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16 vs. 14 plow

J

Joel Sanderson

Member
Is there a difference in effectiveness between 16 and 14 inch bottoms on a plow? Does one turn the ground over better than the other? I realize different makes will vary, but is there a rule of thumb difference between the two sizes? I have a John Deere A, and I am considering a 3-14 plow. Does the shallower depth make any difference on how well it turns over the soil?

Also, how much easier will a 3-14 pull vs a 3-16? I had a 3-16 Oliver plow, and I could barely pull it through sod, even in low gear.

Thanks for any help.

Joel
 
Can you change your oliver to 14? Some can be changed the 14 does a better job of turning sod over but will plug in corn stalks. Neighbors always burned there stalks before plowing.
 
I sold the Oliver. I thought about changing it, but with all the work and expense, I figured I'd be ahead to just get a different plow.

Did you say a 14 turns sod over better? Sod is mainly what I'll be plowing. I'm reclaiming set-asside and plowing down spent hay fields. I don't figure on doing much corn other than a little popcorn, which has finer stalks.
 
3-16s is too much for an A. We had a 3-14 IH plow and it worked the A hard in 2nd. Needed 1st a lot to get through some spots in heavy soil. Stick with 2.
 
Thanks. My A is a 1944 all fuel. Do you know, does it have less power than an all gas one? It sure did struggle with 3 16's in low gear. I was hoping 3 14's would be all right for it.
 
3X14 will be cutting a 6" narrower swath, thus pull a tad easier. I would think 3X14's would be a pretty good load for an A in sod. 14 inch bottoms will plow a little shallower than 16's and still turn the sod over well. As said below, I would think 2nd gear with 3X14's would be about right. We used to pull 2X14's with a 50 in 2nd gear.

As far as 14's turning sod over better, if you are plow 6" deep, yes. If you are plow 8"-12" deep the 16 will do just as nice a job.
 
(quoted from post at 06:07:43 04/05/15) Thanks. My A is a 1944 all fuel. Do you know, does it have less power than an all gas one? It sure did struggle with 3 16's in low gear. I was hoping 3 14's would be all right for it.
Click to expand...

Your A will be much happier with a 2-16s plow.
 
All fuel does indeed have less hp than the gas only models. Early A's have a little less hp too than the equivalent fuel type later model A's. (assuming still all stock of course). John Deere gradually increased the hp on these as the model evolved.

2-16 plow would be my preferred choice for the increased trash clearance. However if your soil is notoriously hard pulling then I might even reluctantly consider a 2-14 plow.

If unsure try going to a plow day event at a local club with your tractor and they may have a few different ones you can hook to try.
 
Thanks. I don't remember the horsepower of a 50, but it was the number version of a B, so the A should be one more bottom I suppose.
 
All-fuels had lower compression ratios so probably a little less power. My A is a late model gas and rated in the OP manual as 3 14s in good conditions and 2 16 in any conditions. Unless you have really good soil I'll say again, stay with 2. FIL took one off the 3-bottom years ago. What you gain in width you give up in speed and work the tractor a lot harder. Speaking from experience.
 
Your A is rated at 29 max pto hp and was called a 3-14 - 2-16" size tractor but where they ever found soil that they could pull the 3 bottom in I do not know. They did not make a gas burner untill 1947 and it was still rated the same altho it had 38 max pto hp. The all fuel engine continued at same 29 HP untill last A in 52. The Gas B was rated at 28 Max pto hp or one hp less than your A and 2-12" is ideal here for the B and for a gas A 3-12". And a 14" plow is designed to work at a depth 1/2 of cutting width or 7" and a 16" at 8" or turning over 28 more square inches of dirt than a 14" so that would make it pull harder. A 12" bottom is designed for 6" deep work and at that depth we would still be hitting the subsoil that we id not want to mix with the top soil, now they think that is the thing to do to mix sub and top soil and I think that is why the ground crusts over harder than it used to when all plows were 12" Around here your A would have a full load with 1 16" bottom. I figure about 13 horse for a 12", 15 for a 14" and 20 for a 16" and that is from plows and tractors I have had. The 60+ hp 5000 Ford struggled with 3-16" plows. The 52 hp 4000 Ford worked good with 3-14" plows and about right for power. 3-16" behind your tractor is about like the 5000 Ford pulling a 6-16" plow.
 
We're on sandy loam here. My father's 80 pulls 5-16's, and it's rated for 4-16's. It's plow is set a little shallower than the 4020's 5-16 though.
Of course, sod is harder to turn over, and some of it is low ground, making it worse yet, so I suppose you're right about 2-16's being a good
choice. But darn, it would feel more satisfying to be turning three at a time--unless, of course, it doesn't do a good job because I don't have
enough power.

