how is a plow measured to tell what size it is?

Kevin OH · Dec 11, 2009

i no this is a crazy question.but how do you measure to get the correct size like 2-12" or 2-14" to tell exzactly what size plow it is.

msb · Dec 11, 2009

Measure across the beams.

Bob · Dec 11, 2009

It's AMAZING how something that SIMPLE confuses folks, isn't it!

Kevin OH · Dec 11, 2009

i heard several differant ways.what part of the beam.as you probably can tell i aint a farmer.i am a hillbilly with a tractor.

paul · Dec 11, 2009

Yea - but, it's a new thing for new people.

Measure perpendicular (90 degrees) to the direction of travel, not along the angle of the plow bottom.

--->Paul

Bob · Dec 11, 2009

"I'm a hillbilly with a tractor"... HEY, I resemble that remark!

Kevin OH · Dec 11, 2009

i am glad i aint the only one.

Bob · Dec 11, 2009

Measure from a point on one beam to a corresponding point on the next beam.

NOT critical, so long as you measure between corresponding points of neighboring beams.

Shetland Sheepdog · Dec 12, 2009

Could be worse Bob, could be a "flatlander" with a tractor! LOL

El Toro · Dec 12, 2009

I think on single furrow plow if you measure from the outer edge of the landslide to the outer edge of the moldboard you will be close. I have an old moldboard plow on my garden tractor it came off off a Viking G garden tractor. It measures 8 inches as I described. Hal

paul · Dec 12, 2009

That is a good one.

You want to measure straight across. Often times there are frame members that are parrallel to each other and you measure to the same side of each frame piece.

I believe at least one model of JD plow allows things to be bolted together differently for different spacing so it doesn't work so good on that one.

Sometimes you need to extrapolate a little & measure to where a beam would be if it were that long....

But you don't want any angle in your tape, just 90 degrees across.

--->Paul

Shetland Sheepdog · Dec 12, 2009

Measure from the landside (at 90* to the landside) to the far end of the cutting edge of the share.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2009

That's not always accurate. I know Allis Chalmers sold narrow and wide plow shares for the same plow and sometimes used the same share for 14 and 16" bottoms. The only sure measure is the spacing between landsides or beams.

Gerald J.

Shetland Sheepdog · Dec 12, 2009

(quoted from post at 15:49:54 12/12/09) That's not always accurate. I know Allis Chalmers sold narrow and wide plow shares for the same plow and sometimes used the same share for 14 and 16" bottoms. The only sure measure is the spacing between landsides or beams.

Gerald J.

I hear ya on the different shares, BUT how will the other measurements work on a single bottom plow?
But then we could get into the whole discussion about bottom size on vari-width plows where you can plow 14, 16, or 18 inch, all with the same bottoms?!?! Lets not go there! LOL

Kevin OH · Dec 12, 2009

on my plow i cant tell what kind it is by the tag.on the back of the moleboards it says dmc then it has numbers.is this what brand it is?

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2009

The truth is probably closer to say the plow will cut a width that depends as much on the soil as the plow and the plow share. For sure having a wider share is no problem because after the first furrow the extra just sits in the previous furrow. If the soil is friable vertically but sticks together side to side (like a thin sod) the moldboard will roll over a wider strip than the share cut.

There probably is an optimum width for a particular moldboard and share and soil.

When plowing alfalfa I sure wanted a share that was at least full width to reliably cut off the roots and so kill the alfalfa. A narrow cut share could leave a strip uncut and that's hard on the following corn crop because the alfalfa keeps the corn from sprouting.

The landside to share right corner measurement then sets a maximum cutting width for me, but it doesn't necessarily match the maker's designation for plow width.

Some AC plows (the ones I have a plow bottoms book for) use the same moldboard and share for a couple different widths, that has to confuse figuring out what the plow width if there's not a second beam to measure. Then if the plow can be mounted the plow width has to be (if its set right) the distance perpendicular from the landside to the inside face of the tractor rear tire or the inside face of the furrow wheel if a pulled plow. And that distance is often adjustable to add confusion.

Gerald J.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2009

My first wild guess is Dearborn Manufacturing Company, e.g. the equipment of Ford in the N series era.

Gerald J.

Kevin OH · Dec 12, 2009

thats what i thought but i wasn't sure.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 13, 2009

No-certainly not on a two bottom-it is beam to beam. Even on a one bottom, that would not be accurate.

Ultradog MN · Dec 13, 2009

.

Leroy · Dec 13, 2009

John Deere also used the same moldboard on different size plows and then on the 44 series plows you neasured across the beams shown but then you will get an odd number, either 11", 13", or 15" but then you have to look at the upright part of the beam at the back and if the curves in them are facing together it is 10", 12" or 14" but if they face apart then it is a 12", 14" or 16" plow

Anonymous-0 · Dec 13, 2009

Same with Massey Ferguson. They sold what was called a "clipped wing" share for 14" plows. It was the same share as a standard 12" bottom would use.

msb · Dec 13, 2009

how is a plow measured to tell what size it is?

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