john deere model 55 plow

What size hydraulic cylinder should I be using on my jd 55 three bottom plow? Looking for the modern version i.e. 3"x 8" vs. the old style that probably came with the plow or tractor. I know deere went by part number not size back then.Also can a one-way cylinder work,pressure up gravity down.sorry for all the questions but up until now we always used rope trips. Thanks Bill

Sure you can use a double acting cylinder..

Depends on the Hydraulic pressure of the tractor you are going to use..
Originally, a JD 2-cylinder Hydraulic system would lift that plow with a cylinder from a JD "B', "A" or "G"..
If you Hydraulic pressure is higher, you could even use a cylinder smaller in Diameter, but still should have an 8" Stroke..
Ron..

You do not need down pressure so a single action cylinder will work. At that time the hydrolick pressure was a bit under 1,000# so for the 3 bottom they figured an A tractor and that standard cylinder was 3 1/2" and for the B it was the 44 plow and being a 2 bottom needing less presure to lift they had a 2 1/2" cylinder. That said, I pulled a 55 3-12" plow for years using the B 2 1/2" cyilnder for years on an A with no problems. The B cylinder gave a faster operating speed than an A cylinder would have given so quicker up or down. Now to have used that plow behind the early and I mean early Farmall M with the 275# hydrolick system then you probably would have needed the 3 1/2" to have enough power to lift the plow. Now if your tractor has a 1,200# hydrolick system as later 2 cylinder Deeres then you probably could have gotten by with a 2" cylinder, Now a 16" version of that plow being heavier and when lifting having more soil to lift against then you might have to have gone with a bigger cylinder like the generac 3" x 8" cylinder instead of the B 2 1/2" X 8' cylinder or the A 3 1/2" X 8" cylinder that is between on both power and speed. If you would have a 2,000# systen the 2" X 8" cylinder would work and give a faster speed. So it all depends on the size of the plow 3-12", 3-14" that the frame was a bit heavier being wider but using same bottoms as the 12" or the 3,16" that both the frame and bottoms were heavier on and the hydrolick system pressure of your tractor. The A & B cylinders had the depth stop built in for the plow depth control and most generac cylinders do not have a depth stop built in or if they do it will not adjust as much as needed and you will still need to use the depth adjusting collars to get the distance you need.

thanks for the reponses,Going to use it behind my 1959 830.I know its overkill but its the biggest plow I have right now.thanks again, Bill

You are most likely going to need to "Off-Hitch" the plow, to match it to the wheel setting of your 830...
Your rear tire will hardly fit in the furrow...
A 16" plow would be better, in that respect...

A friend's JD "R" would pull 4x16" in second all day long..even had to chain a dead JD "A", with 2x14" in the ground in Alfalfa/Jack Wax and rolled on to the end..still in 2nd..!!
We,,. it at lest did start to smoke, pulling the extra tractor and plow...

Ron..