Sub-soiler plow - rip out roots?

[davesisk]

OK, my lovely wife has dreamed up a new landscaping project for me! And, I'm on it!

This will involve some surface digging. Luckily, I have a Massey-Ferguson 1220 w/FEL that I just acquired after selling my old Power-trac. Problem is, all I have right now is a bucket with no tooth bar. The area I have to dig in has lots of tree roots.

Would this simple inexpensive plow do a decent job of helping me rip out roots?

Simple sub-soiler Cat 1 plow

The 3pt hitch on the MF1220 is rated to lift 1200 lbs. Between pulling and lifting the plow, I'm thinking this would probably do the trick. Thoughts?

At some point, I'd love to build a small backhoe attachment for this CUT. Would be an awefully fun project, but I need something simple and inexpensive for the immediate need.

The one thought I have is this: would my money be better spent on a tooth bar for the bucket? The loader is rated for about 1000 lbs breakout force. I'm still thinking that the single-bottom plow might be a better choice for ripping these roots out. Let me know what you think...

Dave

Update: here's a more accurate photo from the Howse web-site.
Howse sub-soiler

Dave

 

[demote]

Dave,
I was just recently shopping for a sub-soiler to lay in some power cable to supply power to my recently built tractor shed. I was looking at a combo sub-soiler/middle buster at TSC until I realized it was pretty light duty and for a sub-compact. In further shopping, stopped by a area implement dealer who had a good middle-buster and showed me a shank to replace the plow and do both jobs. It worked great as I used the sub-soiler to cut through roots and break the soil and then put on the plow to open a ditch to lay the wire in. Danny

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue">The area I have to dig in has lots of tree roots. </font>

That unit is too light for what you are doing. --Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New and Used Sickle Bar, Drum and Disc Mowers in Stock Today*

 

[Bird]

Dave, the Northern Tool picture "says" sub-soiler, but has a picture of a middle buster, or potato plow, point instead of the sub-soiler point that the Howse picture has. Personally, I had the middle buster from Tractor Supply Co., but would sometimes change the point to make a sub-soiler out of it. As for pulling roots out, it just depends entirely on how big and how strong those roots are, how tough the ground is, etc. I've pulled lots of them, and I've also encountered quite a number that I could not budge with that plow on a B2710 Kubota.

 

[Egon]

As per Bird.

Depends on the the type of tree, soil type and root size. It may work to cut some roots and enable you to push the tree over.

I use the bucket with forks to dig and cut roots. Get a fork under the root, curl and lift. Then use the bucket to try and push over the tree. Some go easy, some take a lot of time and some are still standing. I usually push high to get mechanical advantage. Sometimes just about walk the tractor up the tree.

Course my Kubota B7100 isn't all that big either.

Oh - check for dead overhead limbs and be sure youve got on a hard hat.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cisco]

I've a Howse subsoiler/middle buster combo, and use the subsoiler to clear out larger roots from a trench or plowed area on which I intend to use the middle buster. The Howse is fairly stout, but so are some of the roots I've encountered. I drive the L3410 slowly, and in 4WD, and even then I've been brought to a complete halt by some of the roots (from old large trees felled by a hurricane, and removed - but the roots are still there).
So, bottom line - how big are the roots you'll tangle with, and gauge from such how stout a subsoiler, and tractor, you'll need. For small root stuff (like around larger bushes), the rippers lowered from a box blade work fine (though you may wish to wait until the ground is damp, or add concrete blocks or similar weights to get the rippers to dig in).

 

[TroyT]

Before I till and area that I've never tilled before I run over with the area with my ripper ( www.rankineqco.com model 102L ). The process I've come to call rock fishing! In western Washington you find roots, rocks and sometimes lengths of logging cable. The ripper helps me find them before I find them with the tiller. On more that one occation I've stopped my JD 4400 on a rock or buried stump, then the fun begins.....