How many bottom plow per horsepower?

[porky1]

What is the general rule of thumb for figuring horsepower per bottom??? Thanks

 

[PineRidge]

Don't know what the rule of thumb is but I had no problem pulling an old 2-bottom plow with my last 25 HP 4WD rig.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

15-25hp per bottom depending on plow size and soil condition.

 

[Panache]

My dealer said 1-1.5 hp per inch as a guide.

 

[Dargo]

I have an really old "Ferguson" 2 bottom plow, I think a 16", and it takes a minimum of 50hp to pull it through my hard clay soil. I can tell you from experience that a 30 hp tractor will not come close to beginning to pull my plow, unless you only plan to plow about 4 or 5" deep. My plow is a beast, does a great job, but requires quite a bit of hp to plow a good 12 inches or more. 25 hp would never move it in my soil. Heck, 30 hp would't. I have to add weight and my FEL on the front for more weight and my 50 hp doesn't pull it any too easy. I'd call 50 hp about "adequate" for my plow.

 

[art]

In my book there isn't any! It depends on your soils type and the amount of compaction. Here in NY from one valley to the other it might take 100 horse to pull a 4 bottom and in the next valley you can do it with 50 horsepower. There is also a difference of the tractors and there balance as well as the tractors draft control. Clay pulls hard and slow whre other soils you could pull faster by three mph with the same set-up. Why do you ask?

 

[PineRidge]

Gosh guys you're not saying that the Chinese builders put more HP in their tractors than other counterparts are you? Here's a picture of the little 25 HP 4 WD package that used to pull our 2 bottom Dearborn before we traded up to a 40HP New Holland. I honestly had no problems and never knew it couldn't be done either. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Back on the farm a two bottom plough used to require 4 horses.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

A 25 hp tractor can pull a 2 bottom plow (what size bottoms are you pulling?). But it can't pull a 2-16 in hard clay. Different soils require more or less hp from the same tractor plow config. I can pull my 3-16 with my TN 65 but my ground is not hard clay. I know in hard clay I will be in my slowest gear and hope that I can pull the plow thru. Hope this clears it up some which is why there is such a big hp window in the "rule of thumb" for a plow.

 

[JerryG]

That's a right, there are many variables when using a moldboard plow. One of these are also plow design, some are a lot easier to pull than others.