horse power

hdltch

Member
Can anyone tell me what kind of horse power do I need to pull a 2 bottom plow under load with my 1950 8n.
 
hdltch.......the University of Nebraska, rated yer 4-cyl 8N at 23-hp. Enuff to pull 2 14-bottom plows......Dell
 
Kind of an odd way to phrase the question as
it begs more questions than answers.
What size of plows? 12", 14", 16"?
You could buy all 3 sizes.
What kind of soil do you have? Sandy? Clay?
Are you wanting to break new ground or turn
over an area that's been plowed before? If
sod, are the coulters still on the plow? How
sharpi are the shares? Rusty moldboards or
shiney?
How fresh is your engine? Newly rebuilt and
putting out it's full 23 hp or worn,low
compression, smokey and maybe putting out 18
hp?
How good are your tires? Good tread or worn
down?
Do you have fluid in the rear tires or wheel
weights on the rear?
For reference, my 2N with strong engine and
new Firestone rears would not pull 2-14s in
sod in our rocky, rooty, clay-loam soil. It
didn't have enough traction. So I added 225
lb rear wheel weights. That helped but I
still had to plow in 1st gear which wasn't
fast enough to turn the sod over well. It
wanted to flip back over and made for a
lousey looking job.
Could only plow about 4" deep too. So I
bought a 1-16" plow and that was the
perfect combo. Enough hp, good traction and
I could plow deeper in second gear which
flipped the sod over completely.
The Ns were touted as a 2-14" tractor but
that was with just the right combination of
factors - soil type, full hp, traction,
ballast, speed, plow complete and properly
adjusted, good shares, draft control working
properly and operator experience.
 
(quoted from post at 03:58:10 06/21/17) For reference, my 2N with strong engine and
new Firestone rears would not pull 2-14s in
sod in our rocky, rooty, clay-loam soil. It
didn't have enough traction. So I added 225
lb rear wheel weights. That helped but I
still had to plow in 1st gear which wasn't
fast enough to turn the sod over well. It
wanted to flip back over and made for a
lousey looking job.
Could only plow about 4" deep too. So I
bought a 1-16" plow and that was the
perfect combo. Enough hp, good traction and
I could plow deeper in second gear which
flipped the sod over completely.

Well now I know. I have the same soil and have a 2-14" and have huge issues breaking ground. Guess it's time for a single bottom!
 
I pull a 2 bottom 12" with my 2n. Depending on your soil you might get away with a 2 bottom 14" with your 8n. You probably won't pull a 2 bottom 16". If you can everything will
need to be right. One bottom is a good option. I have several one bottoms I use. If in rocky terrain I would suggest a trip bottom plow. When I plow the deer plots in the back of
my property I count on carting a pocket full of #2 bolts cause I'm always tripping the plow on rocks.

Kirk
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What difference does it make, The horse power your 8n has is what you have,Unless your's has some kind of magical
button to dial in more horse power. The better question would be what kind of plow can an 8n pull.
 
(quoted from post at 21:30:32 06/20/17) Can anyone tell me what kind of horse power do I need to pull a 2 bottom plow under load with my 1950 8n.

Dad bought a new 8N in 1952 with 2 bottom 14" plow. He did custom plowing for several years plus his own 80 acres. I grew up with that tractor - we always pulled the 2-14s. Later, dad added another 40 acres and another tractor but the 8N still helped out since there were two of us kids. Our soil was heavy black dirt but not sticky clay. Second gear was our plow gear.
 
A horse power according to my cell phone is the amount of power needed to raise 550 pounds one foot in one second. ??? That seems to be a lot of HP.
I know I could'nt do it but then I'm not much of horse anymore.
Zane
 
I use a 2-14 behind my 8N. I even break sod with it. Soil is sandy loam. And that is the key. Soil type. The big problem I've found has to do with traction. Love to find a set of pie weights. Few years ago I was plowing a small plot for a guy. Now I'm not small, 6'5" and 250 pounds. Guy I was doing it for is a city guy who bought some hunting ground. Nice guy. He had never been on a tractor before. I showed him what to do and let him try it. Guy is about 6 foot and 350 plus. That 100 plus pounds made a noticeable difference. Thought I was going to have to shoot him to get him off my tractor. Guy had so much fun he now owns his first tractor, Ford 3000, plow, disk, cultivator, brush cutter and loader.

Rick
 

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