Which plow, IH 720 or White 508?

LorenMN

Member
I have an IH 720 Automatic 5-bottom 16" that was tough pulling with our 1100 Massey (94HP) so I dropped the back bottom off and moved the tail wheel up before I plowed this Spring. We're in heavy black soil. Worked much better as a 4 bottom, but that was in corn stubble that I had disked down last Fall.

Now a neighbor has a nice looking White 508 3-bottom spring reset semi-mounted that he wants to sell me, since I'm looking at buying a G900 Moline from him. I didn't measure the plow to check the width yet, but it has curved coulters.

I think it would be nice to have the 3-bottom, since I only need to plow about 5 acres per year. I think I could run it faster and get a better looking furrow. I'm working on getting the fields to where I can rotate about 5 acres per year from alfalfa to grain, then back to alfalfa the next year. So it's going to pull harder in 5 year old hay ground, than in corn ground that's been cultivated twice. More reason to go to 3 bottoms I suppose.

So if you had your choice, which plow would you go with? I'm assuming they're similar in value, so I should be able to sell the 720 for what I pay for the 508. I have a broken moldboard on the front bottom on the 720 that I need to fix yet. Probably should just jump on buying the 508 and figure it out later, especially since it's so close to home.
 
I have a white 508 3x18, and it does an excellent job. Actually, if you don't buy that white, I may be interested in having a second one for my dad or brother to use. I'm recommending highly you should buy it, but if not, let me know more info.
 
I believe the 508 is an older plow much closer spaced, lower beam, so it will not handle cornstalk trash very well at all?

Otherwise, you make a good case for either one working fine for you.

Around here, a three bottom semi mount plow is like gold, rare and fits smaller tractors. The 5 bottoms are still used so they bring some money. The odd duck out is a 4 bottom plow; too small for real farming, too big for a small patch. They sell for scrap. Kind of an odd deal.....

If you can buy the 3 bottom cheap, it is well worth having.

Paul
 
Actually I think the White 508 has pretty good clearance. I pick all my corn, I don't combine it, and the white has never plugged yet. I had both Case and John Deere before the white, and it was a constant battle. The White, don't even have to look back, and the auto reset is great in rocky ground.
I'm not knocking IH, as I have never used one. They could very well be excellent plows too.
 
I"ve had both for years, along with another White 5-18, maybe the 588? I"d take a White over the 720 any day. That"s why I bought the two Whites after the 720 6-18. 720 will cause more problems with cornstalks....when entering the ground, or after tripping over a rock, it will not penetrate for a long time if a few stalks are under the plowshare. Leaves a rougher appearance to the field. My Whites were the same under-frame clearance as the 720...36 inches. I could drive by the field and tell which plow worked it.

Also, easier maintenance with the White...I can weld steel, but can"t weld the cast parts on the 720 when the rocks break them.
 
My White 4-18 is for sale, as well as the 720 6-18......I don"t plow anymore, don"t intend to, so if the other deal falls through, let me know.
 

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