"Pulling" tractors

tf116 · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

thanks not much on abbreviations....somewhere I read that you run the left tires of tractor up on 6" blocks (wooden?) and then you could level the plows...this would simulate right tires in furrow....
I have a set of 4 bottom plows and someone had reversed crossbar which you use to level plows...and so I was plowing about 12" deep on right side of furrows and around 4" deep on left side.....used plows and was like that when I bought them......
Just a thought, if you are plowing new ground, then you need a coulter (disc) in front of plows to cut the sod....if not plows will just sort of tear the ground-sod........
draft control will keep the plow at a uniform depth, as the tractor goes up and down with terrain....(works fairly well)...although I never plowed with a compact tractor with short wheel base......
Mike

Farmwithjunk · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( The bigest problem that you have is the TSC plow. It can't be set up to plow. If you ever have a chance to use your neighbors plow, get it and hook it to you tractor. Get him to help with the setup. I think that you will be suprised at the difference. The old Dearbon, Ferguson and some Massey plows (example: model #66 ) are hard to beat. )

I ran across a used TSC plow at an auction a few years back. It was cheap enough, so I brought it home. They use "Ford" wear parts. They aren't the highest quality parts though. (Seem to be Herschel wear parts.) They are replacements for Ford 101 series plows. That is the only advantage they have. The frame sits low. Not much "trash clearance". It's a heavy, bulky frame, even though it's not all that strong. (it flexes) Most I've seen don't have coulters. (They're offered as an option, but price is "prohibitive" to say the least) And I DETEST shearbolt plows. Make mine "re-set" trips. I hooked the set I bought to a 60 HP tractor that NORMALLY plows with 3X16"s. It struggled along with the 2X14" TSC plow. I sold 'em as quick as I could.

Laminarman · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

Holy Cow, thanks for all the help. Thanks for the "ramble" Overszd, I really got a lot out of it! I will try to post photos of my setup. Also, this guy across the way is an old farmer, watching him plow is neat. He still gets a kick out of "flipping dirt" so you're right, I should go visit him. I have noticed that the TSC plow gets hung up with trash, it doesn't clear very well. I'm also wondering if having my tires set widely apart is hurting me. And finally, are you saying don't lock the sway bars with the pins to the link arms?? I assumed they always had to be locked for everything. Hmmmm...

ovrszd · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

As for the sway bars/chains, I'm just saying you do not want them tight so the plow cannot swing. You just want them tight enough that the lift arms don't swing far enough to hit the tires of the tractor.

Also you don't sound like the type that needs to hear this, but, you shouldn't make fast turns at the end of the field. A plow is a fairly heavy piece of equipment and with the sway bars/chains loose the plow can get to swinging pretty fast before the sway stops it. Real hard on your sway bars/chains and lift arms.

Your neighbor definately would enjoy helping you with your plowing project. I'm sure he would even come over and help you set everything up in your field. He sounds like a true plow "artist".

Laminarman · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

He's a great guy. He used to grow alfalfa and clover for hay, acres of potatoes, and he's strong as a bull and 78 years old. Raised nine kids in a two bedroom house, has 22 grandkids, and now farms his little 20 acre piece just to keep outside. He's evidence that contentment and peace have no relation to money- his tractor is a rustbucket and nearly 60 years old but it does it's job so he won't buy another one.

N80 · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

The other thing to consider is that his dirt has probably been neatly plowed every year since he got the 8N. Probably plows a little easier than something that hasn't been plowed in a while.

Laminarman · Jun 13, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

Uh.....no. I bought the land he used to plow, I just suck. He now turns dirt across the rural road we live on, and it was previously a Christmas tree farm. So he's only been working it for five/six years, and does a new patch every year, mostly growing buckwheat for soil conditioning and sorghum for the wildlife. He's got a tuned set up and been doing it for years.

ovrszd · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( Uh.....no. I bought the land he used to plow, I just suck. He now turns dirt across the rural road we live on, and it was previously a Christmas tree farm. So he's only been working it for five/six years, and does a new patch every year, mostly growing buckwheat for soil conditioning and sorghum for the wildlife. He's got a tuned set up and been doing it for years. )

Yep, he's an "artist" alright. Our neighbor is 86. He runs mostly cattle and just grows enough corn to grind for his feeder calves. He has a relatively new (15 year old) 4240 JD with a cab. He don't plow with that!!! He plows with a 40 year old 4020 and no cab, with a semi mounted 4 bottom plow. Doesn't want to strain the "new" tractor pulling a plow!!!! You gotta love dedication like that!!! I mow his road banks for him in the summer. He brings me home grown watermelons and sweet corn and cucumbers and always thanks me for mowing those steep roadbanks. I'd do anything for that man and he would do anything for me. I'm in Iraq now and he cried when he hugged me goodbye!! I think he was afraid it would be the last time he saw me. Not so much that he was worried about me not making it as he's worried about him not living that long. God Bless Country Life!!!

Laminarman · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

Ovrszd, I assume you're serving in the forces? If so, thank you, thank you.

ovrszd · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( Ovrszd, I assume you're serving in the forces? If so, thank you, thank you. )

Yep, been here six months, six to go. I travel a lot, have been all over Afghanistan, Djibouti Africa, Kuwait and now Iraq. The only good part is that I fly a lot. I'll have to figure out how to post pictures and show you what the poor iraqi farmer uses. I swear there are more Massey Ferguson tractors in Iraq than there are in the U.S. When I've got a little time I'll start a thread and post some country pictures of Iraqi homesteads. We fly at about 150 ft so the view is excellent.

And, you are very welcome. I'm depending on you guys at home to keep things running smoothly so I can come back and enjoy our God given land!!! God Bless America!!!

