,000 pounds if 4-WD and should be well matched to the Fred Cain seven shank.

Field Cultivators are engineered for secondary tillage. Chisel Plows are much heavier and are engineered for primary tillage.

If you contemplate using the Fred Cain in soft unbroken ground be sure the soil is moist at least a deep as you intend to penetrate. Penetrating 8" will not be a problem in moist, fairly soft soil. Dry ground will defeat you and likely break points.

A Field Cultivator is NOT a Chisel Plow nor a Moldboard Plow in its ability to handle tough soil and primary tillage.

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

COMPACT TRACTOR 'TRUE' CHISEL PLOWS:
Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog Page 18-01 Chisel Plows

 

[wemsit]

awesome, thanks for the replies. I am worried the ground will be tough to break up. I want to break up 8-10 acres. Any advice on other ways to break up the land would be much appreciated. It hasn't been broken up in 30 years and has been cut for hay and used as pasture land for all of it.

 

[Big Barn]

The field cultivator will loosen up the soil but a chisel plow is needed to alleviate traction. It might be tough going but no big deal. Work it as deep as your tractor can handle maintaining traction. Go a little deeper on subsequent passes.

Make subsequent passes NOT parallel to previous. Just a few degrees off would suffice.

Have fun!

 

[jeff9366]

I want to break up 8-10 acres.

It hasn't been broken up in thirty years and has been cut for hay and used as pasture land for all thirty years. I am worried the ground will be tough too break up.

Advice on other ways to break up the land would be much appreciated.

Ground described above will be too hard for a Field Cultivator. Nothing packs earth harder than animal hooves.

You should be able to find a used 12" two bottom or three bottom Moldboard Plow for $300 to $600.

A 12" plow is the traditional sodbuster's plow. A 12" plow cuts a furrow 12" wide, 5" to 7" deep, the penetration you are looking for. A two bottom 12" plow will turn soil in 24" swathes, a three bottom 12" plow in 36" swathes.

Where I live in rural Florida it is pretty easy to find contract plow operators. They use 12" plows, usually in eight bottom configuration.

14" plows are common too. A 14" plow cuts a furrow 14" wide, 6" to 8" deep. (Etc.)

After you plow the soil will be more productive for ten years, then it will be time to plow again.

NEW MOLDBOARD PLOWS:
2 Bottom Tractor Plow

Best to plow prior to first Fall freeze. Let inverted soil sit through Winter. Use a Disc Harrow to knock down plow furrows in the very early Spring.

I speculate you could sub a rear/angle blade for the Disc Harrow, to knock down furrows.

 

[Big Barn]

If you are concerned with compaction the chisel plows will be your best option. Moldboard plowing is fine for tillage after the compaction is addressed.

 

[kf4uda]

If you decide on the chisel plow, I suggest that you look for a 5 shank for your tractor. I pull a 7 shank behind a 75hp 4wd. In row crop ground it pulls great. In hardened pasture ground I have to lift the plow some due to lack of traction even in 4wd.

 

[Foodplot]

You've gotten good advice. If you search the Bowling Green CL, there's a guy a bit north of you (not me) that has several moldboard and chisel plows for sale now at reasonable prices. Field cultivators, too, though I see those regularly at auctions around here, where they go pretty cheap. I bought a seven-shank for $70 a couple years back.

 

[bullbreaker]

Many outfits out there make good units . One that comes too mind is HayKing .............
Hay King Chisel Plows - Hay King - Miller

 

[kf4uda]

Here is a five shank that looks similar to the 7 shank that I have. It is very heavy duty.

5 Shank Chisel Plow - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a five shank that looks similar to the 7 shank that I have. It is very heavy duty.

Appears to be an experienced Buckeye Tractor #5320 Chisel Plow. The teal color paint is Buckeye's trademark. $5,340 new in Buckeye's price list.

Buckeye Tractor recommends 50 to 75 horsepower to pull.

Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog Page 18-04 Chisel Plows

 

[kf4uda]

The 7 shank that I have is an Athens 156. Mine is old and rusty but they still make the very same plow today. I bought cheap since it needed a few parts. I was able to buy all of the replacement parts direct from Athens Plow Company. I also purchased all new twisted chisel points from Shoup Manufacturing. It works like new but needs painting.



Athens Plow - Model 156 Chisel Plow

 

[countrybumpkin]

Appears to be an experienced Buckeye Tractor #5320 Chisel Plow. The teal color paint is Buckeye's trademark. $5,340 new in Buckeye's price list.

Buckeye Tractor recommends 50 to 75 horsepower to pull.

Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog Page 18-04 Chisel Plows

Not even close to being the same thing. Different shanks, frame etc.

 

[wemsit]

Thanks everyone for the replies. What is the difference between a bar mounted and pull behind for a chisel plow?

 

[countrybumpkin]

Thanks everyone for the replies. What is the difference between a bar mounted and pull behind for a chisel plow?

