Plowing

[Eric6714]

Hey guys I have a 135 Massey with the Perkins diesel. It has good tires on it although they aren't filled with fluid . 2 questions I am using a 1 bottom plow and I keep having to go up and down on the control. I set it up in the furrow to be level watched a couple of videos never plowed before any advice I've been told a Massey 135 will pull two bottoms no problem it is virgin ground tn red clay. Would it pay me two have the tires filled with methanol. Any advice would be appreciated thanks
Eric

 

[jeff9366]

Fill in your location, city and state, in your T-B-N profile so we know something about your soil conditions, topography and weather.



"I have a 135 Massey with the Perkins diesel. It has good tires on it although they aren't filled with fluid."

Do you have 2-WD or 4-WD?

Do you have R1/ag tires or R4/industrial tires?


MF135 on tractordata.com: TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 135 tractor information

 

[MMagis]

In short, loading your tires is always helpful when plowing. Though I’m not sure that’s causing the issues you’re having. Do you have it in draft control rather than position control?

 

[Eric6714]

Truthfully Mmagis I think it is position control it is a 1974 Massey 135 so it is a two wheel drive. I sat the draft control as low as I want it to go then I lower it with the control this is my first tractor so I'm learning as I go.

 

[jeff9366]

I've been told a Massey 135 will pull two bottoms no problem it is virgin ground tn red clay. Would it pay me two have the tires filled with methanol.

You have not answered the question: Do you have R1/ag tires or R4/industrial tires?

Your MF135 could have 12", 13" or 15" rear tires. You need a plow wide enough so your right rear tire can go all the way to the bottom of the furrow: for 12" rear tires a 12" or 14" plow, for 13" rear tires a 14" or 16" plow, for 15" rear tires a 16" plow.

You can certainly pull a two bottom 12" or 14" plow with just air in R1 or R4 tires. You can likely pull a two bottom 16" plow with just air in R1 tires, R4s might lack traction. Make sure you will NOT be turning up poor quality subsoil when plowing. You only want to turn topsoil.

Condition of the plow has a great effect on how easily it pulls, therefore how much tractor traction is required.

Personally, I would not spend the money to fill worn tires on an old tractor. I would buy a plow that the tractor will pull "as is" unless you have >20 acre fields to plow. Old, weathered, tires are going to wear comparatively fast.

MF135 TIRES: TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 135 tractor dimensions information

Here is a recent thread covering these TIRE/FURROW WIDTH issues: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/348580-furrow-bending-top-link-please.html

Ever time you move up in plow coverage by increasing the number of plow bottoms, the more complex adjusting the plow to turn soil properly becomes.

 

[Eric6714]

I have ag tires brand new I don't know the size right off I'll get it. My tire goes in the furrow good . I know my problem is in the plow set- up and or the draft position control. They are filled with air . I think it would help to have them filled would it not give me better traction.

 

[jeff9366]

Your MF135 with a Perkins weighs 3,600 pounds minimum. I cannot imagine TRACTION is a limiting action with any one bottom plow, nor any of the alternatives suggested in Post #5.

Are your rear tires slipping? If your tires are NOT slipping you can add infinite weight and it will make "0" difference.

(If you wanted to pull a four bottom, 16", Cat II, 3-Pt. mounted plow in clay, traction WOULD be an issue.)

What width, single bottom plow are you pulling now? What condition is the plow in? Is the plow designed for 3-Pt hitch mounting? Plows have to be a close fit on the hitch to turn soil properly.

Pictures of your plow mounted on the tractor and your furrows thus far, would help.

Have you carefully read the TIRE/FURROW LINK in Post #5?

PLOWING BASICS: http://open-furrow.soil.ncsu.edu/Documents/DHC/The Moldboard Plow.pdf

Measure your tire width. Measure your plow width. Report both.

Do you have a MF135 Operator's Manual, which will explain how to adjust your Draft Control? Most components of the 3-Pt. are standard all over the world; Draft Control is an exception.

You can download a MF135 Operator's Manual here on T-B-N if you do not have one: https://www.google.com/search?clien...anual+site:tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8


Fill in your T-B-N profile.

 

[MMagis]

Filling will give better traction. If you only have a small amount to plow, and no other reason to fill them, I’m not sure it’ll be worth the cost. It just depends on your usage and terrain. For what I do and the hilly terrain, I always want loaded tires. But if your problem is having to raise and lower the 3pt control continuously, I think simply flipping the lever to draft control may be all you need. It’s worth a shot at least.

 

[Timm250]

Also check the air pressure in your rear tires. Over inflated tires will cause you to loose traction & spin out.

