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$200 is really a nominal price if the plow is in good shape. I have bought them from $10 for junk to $40 for a good 3-bottom with rubber tires. If you have the time to look for a $5 you will probably only make $5 per hour looking (5 auctions, 200 miles at $0.35/mile, 10 hours spent, and $50 worth of junk you bought at auctions looking for a plow plus paying $30 instead of the dreamed of $5). The mechanical trip is a joy to use, you just have to think ahead and don't try to lift it after the wheels have started slipping because of wet ground. You're stuck so unhook the plow, go around and pull it out backwards with a chain. Think carefully when adjusting the levers. The left one (facing forward) adjusts the depth. The right one adjusts the right (furrow) wheel. That wheel must be up to get the right share in the ground on the first pass. Both shares should be at the same depth and level when plowing. After the first furrow is plowed, the right wheel runs in the furrow, following the tractor tire, and it (the right wheel) must be lowered or the right share will be cutting too deep. You need a plow clevis to hook the plow to the drawbar. Farm stores have them if the plow comes without one. The front of the plow is spring loaded and hooks in the clevis. If you hit a big rock, buried steel pipe, etc, the trip will unhook the plow before the plow is damaged. The same cannot be said for a buried pipe. The drawbar on the plow is adjustable with many holes. It is probably set OK unless someone has monkeyed with it. They are used to make the plow pull straight, not used to adjust the plow from side to side. Hook the plow to the right of center (put the clevis in one of the holes in the fixed drawbar) and set the right tractor tire in so the right plow tire tracks the right tractor tire. If you are plowing deep or in stiff ground, put both your weights on the left wheel. It is up and light and you'll have to drag the left brake if it slips. I plow with and M with 3 weights on the left side (no fluid). The plow should turn all standing grass under, ever 4 ft high. All windrows should be the same width and you should not be able to tell which dirt was turned by which moldboard, left or right. Don't disk before you plow, the cut grass will plug the plow. Plowing in good ground with a well-tuned plow is a joy similar to driving off the lot in your first new car, only plowing lasts and lasts. Especially with a 2-bottom plow. In a 5 acre field you'll probably turn 1/2 acre per hour after you get the bugs worked out. Have fun!
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