Laminarman · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

What do they grow? Isn't it dessert (sp?)? How do you grow in sand? Bet the soil turns easier than mine!

ovrszd · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( What do they grow? Isn't it dessert (sp?)? How do you grow in sand? Bet the soil turns easier than mine! )

I'm getting ready to go eat before we fly but I'll try to attach a picture. I posted three tractor pictures in the Massey Ferguson section of photos. They grow a lot of small grains and have vegetable farms. I've saw a couple combines, couldn't tell what brand and as I said a lot of Massey tractors. I even have a picture of a very large circle irrigator in a wheat field. Let's see if I can make this work.

Dang it, I can't figure it out, when I click on image it asks me for an URL address??? My pictures are saved in my hard drive and don't have an URL address. it was easy to save in the photo section, but can't make this work for some reason. I'll try again in a couple days. Sorry!!!

Doc_Bob · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( ( Ovrszd, I assume you're serving in the forces? If so, thank you, thank you. )

Yep, been here six months, six to go. I travel a lot, have been all over Afghanistan, Djibouti Africa, Kuwait and now Iraq. The only good part is that I fly a lot. I'll have to figure out how to post pictures and show you what the poor iraqi farmer uses. I swear there are more Massey Ferguson tractors in Iraq than there are in the U.S. When I've got a little time I'll start a thread and post some country pictures of Iraqi homesteads. We fly at about 150 ft so the view is excellent.

And, you are very welcome. I'm depending on you guys at home to keep things running smoothly so I can come back and enjoy our God given land!!! God Bless America!!! )

I was in Balad, Iraq (LSA Anaconda during OIF 1). The area was very fertile. We were surrounded by fields that were lovingly cared for by the locals. Thanks for serving. Tough job. I sleep better at night knowing folks are willing to put there lives on the line to keep those SOB in SWA and not in NYC.
Bob

BillG_in_TX · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

ovrszd,

Here's one of your pictures, plucked from the Photo gallery:

Your pictures do have a URL once you've uploaded them to the Photo gallery, but you need to right click on the image and go to Properties to find the URL and copy it.

Doc_Bob · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( What do they grow? Isn't it dessert (sp?)? How do you grow in sand? Bet the soil turns easier than mine! )

Iraq is about the size of California. The south is full of sand and heat and as you head north, the climate changes. I was in Baghdad (6 million people) one day (flew in on a UH-60). It was 85 degrees. Flew North to Mosul. When we got to Mosul (Northern Iraq, Kurd country) there was snow on the hills (not much) and I was freezing cold, near 35 degrees with an unknown wind chill factor.

One thing I learned, is that our press has an agenda. Most of the press lives in the green zone in Baghdad, and only reports on Baghdad. Baghdad is not representative of Iraq, just as Los Angeles is not representative of California. The press rarely leaves the Baghdad, so they give us the false impression that Baghdad represents Iraq in general. Like I said before, it would be like saying East LA is what the entire State of California is like. To say the press is misrepresenting the truth about the war in Iraq is probably redundant.

Bob

wolc123 · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

It is not such a "bad idea" to use the stabilizers to hold the plow to one side if your tractor is to wide for your plow. This is undoubtably the case with your TD40 with industrial tires on that little two bottom. I suggest you try it and see if it works. If you are only plowing a few acres it should get the job done. Some narrower r1's would be a better solution but would obviously be a lot more difficult for you to try. By the way I have used this technique many times with excellent results. Keep us posted on how you make out.

Toolguy · Jun 14, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

To get the plow to track correctly behind the tractor you need to turn the cross bar that attaches to the lower 3pth arms. The bends in the cross arm allow the plow to be level when the right wheel of the tractor is in the furrow and it also adjusts the track of the plow. I agree that it is a "bad idea" to use sway bars on a mounted plow. If it is set up properly it will pull itself straight. If it needs to be held in position then HP is being wasted because it is trying to push in the opposite direction it is being held in.

ovrszd · Jun 15, 2006

Re: \"Pulling\" tractors

( It is not such a "bad idea" to use the stabilizers to hold the plow to one side if your tractor is to wide for your plow. This is undoubtably the case with your TD40 with industrial tires on that little two bottom. I suggest you try it and see if it works. If you are only plowing a few acres it should get the job done. Some narrower r1's would be a better solution but would obviously be a lot more difficult for you to try. By the way I have used this technique many times with excellent results. Keep us posted on how you make out. )

Please don't take this as a personal attack, but, your suggested method of adjustment represents the tractor operator that my Dad got a lot of entertainment out of when I competed against them. They just couldn't figure out how that kid could get so much power, speed and grace out of that little Ford tractor!!!! It had nothing to do with the tractor. Those farmers could never figure that out. Dad would just smile and say "Hey, it's a Ford"!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

If plowing on flat ground, a properly adjusted plow will allow the tractor to drive the length of the field without touching the steering wheel. It will drive right down the furrow like it's on auto pilot.

daTeacha · Jun 20, 2006

Re: "Pulling" tractors

Allow me to join the others in thanking you for what you do. For those interested, if you go to VWenthusiast.com, one of the regulars there has a sticky at the start of the main board on how to let the guys in the service know they are appreciated. He's currently in the AF in Germany.

Massey is the most popular tractor in the world. If you count up all the tractors in all the countries, Massey wins. They may spell it differently here and there, but the machines are the same.

As for plowing, in the book "Ford Farm Tractors" there is reference to a guy named Quinton Nilson who plowed with a 9N. Seems he had lot to plow, so replaced the 9N engine with a flathead Mercury V-8. In a plowing contest, he finished in 20 minutes what took the second place finisher an hour to do. He plowed with a 2 bottom plow at 13 miles an hour while running dual rear wheels on his 9N. This was his working tractor, not a contest special. Thought you'd like to know.