Moldboard plowing hillsides

When I plow my hillsides I always plow throwing the dirt uphill to help prevent erosion. I use a Massey #62 two bottom 14" plow that I am currently converting to a three bottom. Naturally when plowing hillsides trying to throw the dirt to the right uphill the plow wants to go left, so sometimes you end up with unplowed strips under the furrows. I bought a bunch of 16" shares off of a guy a while back and was going to cut 2" off and use them but I got to wondering if putting the 16" shares on as is would help offset the unplowed strips because of the plow going left.

For plowing uphill, you MUST have a furrow wheel or at least a
long landslide on the rear bottom or else your front bottom
will be cutting too wide of a furrow. The 16 in shares may
help, but the furrow wheel is essential.

(quoted from post at 03:29:49 12/22/14) For plowing uphill, you MUST have a furrow wheel or at least a
long landslide on the rear bottom or else your front bottom
will be cutting too wide of a furrow. The 16 in shares may
help, but the furrow wheel is essential.

Click to expand...

It does have it's original furrow wheel.

might try adjusting your cross bar so the plow tracts a bit more to the right side.

I have a set of #62 3x12" plows, they have the trail wheel and tract fine behind my TO35, but I am plowing on flat land. I have noticed that 3 plows do tract better than 2 plows.

also might try an old disc plow with a large guide disc wheel at the back, you can adjust the guide blade to pull the plow to the left or right almost like lining up the front end of a truck.

however, again I have never used it on a hill side.

I do not know if the MF plow you have ever had this option but some plows made a hillside attachment that allowed you to adjust the cross bar on the plow to compensate for the extra side hill draft.

Two other things:

1) You have to have PERFCET landslides for hill side plowing. even the smallest taper on the bottom corner will allow the plow to walk down hill worse.

2) Like the other poster said. You need a good tail wheel or long land slide for the back bottom. If you do not have either then you will not have much luck doing a good job on hills.

Truthfully a properly set plow, that is in good condition will pull straight even on a side hill.

So check your plow out. I think you have some things needing repair for your MF plow to work right.

Didn't know anyone moldboard plowed anymore especially on hillsides.

(quoted from post at 06:00:35 12/22/14) I do not know if the MF plow you have ever had this option but some plows made a hillside attachment that allowed you to adjust the cross bar on the plow to compensate for the extra side hill draft.

Two other things:

1) You have to have PERFCET landslides for hill side plowing. even the smallest taper on the bottom corner will allow the plow to walk down hill worse.

2) Like the other poster said. You need a good tail wheel or long land slide for the back bottom. If you do not have either then you will not have much luck doing a good job on hills.

Truthfully a properly set plow, that is in good condition will pull straight even on a side hill.

So check your plow out. I think you have some things needing repair for your MF plow to work right.

Click to expand...

It put new landsides on it last year. The tailwheel was rebuilt with new bearings and a new spring at the same time,also new shares and shins. The cross shaft is set to the factory spec. Because of the slack in the check chains when the plow is lowered it will let the plow drift to the left. Of course you cant tighten the chains up or use a stabilizer bar or you will end up breaking something. That's why I wondered if using longer shares would help. The plow its self is in top notch operating condition.

I've moldboard plowed many hillsides and never encountered the problem you mentioned. If the plow is properly adjusted and set-up, it will track right behind the tractor and won't leave any unturned strips. The owners manual for your plow gives very detailed instructions on proper adjustments.

Building something like this might help. The same idea can be made with a hydraulic cylinder too. Mike

D'oh.Of course that won't work with a mounted plow. Mike

Deere F145 semi-mounted plows from the 1960's and 70's has an optional side-hill hitch, other plows probably did also. A standard eight inch stroke cylinder would move the plow side to side as needed. The hitch could also be bolted solid in the center position.

We would alternate plowing directions from year to year on hillsides, throwing dirt into the previous dead furrow, similar to how it is done on very flat ground.

How do you manage to always throw the dirt uphill? Do you use a two way plow, or do you farm the entire hill so you can always plow around the hill in one direction? I'm just curious about how other people farm.

Putting on my hat as a Ag conservationist with the local Soil and
Water District...even if you are plowing along the contour any type
of conventional plowing on a hillside is a not so great idea.

There will be erosion, and turning the soil really does not help from
a soil health and structure or production standpoint.

Keep the plows on the flat ground, or better yet just around the
garden in small plots. Sorry to be the party pooper!

A couple of things Jason.

First off the sway chains should never have any tension on them after the plow centers itself on the draft line behind the tractor.

Second; The setting in the "book: are just a good place to start. I am willing to bet that your plow is pulling crooked behind the tractor. You need to adjust the crank to get it to be in a straight line behind the tractor. I could care less what the book tells me on this setting. The plow has to pull straight behind the tractor. I have had to even change the linkage on some plows to get the crank to turn further than the factory linkage would let them.

You told us what brand/model plow your using but not what tractor. I have found plows of one brand may need adjusted different for a different brand of tractor. So this may make the book setting be off.

Also is your tractor a narrow front one??? It is easy to not be driving straight down the furrow. You can be off and the furrow wheel will hide the mistake.

As I read your post I wonder if your plow are running level as well. If you have them tipped too far toward the right side they will leave unplowed ground and not stay in the ground very well.

Since you stated you have replaced the land slides and the tail wheel is in good shape it is a setting issue or the plows are bent.