Ok, so I am moldboard plowing with a 3 bottom 14" semi mount plow (jd f135H I think). I have been using this plow for about 5 years now and am self taught when it comes to plowing so it's been a learn as I go process. My fields usually look halfway decent when they are on relatively flat ground - however, I have some sidehills that I am attempting to contour plow and have been having issues getting the furrows to turn all the way over. This is bush hogged grass/weedy ground in western Pa so it is fairly hilly - eventually it will go to hay but I want to turn under the weeds and put it into oats before I plant hay.
I have a manual for the plow- have been through it, have tried my adjustments as it recommends - my parts are in decent shape, I use coulters on the sod and they seem to help. The plow also has trash boards. All of these issues occur as I plow turning my furrow up hill and the plow is shined up nicely. On my first pass laying out a line, the 2nd and 3rd furrows tends to not want to turn over and often falls back into themselves as if I never plowed there. I then end up trying to overcome this with each subsequent pass - often to no avail. Even when I do get my furrows turning, they often ridge up at 90 degrees rather than fully laying over at 160-180 degrees (as they would on flatter ground).
Here is a crude diagram: when I am on this side of a contour (I think convex) ->C (think of the C as the hill and the arrow is the tractor - I turn my furrow to the right up the hill) I have noticed that I turn a much better furrow than when I am on the concave side of the countour ->) . Often when attempting to plow along an S type contour, I end up giving up on the concave portion because my furrows just won't turn over.
I am partially venting/looking to see if anyone has any thoughts/ideas. I know they make a sidehill hitch - which I don't have. Would this be a major reason for my troubles? Maybe this plow just isn't meant for sidehill plowing in sod? Maybe this plow won't work with the Ford 4630 that I'm pulling it with (I never have an issue with power, but my wheel spacing is not adjustable so I have tried to make up for that with my hitch adjustment.) I don't know, I kind of frustrated - had looked forward to plowing this weekend and spent more time out of the seat trying to get it adjusted correctly before I threw in the towel.
Sorry for the long post - appreciate any replies.
Thanks,
Jameson
I have a manual for the plow- have been through it, have tried my adjustments as it recommends - my parts are in decent shape, I use coulters on the sod and they seem to help. The plow also has trash boards. All of these issues occur as I plow turning my furrow up hill and the plow is shined up nicely. On my first pass laying out a line, the 2nd and 3rd furrows tends to not want to turn over and often falls back into themselves as if I never plowed there. I then end up trying to overcome this with each subsequent pass - often to no avail. Even when I do get my furrows turning, they often ridge up at 90 degrees rather than fully laying over at 160-180 degrees (as they would on flatter ground).
Here is a crude diagram: when I am on this side of a contour (I think convex) ->C (think of the C as the hill and the arrow is the tractor - I turn my furrow to the right up the hill) I have noticed that I turn a much better furrow than when I am on the concave side of the countour ->) . Often when attempting to plow along an S type contour, I end up giving up on the concave portion because my furrows just won't turn over.
I am partially venting/looking to see if anyone has any thoughts/ideas. I know they make a sidehill hitch - which I don't have. Would this be a major reason for my troubles? Maybe this plow just isn't meant for sidehill plowing in sod? Maybe this plow won't work with the Ford 4630 that I'm pulling it with (I never have an issue with power, but my wheel spacing is not adjustable so I have tried to make up for that with my hitch adjustment.) I don't know, I kind of frustrated - had looked forward to plowing this weekend and spent more time out of the seat trying to get it adjusted correctly before I threw in the towel.
Sorry for the long post - appreciate any replies.
Thanks,
Jameson