DRAFT CONTROL How does it work?

[npalen]

Doing some more reading on the subject of draft control mentions the advantage of using it when plowing undulating terrain. Without draft control the plow would tend to gouge deeper when the tractor's rear wheels go thru a low spot. With draft control engaged, the 3pt would lift enough to maintain the draft setting.
I'm thinking that the draft control would also correct when the tractor's rear wheels go over a high spot by dropping the 3PT to maintain the draft setting. I suppose it depends on the type of draft control?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Doing some more reading on the subject of draft control mentions the advantage of using it when plowing undulating terrain. Without draft control the plow would tend to gouge deeper when the tractor's rear wheels go thru a low spot. With draft control engaged, the 3pt would lift enough to maintain the draft setting.
I'm thinking that the draft control would also correct when the tractor's rear wheels go over a high spot by dropping the 3PT to maintain the draft setting. I suppose it depends on the type of draft control?

I am fairly sure that all the new machines with draft control will work the same. You may have different ways of setting the adjustments, but once set, probably all work about the same.

 

[jeff9366]

People down play those old Fords. But look what their competition was. Wayyyyyy more productive than the other brands that weren't even offered with a 3pt.

Harry Ferguson completed a series of USA patents on the various components of his Three Point Hitch in 1936. In 1938 he licensed his patents to Henry Ford. Later, after Edsel Ford, Henry's son, split with Ferguson, Ferguson produced Ferguson brand tractors in Detroit. Until his 3-Pt. patents began to expire, one after another in the mid-1950's, only Ford and Ferguson tractors could use Ferguson's patent Three Point Hitch.

Ferguson sold his tractor business to Massey-Harris, which became Massey-Ferguson, in 1953.

Three Point Hitch adaptors are still sold: Complete Cat 1 3 point hitch

 

[TomSeller]

Three Point Hitch adaptors are still sold: Complete Cat 1 3 point hitch

Note that there isn't any upward float with these which you need when brush hogging uneven ground, etc. when using a normal spool valve.

On the other hand, you have down pressure which could be very handy at times.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Note that there isn't any upward float with these which you need when brush hogging uneven ground, etc. when using a normal spool valve.

On the other hand, you have down pressure which could be very handy at times.

On the plus side, use a valve that has the float function and you then have the best of both worlds without having to pull their pin. :thumbsup:

 

[Coyote machine]

Note that there isn't any upward float with these which you need when brush hogging uneven ground, etc. when using a normal spool valve.

On the other hand, you have down pressure which could be very handy at times.

The specs say it does have upward pressure, not sure if that is same as upward float?
THIS SYSTEM PROVIDES DOWN PRESSURE AS WELL AS UP PRESSURE WHICH IS RARELY
FOUND ON TRACTOR MANUFACTURERS 3 POINT SYSTEMS. BY REMOVING 1 PIN IT IS
CONVERTED TO FLOAT, MEANING YOU WILL HAVE UP PRESSURE, BUT NOT DOWN, WHICH
IS EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN PULLING IMPLEMENTS ON ROUGH TERAIN.

 

[npalen]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/109381-draft-control-position-control-mixed.html

Post number two is especially interesting.

 

[TomSeller]

The specs say it does have upward pressure, not sure if that is same as upward float?
THIS SYSTEM PROVIDES DOWN PRESSURE AS WELL AS UP PRESSURE WHICH IS RARELY
FOUND ON TRACTOR MANUFACTURERS 3 POINT SYSTEMS. BY REMOVING 1 PIN IT IS
CONVERTED TO FLOAT, MEANING YOU WILL HAVE UP PRESSURE, BUT NOT DOWN, WHICH
IS EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN PULLING IMPLEMENTS ON ROUGH TERAIN.

I did not se that. Clever of them.

 

[k0ua]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/109381-draft-control-position-control-mixed.html

Post number two is especially interesting.

I think Glowplug did a better job of describing mixed draft/position control than I did.

 

[kevin37b]

I go to several shows , plow days ,etc . I have a 37 JD B and 44 # trip plow , 2/ 14 , This is a pull type , trailer plow . The B weighs 2750# and has 12. 5 at the drawbar . It will pull circles around those Fords . Do you notice all of the ford plows are mounted , so you can cheat ? The above poster is correct , scratching . BTW this plow will stay in the ground . When the ford starts spinning the wheels , it digs a hole and activates the cheater and away you go .

 

[ovrszd]

I go to several shows , plow days ,etc . I have a 37 JD B and 44 # trip plow , 2/ 14 , This is a pull type , trailer plow . The B weighs 2750# and has 12. 5 at the drawbar . It will pull circles around those Fords . Do you notice all of the ford plows are mounted , so you can cheat ? The above poster is correct , scratching . BTW this plow will stay in the ground . When the ford starts spinning the wheels , it digs a hole and activates the cheater and away you go .

Yeah, I grew up around plowing contests too. The pull type guys never liked the mounted plow guys. Mounted was so much more efficient, especially at the end of the fields. Some contests here even separated them into different classes to calm the frustration.

 

[SPYDERLK]

So I drop the plow with the draft lever to the stopper and start forward movement. The plow immediately heads for China (digs itself into the ground. This causes extension forces on the top link. The plow wants to go deeper. As this force increases it begins to extend the top link assembly on the tractor. As the mechanism extends it begins to move the controller inside the tractor toward the position of raising the 3pt. When the force is great enough lifting action stops the descending plow at the depth you previously determined. If the plow for whatever reason starts elevating above your preferred depth the top link assembly compresses and lowers the 3pt arms.

Backwards.

 

[jeff9366]

While most parts of the Three Point Hitch are standardized, Draft Control operation is particular to each manufacturer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

While most parts of the Three Point Hitch are standardized, Draft Control operation is particular to each manufacturer.

But never as described by ovrszd; as the physics is off.
,,, There is compression on the toplink when there is a ground engagement load. ... Degree of compression on the toplink is the mechanism to sense this and then cause action to control draft.

 

[D7E]

Not all sense from top link though many sense through lower links torsion bar !

 

[kthompson]

Not all sense from top link though many sense through lower links torsion bar !

When I bought my M6800 Kubota the owner of that dealership was quick to point out the draft on Kubota was not as good as say JD or NH and thus not a real farm tractor (not just this size but Kubota period). He was telling the Kubota, his brand, was not as sensitive I think for it used the top link sensor, not sure on that. But I know my experience I do not think it works as well as some other brands. When a draft is set right and working right it sure will have better looking and level land from plow (moldboard or cultivators) or blade than a fixed lift normally will give you. Again my experience.