 

[Eric6714]

I appreciate all the info I'll try to take a picture of my plow it looks to me like a 12 in from tractor supply It came with the tractor. And I'll get the size of my tires and a pic of my furrow but don't laugh lol I've run heavy equipment for a municipality my whole life but this is my first tractor and first time I've ever plowed lol
But again thank you Eric

 

[jeff9366]

Take pictures with the plow mounted on the 3-Pt. and further pictures with the plow working, if possible.

If it is a 12" plow it is just barely wide enough for 12" rear tractor tires, and only then if the plow cuts 6" to 7" deep.

12" width is the most common width for single bottom plows.

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a search of the T-B-N archive using the words: "MF135 Draft Control":

https://www.google.com/search?clien...ntrol+site:tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

 

[Eric6714]

Thanks Jeff I just printed out a full operator manual for my 135 thanks for all the info.

 

[newbury]

<snip>I've been told a Massey 135 will pull two bottoms no problem it is virgin ground tn red clay. <snip>
Eric

That is confusing. Were you told: the MF 135 would pull two bottoms no problem? And you have virgin ground and it's red clay.
Or "the MF 135 would pull two bottoms in virgin ground of red clay"?

My M4700 (with loaded rears) at times struggled pulling a 1 bottom 16" plow through cutover brambles, weeds, saplings in marine clay. Second pass was eazy peazy.

The clay may be part of your problem.

 

[Eric6714]

I talked to several guys around here were I live some at a local dealer others old farmers and they all said a 135 could pull a two bottom now they did say of course the harder the dirt the harder it was. The plow have is a one bottom it goes in good and I'll go a ways and it looks to me like it goes deeper and I'll work my position control. I sat it level on a flat service the plow that is. I've heard of putting your left tire on a 6 inch block and setting your plow like it is in the furrow. I haven't done that yet . And of course this is my first time plowing I don't think I'm using my draft right. I'll figure it out but a wise man seeks council.
Thanks Eric

 

[jeff9366]

The plow have is a one bottom it goes in good and I'll go a ways and it looks to me like it goes deeper.

The technical term for this is plow suck. You adjust suck by changing Top Link length. Decrease the suck by lengthening the Top Link, which pushes rear of plow down, front up. Leveling front to rear by adjusting the Top Link is critical on all plows. This is covered in TIRE/FURROW LINK in Post #5.

If you have too deep plow suck, your Draft Control will raise the plow automatically, which is Draft Control's correct function. When the plow is adjusted properly and the Draft Control is adjusted properly, the hydraulic system will not move the plow up or down UNLESS the plow encounters an obstruction, in which case your Draft Control will raise the plow automatically.

With too much plow suck, the plow and Draft Control are cycling/fighting, one against the other.

I sat the plow level on a flat surface. I've heard of putting your left tire on a 6 inch block and setting your plow like it is in the furrow. I haven't done that yet.

Adjusting on two (2) blocks is appropriate for two and three bottom plows, not for a one bottom plow. Put the one bottom plow in the ground and level it with a Bubble Level. Leveling left to right with a one bottom plow is NOT critical.

Unless your right rear tire is approximately 6" below grade when in the furrow you cannot adjust the plow to turn soil properly. As explained in the TIRE/FURROW LINK in Post #5, one of your difficulties may be that your rear tire is too wide to travel 6" below grade in the furrow of a 12" plow. HOW WIDE ARE YOUR REAR TIRES?

 

[Eric6714]

You the man Jeff thanks

 

[jeff9366]

HOW WIDE ARE YOUR REAR TIRES?????????

 

[Eric6714]

The tire says 13.6-28 on 12 inch rim

 

[jeff9366]

Too wide for IDEAL plowing with a 12" plow. Your right rear tire is probably only 2" to 3" below grade in the furrow. The staggered/offset lower link pins on the plow are spaced to level the plow when your right tire is 6" below grade. However, as you have a one bottom plow, you should do "all right".

You can groove dirt, however, it is unlikely that you will get sod to flip in a picture perfect manner.

You situation with your plow/tires is the same as the OP in the thread in Post #5, except you have a single bottom plow.

If you buy another plow, get one with 14" width bottoms. You can pull a good condition 2 X 14" Category I plow in moist clay, after vegetation has been bush hogged very short, WITHOUT filling ag tires. Trust me.

I would spend 25 engine hours fooling with your existing 12" plow, learning, before considering a two bottom plow, which is more critical to adjust.



Plow maintenance: Do not let your moldboards and ground contact parts rust. Coat with marine/water-resistant grease between uses, or spray on a thin coat of Rustoleum. I use Rustoleum in high humidity, salt air, Florida. Cover your plow with a cotton-canvas tarp, NOT an impermeable plastic tarp.

If you had your city and state in your T-B-N profile another reader might know where a 2 X 14" plow is laying in the weeds near you and contact you with the information. It happens.