Top Link and Plowing Depth

[ballaterach]

Hi folks as a general rule should the top link be longer or shorter to achieve greater plowing depth?

many thanks

 

[jyoutz]

Hi folks as a general rule should the top link be longer or shorter to achieve greater plowing depth?

many thanks

I’ve always been told that the top link should be set up so the plow shoe is level when the hitch is lowered to the ground.

 

[jeff9366]

Hi folks as a general rule should the top link be longer or shorter to achieve greater plowing depth?

Shorter. A tiny change in Top Link adjustment makes a considerable difference to plow orientation in the ground.



Aberdeen, Scotland; The City of Granite.

 

[LD1]

Single bottom or multiple?

 

[ovrszd]

I was taught that the plow shear should be level when the plow is at operational depth.

Shorter will make it want to do deeper. If too much it will try too hard and the tractor will be trying to lift it all the time.

Longer will make it less likely to go to desired depth. Too much and it won't go into the ground at all.

 

[Farmer495]

I plow with a 3 furrow.

Plow should be set up to be level while in the furrow.

If your top link is too long, the back bottom is in way deeper than the front bottom, vice versa if too short, back bottom is too shallow.

Tape measure is your friend setting up a plow.

Biggest impact on the front furrow depth is the 3pt lever setting.

If your points/shares are wore out that will affect plow depth as well.

 

[jeff9366]

MOLDBOARD PLOW WISDOM FROM FARMWITHJUNK

I learned a lot from Farmwithjunk's posts on selecting and adjusting Moldboard/Turning Plows. Here is a selection of Farmwithjunk's Plow posts I found useful. I copied Farmwithjunk's individual posts from T-B-N into 'Word' then pasted the consolidation back into T-B-N, therefore the posts are...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[BackRoad]

I plow with a 3 furrow.

Plow should be set up to be level while in the furrow.

If your top link is too long, the back bottom is in way deeper than the front bottom, vice versa if too short, back bottom is too shallow.

Tape measure is your friend setting up a plow.

Biggest impact on the front furrow depth is the 3pt lever setting.

If your points/shares are wore out that will affect plow depth as well.

Those are some straight and beautiful furrows Mr. Farmer.

And that's a BIG field to plow with a 3 bottom plow!

 

[Farmer495]

Those are some straight and beautiful furrows Mr. Farmer.

And that's a BIG field to plow with a 3 bottom plow!

Thanks!

One was 12.5 acres and irregularly shaped, took over a day to do it.

 

[ballaterach]

Single bottom or multiple?

Hi single...

 

[ballaterach]

I plow with a 3 furrow.

Plow should be set up to be level while in the furrow.

If your top link is too long, the back bottom is in way deeper than the front bottom, vice versa if too short, back bottom is too shallow.

Tape measure is your friend setting up a plow.

Biggest impact on the front furrow depth is the 3pt lever setting.

If your points/shares are wore out that will affect plow depth as well.

Thank you I guess practice makes perfect!!

 

[ballaterach]

I plow with a 3 furrow.

Plow should be set up to be level while in the furrow.

If your top link is too long, the back bottom is in way deeper than the front bottom, vice versa if too short, back bottom is too shallow.

Tape measure is your friend setting up a plow.

Biggest impact on the front furrow depth is the 3pt lever setting.

If your points/shares are wore out that will affect plow depth as well.

Many thanks

 

[ballaterach]

MOLDBOARD PLOW WISDOM FROM FARMWITHJUNK

I learned a lot from Farmwithjunk's posts on selecting and adjusting Moldboard/Turning Plows. Here is a selection of Farmwithjunk's Plow posts I found useful. I copied Farmwithjunk's individual posts from T-B-N into 'Word' then pasted the consolidation back into T-B-N, therefore the posts are...

www.tractorbynet.com

Many thanks

 

[oosik]

I have a single bottom moldboard plow and a hydraulic top link. So...... making changes while under way is simple. I've found that the plow works best, for me, with the bottom level when at the desired depth. Otherwise - the plow is trying to "surface" or "go deeper".

 

[LD1]

I have a single bottom moldboard plow and a hydraulic top link. So...... making changes while under way is simple. I've found that the plow works best, for me, with the bottom level when at the desired depth. Otherwise - the plow is trying to "surface" or "go deeper".

Exactly.

For a multi-bottom plow, you have no choice though...changing the pitch of the points effect the whole plow

 

[LD1]

Hi single...

That makes setup really easy.

Because you have the leeway of making adjustments to cut a nice furrow without it effecting other bottoms like it would on a 2 or 3 bottom plow. So you can compensate (to an extent) for a worn out plow by adjusting.

Easiest way to set a plow up is to be on a level concrete surface and jack up the left side of the tractor 6"-8". For me....I drive the front and rear tire up on cement blocks. But anything 6-8 inches will work.

That will simulate the right side being in the furrow. Then simply make the adjustments so the plow is level on the concrete.

The first pass or two might not be great.....until you get to where your right wheels are actually at depth in the furrow....but then it should cut a nice level furrow at depth. Which should be half of the moldboard width. If you have a 12" plow....6" depth. If its a single 14", shoot for 7" depth

 

[oosik]

I've used my single bottom to "open up" a couple areas on my property. It worked well - except.... I'd get going just fine and then a rock. Stop - remove the rock - back up - go at it again until I find another rock. It got real old - but I persisted and managed to plow about an acre.

That area was seeded to native grasses and is now doing fine.

 

[LD1]

I've used my single bottom to "open up" a couple areas on my property. It worked well - except.... I'd get going just fine and then a rock. Stop - remove the rock - back up - go at it again until I find another rock. It got real old - but I persisted and managed to plow about an acre.

That area was seeded to native grasses and is now doing fine.

I do a little 2 acre corn plot every year and pick the corn with an old one row dearborn corn picker. Bout the only thing that 2 acre plot is really good at is growing rocks

Every year after plowing and discing I haul out 2 loader buckets or so full of rocks the size of softballs and bigger. They never seem to end. Maybe I should start picking up some of the smaller ones too because I think those are just seeds that next year will turn into a much larger rock??

 

[oosik]

For sure LD1. And plowing sure does not hide any rocks. I had GRAND ideas of plowing the west 20 acres. It's a high pasture on the far west end of my property. HA - I wouldn't live long enough to pick up all the rocks. It is virgin land and will remain that way.