I have never been to a plow days. I would love to go to one and see the different plows and how well they work. I wonder how to find out about
one near here.
 
Thanks. I appreciate the information. I guess I should have been happy that my A could pull the 3-16" at all. The guy I bought the plow from told me he used to pull it with an A in 2nd gear, but I'd bet it was a later model, now that you tell me that. I didn't ask.
 
Okay, I didn't realize the all fuel only had 29 hp. That's abut the same as a gas 50. 2 bottoms would be a much better match.
 
Thanks, Mike. Sounds like good advice. I suppose your soil is a little more clayey than our loam up over the boarder, but I don't know that.
 
Yeah, I'm beginning to let that sink in. A happy tractor is a good thing. I'd rather take a little longer to do a good job anyway. With that 3-16
Oliver, I couldn't let it down all the way some times--and talk about a rough field! It was embarrassing. Not to mention I had to finish the job
with the disc.
 
Thanks. And less plugging means a smoother field.

I think I'm being convinced. I wish I had a D. Then I could pull three I bet. They have quite an appetite though I hear.
 
Forget counting the bottoms per say sometimes as it really is more about the amount of ground worked:

3-12 is turning 36" of soil
2-16 is turning 32" of soil

Very minimal difference in amount of ground worked between the 2 bottom and 3 bottom in this particular example and the 2-16 will not plug with cornstalks and trash as easily, you can plow deeper with it, and you can likely pull it at the optimum travel speed too. Less wear parts on the plow to replace when it comes time to do so as well.
 
Our soil is heavy clay but near the creek is gravelly. That's the only part where the 3-bottom would work. My late A gas is rated 34 hp at the drawbar. I know pulling more is satisfying but if you have to go so slow you don't turn over as well.
 
It's not satisfying to have to raise the plow just to go forward though.

I was just hoping that 3 14's would be enough easier than 16's to make a difference.
 
Back in the day, my grandfather had a 50 A (we still have it) and pulled 2X16s in 4th gear. The neighbor had a slightly newer A (had the square axle) and 3X14s. He pulled it in 3rd. Both were working in silt loam soils.
 
A late JD A gas or stock Farmall M gas would be 2-14's on the home farm here. We never had 2-16's but I would expect it could be pulled in the same gear as the 2-14's.
 

If your "A" is "All-Fuel" and still has the low comp pistons, stay away from anything a late JD "B" or 50 won't pull..!!

That is to say, NO MORE than 2 Bottoms..

I don't know why people think a 16" plow must plow deeper than a 14"...!!!

They do NOT, and the increased trash clearance of the 16" is helpful (if you have the HP to pull it)..

A 16"low turns the soil over just fine even if only plowing 5 to 6" deep..in fact I think it turns the soil over better (covers trash better (IF adjusted correctly)..

I use a 4X16" (f-145 sEMI-mOUNT) ON MY 720d AND IT strolls along in 2nd and 3rd and won't be smoking..
I have used that same plow on my 630 and walks right along (at FULL Bark) in 2nd..

Had a JD 60 ALL-Fuel and it would only pull a 3x14" in Creeper gear..

All of these remarks assume GOOD Tires and appropriate weights...

Ron.
 
Thought I would throw this in if I hit really hard plowing I run at night . If you check some early tractors had water injection it's basically adding water vapor to fuel (I also rigged a truck for water injection) but running at night when the air is damp you can usually gain a gear and the engine will run cooler.
I had a strong 1650 that could pull 4 x14 a foot deep in clay sod at 9 miles at least till I hit that rock took two shares right off didn't slow the tractor much but I slowed down after that
 
That's interesting. We have a neighbor, a nice fellow, who has said for years that a tractor goes faster at night, but we've sort of just chuckled. I never heard it explained like you did. I guess we need to quit chuckling.
 
My neighborhood thought the same thing I would be sacked out during the day and work nights. But just watch your vehicle on a foggy day.
 

For around here (Central Ohio), an "A" is a 2-14 to 2-16" tractor

If you expect to really be able to handle a 3-14", you need a Power Block..you may "get by" with Gas pistons with a 3-14" but expect to be in 1st gear often (Black/Yellow Wax and Alfalfa Sod..and then, you will NEED GOOD tires and maybe a little seight for traction..

The early JD "A" had a Fast 1st gear, so if you do not have "Creeper Gear", don't try the 3-14"..nothing worse than not being able to pull a plow in 1st gear..!!

If you get over 7:1 compression, you may need expensive Gas to work it hard..

There ARE BIG Blocks available for the "A" but they are pricey..!!
"Extreme" has them and others..

Probably the best power increaser (for the Money) is to change the crank to one with more stroke, which will increase your Compression at the same time with your original pistons..

Enjoy..!!

Ron.
 
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