My Home Made Cable Plow

[gizmo]

After two previous failed attempts I finally got a rig that worked. The first one bent on a root and the second one broke a weld on a root. Shown below is the plow and feed spool attached to my boom pole. The log on the end is the counter weight that forces the plow down. I took this thing through 300' of dense woods from my barn to an irrigation pump on the creek. I pulled a 10-3 UF cable.

 

[PineRidge]

Gizmo neat gadget, glad it worked well. My only suggestion might be to use a counterweight a bit closer to the ground for safety sake.

What voltage and amperage will you be needing to pull through 300' of 10-3 UF cable for your pump?

 

[Bully]

Very good idea for down pressure. I like the idea of laying the cable in the ground, rather than pulling it through.

 

[gizmo]

Pineridge,

Once the plow is dropped into the ground the counter weight is only a few inches off the ground. The voltage is 240VAC driving a 3HP pump rated at 230VAC, 14A. I calculated a 5% voltage drop at full power using 10-3 wire. Since the pump is rated at 230VAC and my supply is 240VAC, and the pump will probably not run at full power, the voltage drop should not be an issue.

 

[gabby]

Hey Gizmo,

Nice work. More suggestions from an old pipe plow hand:

1. Buy a chisel plow wear point (it will be curved, about 10 inches long), cut it in half crosswise, and weld one end to the tip of your plow foot to utilize the curve in the point to help pull it down into the ground.

2. Weld a vertical "slicer" to the entire front vertical edge of the plow to slice through roots and sod better. I used 1/2" bar, vee'd and sharpened along the leading edge. Shape the bottom end of it to fit to the curved point and weld it to the point also to strengthen the point.

gabby

 

[Holzster]

Gabby - You stated "Buy a chisel plow wear point (it will be curved, about 10 inches long), cut it in half crosswise, and weld one end to the tip of your plow foot to utilize the curve in the point to help pull it down into the ground.'"

Do you mean point it to the front (the curve?

 

[gabby]

Hey Holzter,
Yes that's what I mean. Here's a picture of mine.
gabby

 

[bobodu]

Here's a shot of the pipe/wire puller I made.There is a 1 1/2 inch "bullet" attached to the heel of the blade to hook onto the pipe.This makes a tunnel for the pipe to run in.Just used to doing it this way...
If she wants to ride up.I'll weld a sweep to the bottom.

 

[bobodu]

Here is a shot from a slightly different angle.Gonna pull this 53 inch monster with an Oliver 1850

 

[OldWelder]

Gizmo,

Other than the offered suggestions, great job!!
It worked and by the looks of the woods your going through, was far from idea conditions. *LOL* I'm thinking it was a treat with that log hanging back there.

Bob,

This is pretty much what I was trying to explain to you.