Field Cultivators or rippers...worthwhile???

[HCJtractor]

This week I was creating a new foodplot. I only had my disc with me and it just wasn't cutting this unworked ground. My plow would have helped, but it was 20 miles away. How about a field cultivator (such as the Fred Cain seen at Everything Attachments). Would it have helped rip the soil up? What about roots and rocks? Are these tough enough to survive? I know they are spring protected, but is this adequate? The angle iron frames look a litttle flimsey. I would pull it with a 70 horse Kubota with loaded tires, so pulling one should not be a problem. Tearing it up is what worries me. Do you use something like this for virgin soil? If so, what brands are good for a large tractor? Is a field cultivator and chisel plow the same thing?

 

[twarr1]

A cultivator is designed to ride just below the surface. A chisel plow runs way deeper, around 10" or so. Two completely different tools.
I've never used one of the Fred Cain units, but they look like sort of a hybrid; heavier than a cultivator, lighter than a true chisel plow. Maybe another member that owns one will chime in and let us know how well they work.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Chisel plow will go deep in any kind of soil and you arent going to hurt it. If it hits an immovable object, you will stop guaranteed. Field cultivators are ok for plowed ground that you want to remove the grass from but they dont penetrate more than a couple of inches. They are just what the name implies, cultivators. If you want to loosen up the hard packed soil, chisel plows are the way to go. Then you need to disc behind the chisel plow to break up the large chunks that the chisel plow leaves behind. The field cultivator would be good to go behind your seed sowing operation to cover the seeds.

 

[texasjohn]

Umm, it is possible to break a chisel plow tine, I know.
Won't take even 70hp to break one.... 35 can do it.
A cultivator does stir soil close to the surface, but would be concerned about using it to cover seeds. I'm not sure it would result in proper depth for all seeds. Certainly would not pack soil around seeds...useful in getting good germination rates.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have stalled 120 HP dual wheel tractor with chisel plow (14 foot wide one)and never broke a spring, but I guess it depends on the quality of the plow and how many teeth hang on the immovable object. Mine were usually underground stumps and would get 2 -3 tines involved. Then it was reverse and raise the plow at the same time to get off it. Lots of folks run the 3 point hitch type but I always prefered the drag type myself, lots less likely to pull a wheelie if you snag something than a 3 PH type. That probably isn't going to happen with the small CUT they cant get enough traction to pull the front wheels off the ground in the configuration most folks have them.

 

[HCJtractor]

So to break up new ground that has never been cultivated, a chisel plow seems the way to go, not a cultivator. O.K. , so what chisel plow should I look at for occasional use, for a 70 hp tractor, with a max width of 7'?? Thanks for the info.

I could use my plow for this, but mine has shear pins. When I try to use it, it does work fine, but I do break lots of pins. I was hoping to find some implement to do the same thing (break up new soild that has roots, rocks, etc) but that will not break or require getting off the tractor to replace pins. Something that will either stop the tractor or spring over an obstruction without damage.

 

[Verticaltrx]

This week I was creating a new foodplot. I only had my disc with me and it just wasn't cutting this unworked ground. My plow would have helped, but it was 20 miles away. How about a field cultivator (such as the Fred Cain seen at Everything Attachments). Would it have helped rip the soil up? What about roots and rocks? Are these tough enough to survive? I know they are spring protected, but is this adequate? The angle iron frames look a litttle flimsey. I would pull it with a 70 horse Kubota with loaded tires, so pulling one should not be a problem. Tearing it up is what worries me. Do you use something like this for virgin soil? If so, what brands are good for a large tractor? Is a field cultivator and chisel plow the same thing?

That type of field cultivator would work pretty well for what you are describing. If your soil is really hard, dry clay then it would have a tough time, but otherwise it would break up the soil down to a depth of 6-8". We have a 5-shank spring trip cultivator similar to the Fred Cain one and use it behind a 40hp IH 454 tractor. It works well if you just want to loosen the soil and not turn the trash under, we usually go over it with a heavy disc afterwards. The other advantage is you can work fairly rough ground with stumps and rocks without fear of damaging the unit (within reason of course). I think your tractor is at the top end of the size range for these cultivators, but it should work. The term 'cultivator' means a lot of different things in different parts of the country, so thats why you will get a lot of varying responces on this. The original version of the implement we are discussing was made popluar by Ford/Ferguson:

 

[randy41]

looks to me like the fred caine tool will do what you need. you're just looking to create a seed bed. i would go across the field with the tool just deep enough to turn up the ground. then i would plant the seed and then lightly disc it in. i have a fred caine cultivator but there are no springs on the shanks. i used it to cultivate sweet corn.

 

[brin]

I used a 9 shank cultivator like in the picture above behind my JD 3020 -68 HP and it cut down at least 8 inches almost down to the frame..I never had it break and I agree - you have the HP for this and it would be what you need for a seed bed..just go over it with your disk harrow and plant...I think the chisel plow is overkill for what you want.

 

[sweettractors]

This week I was creating a new foodplot. I only had my disc with me and it just wasn't cutting this unworked ground. My plow would have helped, but it was 20 miles away. How about a field cultivator (such as the Fred Cain seen at Everything Attachments). Would it have helped rip the soil up? What about roots and rocks? Are these tough enough to survive? I know they are spring protected, but is this adequate? The angle iron frames look a litttle flimsey. I would pull it with a 70 horse Kubota with loaded tires, so pulling one should not be a problem. Tearing it up is what worries me. Do you use something like this for virgin soil? If so, what brands are good for a large tractor? Is a field cultivator and chisel plow the same thing?

We sell the new Fred Cain 9 shank Field Cultivator delivered to a business in up state SC for $950 with cat 1 hitch. We also have a lot of small chisel plows with cat 2 hitch in the $695 + $125 shipping to your business range. Your choice of Pictures shown below. Also a New 9 shank shear pin cat 1 or cat 2 ripper for $995 + $125 shipping. Ken Sweet