Appropriate size plow for a Ford 641?

I have a gas powered 58 Ford 641 that I am looking to plow with. Would a 3 bottom plow be too much for it? 2 bottoms seem few and far between around here but with around 35 hp I don't know if it would pull it. I heard it's 15hp a bottom but I'd like to hear from people who actually use the plows before I spend any money and waste a bunch of time if I could actually be pulling a 3 bottom. I did see an attachment place in NC that makes brand new 2 bottom plows also. Would that be a better option than picking up a 50 year old Ford plow? Not sure about the wear on old equipment like this...

My sugestion would be to get a good set of 3 bottom 14" plows & try them out . Whatever you get , always get a manual for the plows & read it . Having plows set correctly makes a big difference in how they dig & how the tractor handles them . Dearborn plows are made so that the rear plow frame can be unbolted , making it a 2 bottom plow .Be sure your plows have a tail wheel & coulters on them . HTH! God bless

I think your little tractor would be much happier with 2-12" or 2-14" plow.

Just my two cents!!

I have a TO-35 Ferguson, 1957 year model, it came from the factory with 3-12" and it's too much plow in hard ground.

The TO-35 is about the same size tractor as yours,

would be best if you can try out the plow before you buy.

any old disc will work if you can pull it across the field. But, a plow is like a cycle mower, if its not set right and sized to your tractor you are not going to be happy.

Have a 640 with two 14s, and its plenty load. 800 series handles three 14s well. Joe

A lot depends on your soil. I pull a 2-16 behind my 841 and that at times will make that 841 bark and back down but then if you have sandy soil not the heavy clay I have a 2-14 will work fine but if you have the heavy clay type soil I have a 2-12 will be better and you can get more done with less fuel

(quoted from post at 22:55:24 09/30/09) A lot depends on your soil. I pull a 2-16 behind my 841 and that at times will make that 841 bark and back down but then if you have sandy soil not the heavy clay I have a 2-14 will work fine but if you have the heavy clay type soil I have a 2-12 will be better and you can get more done with less fuel

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Hm, makes me kind of think the 2-12 is the most I should be looking at for this tractor. The soil survey says the land I'm going to be farming is RbA which is a clay type with a high water table so it looks like that's what I'm going to be stuck with until I get a bigger tractor. I wish those Dearborn plows that could be converted from 2 to 3 bottoms were more readily available, buying one would save me a purchase in the future.

Why are colters and tail wheels so important on the plows? Does the rear wheel hold the level of the plow that well or is it simply to take the pressure off the hydraulics during transport?

You should be fine with a 2x14" plow. Coulters are supposed to be designed to aid in cutting trash, thus helping to keep the plow from plugging up. Usually they cause the plow to plug up, which is why most people took them off. What a lot of people don't know or forgot, is that set right they were also designed to help the front edge of the moldboard last longer by cutting the ground in front of the moldboard. They should be set about 3/4" to the outside, or to the left of the moldboard looking from the back to the front, of the front edge of the moldboard to be right. However, if you don't have coulters, and aren't plowing 50 acres a year, I sure wouldn't worry about it. The tail wheel will also help in draft control of the plow. If there is no tail wheel, you will probably be fine as well, as some small plows came from the factory with no tail wheels. Just better control if you do have one. Bob

Sorry, but I looked at your first message and was thinking you had an 841. With a 641 it should pull 2x14", and if it was me, that is what I would use, but as you say, you might look for a 2x12" to be safer. Sorry for the confusion. Bob

I wouldnt waste my time and money on a Leinbach plow from Everything Attachments in North Carolina. They cost way more than an old used plow, plus you're getting a plow from small manufacturer that probably does not understand moldboard plow design and force dynamics. I was not impressed with the design of the plow when I watched their videos. And the poor design lead to poor performance.

(quoted from post at 15:52:38 10/01/09) I wouldnt waste my time and money on a Leinbach plow from Everything Attachments in North Carolina. They cost way more than an old used plow, plus you're getting a plow from small manufacturer that probably does not understand moldboard plow design and force dynamics. I was not impressed with the design of the plow when I watched their videos. And the poor design lead to poor performance.

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I was looking at them actually. Thanks for the warning, their free shipping was starting to burn a hole in my pocketbook.
I also was looking at the Aldo Biagioli rollover plow that can be bought from their US distributor. http://vinfe25.vinf.it/aldobiagioli/catalogo/immagini/upload/305.pdf
I have been looking through craigslist and it sure would be nice if people would post more about what they have than simply '2 bottom plow' How exactly do I tell if a plow is too worn out to be worth the purchase?

Unless you have some real sandy soil, don't go with a three bottom. In sand you might have the power but still have traction problems. We ran mounted 2-14s on our gas 640 with loaded tires and it plowed all types of clay both stubble and sod. Two 12s would also be OK, but I suspect tougher to find. We had mounted three 14s on the diesel 961. The 640 probably couldn't have lifted the larger plow, and definitely couldn't pull it.

I was looking at them actually. Thanks for the warning, their free shipping was starting to burn a hole in my pocketbook.
I also was looking at the Aldo Biagioli rollover plow that can be bought from their US distributor. http://vinfe25.vinf.it/aldobiagioli/catalogo/immagini/upload/305.pdf
I have been looking through craigslist and it sure would be nice if people would post more about what they have than simply '2 bottom plow' How exactly do I tell if a plow is too worn out to be worth the purchase?

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That is an interesting machine, but being a reversible plow adds a bit more complexity to the adjustment and operation of it.

A plow is a pretty simple machine, but there are still many things needed to make it work right. First off, shares can be replaced or rebuilt, and landsides can be built up or fabricated from scratch. As long as moldboards arent cracked, or have holes worn in them, they would probably work. Sometimes a pocket will form on a moldboard that has worn through the hard surface into the soft center which might cause scouring trouble. And that can be built up with a welder. Welds or breaks in the plow frame and loose joints are usually bad news, but you can measure to see if the plow bottoms are parallel with each other. If they are, the plow should work fine. Measure between the same point on each moldboard in four different positions and the measurements should come to no more than 1/2" off. Anymore than that and there may be bent parts somewhere on the plow. Simple as that.

I use a single bottom plow on my 640.It has a hard time in sod ground.You will need wheel weight to run a 2 bottom.

(quoted from post at 18:03:20 10/02/09) I use a single bottom plow on my 640.It has a hard time in sod ground.You will need wheel weight to run a 2 bottom.

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Fortunately the tractor has relatively new ag tires and full pie wheel weights. Not sure if they're filled or not. Hopefully it will be sufficient, I believe the pie weights are 600 a side.