Furrow Wheel Thoughts?

Bryce Frazier

Well-known Member
I bought a Ford 3 x 16, 3 point plow yesterday at an auction. It is in pretty decent shape as well! 3 piece bottoms. It is a Ford "FMD" Plow according to this picture, of which Tim Daley was kind enough to post on the Ford Board for me. I wanted this plow so that I could use it behind my Farmall M, and this is the first one I have seen in awhile that had a FACTORY land / depth control wheel. The tire is near new as well! Very pleased with it. It is also Category two, so, hopefully my M won't rip it in half or anything. . . . ;P

ANYWAYS, the only thing missing off the plow is the furrow wheel. Kind of like a metal soup bowl, and about the size of a dinner plate! I looked it over closely today, and I really don't see anything wrong back there, nothing is bent or broke, the wheel is just gone? The question is how similar are these wheels to say a JD or Case pull behind plow? I have two pull behind plows with small, fixed tail wheels like this one should have. Both plows are just for parts. I am wondering if I could get away with swapping a wheel off of one of them onto the Ford plow?

From my recollection, all of those small steel tail wheels are about the same size, and at a 45 degree angle. Anyone see any isues with doing this? Bryce
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Using a "Landslide" and "Heel" will do the same thing..some used the "rolling Landslide" concept, some did not..

Proper adjustment is the key..your Gauge Wheel will control plowing depth (mostly) and the Heel and Landslide or rolling Landslide would need to leave a steady mark in the furrow bottom and lower furrow side, when properly adjusted..
 
Not sure it's really needed, landslides do pretty much the same job probably been used for years that way
 
That plow will not work very good behind your Mas the whatever hitch you have is not meant for using a mounted plow. Using a mounted plow should be used on factory equiped three pt. You can try but the rsults will not be a good job of plowing
 
I would think that a factory made 3 point hitch for a tractor of that size / power would be up to the task of a plow? I think I can make it do a good job, but, we'll see.
 
Bryce I think what he is talking about your hitch maybe a "Factory" after market hitch for an Farmal "M" but it is not a factory/OEM designed hitch. You may have one of two problems.

1) The tractor does not have any provisions for draft control. So you will be basically using a mounted pull type plow. Since you say you have a depth wheel it may work out fine since a M is a pretty good three plow tractor in most soils. IF you have hard plow soils than you are going to find out how important draft control is.

2) The biggest problem I have found with the aftermarket three point hitch is the geometry. They usually are a "Universal" designed hitch with different mounting brackets for different tractors. So the geometry is often not correct for any one model tractor. The ones I have tried to make work with a mounted plow just did not work well. The hitch either was pulling the plow out of the ground or sinking it to China. The draft link angles just where not correct.

So good luck and I hope it works.

As for your tail wheel issue. Did the plow have one on it OEM??? Many economy plows had a longer landslide over a tail wheel. I am not sure what Ford used on your Plow.
 
Putting a different tail wheel on it is harmless. That wheels contact points should be the furrow bottom and the land "cliff" of the furrow. Both places should leave a slight indentation. Maybe 1/2". Getting the top link adjusted to position the plow attack angle correct will take some time, but is only an adjustment, not high science. Remember it is the angls when it is in the ground at depth that matters. If it has good shares and landslides it will plow. Jim
 
Exactly what I am thinking!

As far as leveling the plow, I kind of know how to do that with the left wheel of the tractor up on a block, then level out accordingly, and make adjustments. I don't have a lot of experience with the 3 point stuff, but it can't be rocket science right?! :)

I am not sure what it is called, but I can also adjust the left and right of the plow by turning the bent arm where the two draft arms hook to as well right? Not sure if that is needed or not, but it looks a little out of wack to me the way it sits.

I am going to try to put another wheel on it tomorrow, if it is easy and feesable, I am going to go for it.
 
Bryce,that M will handle that plow nicely. However,because your tractor does NOT have 'draft control',you're going to have to use a depth regulateing 'device'. The easiest/best way is to use a combination of stroke control/limiting collars. to get the right depth.I've plowed a lot of ground with my SM,pulling either a 2 bottom,or 3 bottom rollover.By useing stroke collars you do not even need a gauge wheel. the tractor carries the plow. With a gauge wheel and no depth limiters the tractor only pulls the plow. Use of limiters cam make a full gear difference,plus a better plowing job. You really dont need a furrow wheel. Landsides in good shape,and the 'draft' set right it will follow straight line with no side draft. Call me if you want. You still have my number?
 
If it had a furrow wheel when new yes you need it, if it did not come from factory when new no as it will have a long landside that reaches back to where that wheel would be. If it had a wheel it will be a short landside same as front bottom or middle bottom. Do you have the bracket for the wheel? If you do then it has fallen off due to ware. Then the thing is do you have the hub left to mount a different wheel on?
Without the hub you will not find a wheel with hub you can make work.
 
Yes, the bracket is still there. And the "axle" that the wheel rolled on is there as well. Looks like the wheel just slid onto a bolted on peg, and then had some form of a keeper to hold it on there?
 
I had that thought as well. Currently my 3 point is only going to be rigged up one way power, off of the belly pump. I have a LOT of those little clamp on things for the cylinder. I'll throw a few in the tool box before I try plowing for the first time and see what happens! ;)
 

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