The way it hooks to the tractor, a bar or 3point mounted like this.

A pull type hooks to the draw bar and has its own lifting wheel that raise and lower buy hydraulic cylinders , pulls like a trailer.

 

[jeff9366]

What is the difference between a 3-Pt. mounted and pull behind chisel plow?

All Three Point Hitch mounted implements transfer some implement weight and some draft force to the tractor rear wheels when the Top Link is slack, improving rear wheel tractor traction. When the Top Link is in compression, a more limited amount of implement weight and some draft force is transferred to the front wheels, improving front wheel traction, especially with 4-WD tractors.

Note that Buckeye Tractor's Chisel Plows for compact tractors are all Three Point Hitch models.



Pull type Chisel Plows put all the implement weight on the shanks, assuming chisel gauge wheels are out of soil contact, so in theory could penetrate deeper. However, the tractor will have less tractive power. So pull type Chisel Plows require a tractor with options to increase tractive power (4-WD, loaded tires, wheel weights, R1/ag tires, dual rear wheels on each side, etc.) and a lot of engine power output.

Pull type Chisel Plows articulate (follow ground contour) independently of the tractor.


Pretty much the same for Three Point Hitch vs towed Disc Harrows.

Pretty much the same for Three Point Hitch vs towed Cultipackers, except even 1,200 pound Cultipackers require little tractor traction nor power to pull, as Cultipackers roll over soil surface.

 

[wemsit]

So, I’m new to farming and want to make sure my thinking and understanding is right. I believe I want to chisel plow my 8-10 acres right before our first frost then add my needed nutrients and then in the spring i will want to go over the field with a disc harrow 3-4 times? I’m guessing I only need to chisel plow once in November here then in March or April I will disc over. Am I correct in thinking this? Also, can my 50ho 4x4 tractor pull a standard 7’ disc harrow. I’ve been looking at tarter only because it seems cheapish and easiy to get from TSC. Does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions for me? I am open ears

 

[jeff9366]

Can my 50ho 4x4 tractor pull a standard 7’ disc harrow? I’ve been looking at Tarter only because it seems cheapish and easy to get from TSC. Does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions for me? I am open ears.

Now that you have acquired a tractor, enter the brand and model in your T-B-N PROFILE.

Width of a Disc Harrow tells you and tells your readers little.

The diameter of the pans and spacing between the pans are key.

You can mount and pull a DH with 20" diameter pans for sure. Depending on the weight of your tractor you may be able to mount and pull a DH with 22" diameter pans.

The soil in Tennessee is highly variable. Chisel plowing creates a less rough field than moldboard plowing. With a DH with 20" diameter pans I speculate only one or two passes would be necessary. With a a DH with 22" diameter pans I speculate only one pass would be necessary.

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...disc-harrow-selection-compact.html?highlight=


CountyLine Disc Harrows are made by Tarter in Kentucky. Box frame Tarter DH'S have clamp-plate adjustment of the gang angles which requires wrenches to adjust. Howse also used clamp-plate adjustment. Angle iron frame DHs are only for gardens.

CountyLine/Tarter HDD7 weighs 846 pounds on 20 X 18" pans = 42 pounds implement pressure on each pan. HDD7 pan spacing = 7".
Discs — Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment | American Made Quality Since 1945

Look for a DH with 20" or 22" diameter pans and notched pans front and rear. When you disc after a Chisel Plow you will want to chop up surface growth before planting.
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/332493-tandem-lift-disc-harow-monroe.html?highlight=

 

[jeff9366]

So, I’m new to farming and want to make sure my thinking and understanding is right. I believe I want to chisel plow my 8-10 acres right before our first frost then add my needed nutrients and then in the spring i will want to go over the field with a disc harrow 3-4 times? I’m guessing I only need to chisel plow once in November here then in March or April I will disc over. Am I correct in thinking this?

Moldboard Plows invert the soil. One object is to bring up fresh top soil nutrients from below. Another object is to kill and compost verdure existing in the field when plowing commences. Moldboard plows are pulled through moist soil.

Note rough condition of moldboard plowed field.
VIDEO: Tractors At Work | Ploughing - YouTube


While I have considerable experience with my Dirt Dog Field Cultivator I have no operating experience with a Chisel Plow. Following extrapolates from my Field Cultivator experience.

Conservation Plows, which include Chisel Plows and Field Cultivators, do not invert the soil. Primary field function is to fracture/aerate soil including fracture of hardpan, preserving existing verdure to prevent rain and wind erosion. In order for fissure to be preserved, conservation plows are pulled through fairly dry soil, another reason a lot of tractor power is required. Since voluminous furrows are not created, winter freeze/thaw cycles to assist furrow and vegetation breakdown are not important.

VIDEOS: Note flatness of field after Chisel Plow passes.
ag tractor chisel plowing field - YouTube

You can conservation plow any time soil is fairly dry before crop is planted.