How many bottom plow?

chumbleyj

New User
Before I ask, I know there are variables that affect the answer. This question is for those with first hand experience and thank you.

Recently purchased Allis-Chalmers 180 Diesel. I need to purchase a new (used) plow, but unsure how many bottom this tractor will pull with little trouble. I will be looking at a 14 or 16, so hit me with your wisdom please...how many bottom?
 
(reply to post at 06:07:16 02/27/18)
hank you. I also have the red clay with rocks...in some cases boulders. I like to move along at a good clip and you feel the 4 bottom should allow that in red clay ground?
 
As said depends on a lot of things,I have a 180 gas and a 185 diesel the 185 would move the 4 bottom a long real nice the 180 would pull it but not as easy.Also depends on how much the
tractor is weighted.Also brand of plows makes a difference I've always found Oliver plows to pull easier than most any others.
 

This. I have a 180 gas with fully loaded CaCl 18.4X30 rears with 80-90% tires and a 4-16's fully mounted Allis 74 plow with 392 bottoms. The 180 gas pulls it OK in High 2nd in normal loam type soils in my creek bottom fields...hit a patch of red clay and it will bring it to it's knees. I'd love to have the 10 extra HP from a 185...would pull it a lot better as said. Mike
 
Sounds like you want a high speed bottom verses a general purpose bottom. And that high speed will cut by one bottom you can pull.
 
Here's my wisdom:

"pull with little trouble"......My knee jerk reaction was 3x16". How many acres do you have? If not a lot go for the 3x16". Or, I suppose you could do 4x14".

You might want one of the higher clearance plows, then maybe 3x18".

I certainly would NOT do an Allis-Chalmers 2000 series (I think) 4x16" plow. They are hard pulling things. I used to plow with a 190XT and then a 200 with that plow with the front end in the air all the way across the field. I got good at it. :) The front tires even had fluid in them. The 190XT literally split the rear end casting plowing a corn field head land. Of course that was when I still lived on the farm in the late 60's and early 70"s.

Get yourself a nice JD, Oliver, or IH 3 bottom.

Paul
 
My moldboard plow has been sitting in the fence row for the last 30 years, just where it belongs. I don't know why anyone moldboard plows
anymore.
 
My moldboard plow has been sitting in the fence row for the last 30 years, just where it belongs. I don't know why anyone moldboard plows
anymore.
 
(quoted from post at 18:37:05 02/27/18) 4-16s is plenty in our heavy soil with my 185. hardly ever plow any more,but if I do will use a bigger horse on 4bottom.
Thank you all for the guidance...very enlightening...have my answer...small farm, 3 bottom it is...
 
We used to pull a 4/16 ALLIS snap coupler plow with a rear ballusted D-17 in some pretty nasty blue clay. The guy that tore his XT up "possibly" had something else going on?? We pulled 5/16 White plow on the same clay with a XT .Wish dad never sold the White plow 9 years ago, I would be using it this spring.
 
All 180's in my area pulled 4x16's.....We have fairly easy plowing soil...There was one 180 with a turbo that pulled 5x14's..
 
I drank coffee at the local AC dealership from 1976 on. I saw a lot of them with 4 bottom AC plows on them. A
WD 45 will early pull a 3X16 plow. A 185 should have no problems with a 4X16 plow.
 
The story of the XT that got all torn up probably goes like this: heavy 3 point hitch draft loads on an XT that was more than 110 HP could possibly have ripped the lower torsion bar ears off of the rear end housing. That is why the 200 had a torsion bar support on it and it could be added to an XT easily. Loose mounting bolts were probably the root cause, but after things are all busted up, it's too late. I love these "stories" that are so vague and mostly untrue in the way they are presented.
 
Also, plowing with the front wheels in the air all the way across the field would sure contribute to the lower torsion bar bolts being stressed beyond normal design limits. Front end weight needs to be increased or the draft load lessened.
 
You should be able to pull a 4 bottom but I would buy a three bottom 16 inch plow. You will pull it at least one gear faster and never have to fight it no matter what conditions you get in. More than likely you will get as much done in a day with a three going fast as a four going slow. I used to pull a five bottom with my 4020 and had enough power but you were usually in third gear and fighting it all day making it tiring work. Bought a four bottom and pulled it a gear faster with no problems and was not near as tired at the end of the day. Tom
 
I assume DrAllis is referring to my comment. I will offer this to clarify my comment:

Both tractors were whatever HP came from the factory.

The front end wasn't always in the air, some fields were tougher than others. We did have filled front tires. I agree, the 190XT should of had more ballast.

We had heavy Rocky soils which I guess biases me. When I was growing up the number of plow ratings for a tractor always mystified me. I just dismissed it as marketing hype.

I cannot comment on the draft control/sensing. I was not aware it was improved from the 190XT to the 200. That would be interesting to know more about.

The entire rear tub split containing the final drives. All the oil fell to the ground, the right tire was leaning on the fender. I could see the final drive gears when I looked up. There were several rear end updates right up to the 200. I never gave it a thought the draft sensing might of been involved.

My point was why over pull, my opinion, a 185 with 4-16's. It's a nice tractor. Like Tom says, when soils are lighter, shift up a gear.

My apologies for not being more clear on my point. Tom said it better.



Paul
 

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