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Newbie plowing questions.

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Tim

09-24-2003 07:53:04

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Just tried my first ever attempt at doing a little plowing. I have a couple acres I hope to plant some corn in next year. Unfortunately it�s on a hillside. I have an IH 574 and a John Deere 3 bottom plow. Since this is all new to me I have a few questions in setting it up. The field has not been plowed in a long time (40-50 years at least). I mowed it off with my bush hog prior to plowing. While plowing in the direction that rolled the sod downhill it worked fairly well but going in the opposite direction it would not roll over most of the time and fell back pretty much in the same spot. It did this to some extent even on the nearly level section. Not exactly sure what I�m doing wrong. I know there is a lever on the plow that rotates the offset hitch pins, which would change the plow angle somehow. Before I can get this to move though I�m going to have to repair some previous owners cobbled up repair which is blocking its movement. Still I�m not sure of the theory behind this adjustment. Is this what the adjustment will even help with.
Its been suggested that I should increase my speed. I was in 2nd gear at full throttle. Going up hill I had a time keeping it in a semi straight line. The front end wanted to slide downhill. Going faster would be difficult.
Any suggestions to help me out before I try again?
Thanks
Tim

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09-25-2003 17:54:04

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

Hi, everyone has given you good advice. Here is my 2 cents worth. I have plowed many acres of hilly land with an IH plow similar to your JD plow on an IH 684 which is a newer and slightly bigger model of your 574. I plow in 3rd gear LO and HI TA at about 1600 to 1800 RPMs. IH called the type of plow bottoms on your JD plow hi speed bottoms the other type were called ACE bottoms and would roll the sod over more gently but would not work at high speed. If you go to a plowing competition, they will all use the ACE type bottoms. As the name implies they require speed to throw the sod over.
The lever that eveyone is talking about is used to adjust the cut or toe in of the plow on a side hill. Normally we just set in the center and forget about it. From the picture yours is adjusted slightly off center. Move the lever forward until the 3 pt hitch pin is at the bottom, this should be the center position of the lever adjustment. Also I notice the paint is worn off the front plow completely and not the other two.
This tells me that the top link is to short causing the front plow to dig in to much and the other two are not plowing as deep.

Good luck old sod is tough to plow.
JB

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Indydirtfarmer

09-25-2003 04:59:50

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

How steep is the hill you're plowing? Some ground just isn't meant to be plowed. Also, I'm guessing that you're going too slow. I'm not all that familiar with an IH574. I have an uncle that owns one. I'll see him sunday, and will ask what "plowing gear" is. Just a guess again, but I'd say that it would normally be a gear or two higher than what you are using. If the plow is sized right, you should be above 4 mph. Most tractors have a "speed chart" on the tachometer. It'll tell you what the ground speed is, in a specific gear, and at a given RPM. Is the plow a 3x14" or 3x16"? The 3x16" will pull a BUNCH harder than the 3x14". Not only will it cut 6" wider, but it will go a couple inches deeper too. I agree with the idea of plowing it all one way. (Rolling the sod downhill) Tough, old sod ground is difficult, at best to plow. Your "initiation under fire" is under the worst possible conditions. One more thing. Someone mentioned the plow being rusty. If it is, it will be like dragging an anchor. Take a wire wheel to it, and clean it up as much as possible, before trying to plow with it. It'll pull a whole lot easier, and it will "scour" quicker. Good luck, and stay at it. Plowing is BIG fun when you get everything working right. Hope this helps, John

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JOHN POP

09-25-2003 04:14:48

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

The lever that you see is to adjust the landing or width of cut of your first furrow. You should have all three furrows cutting an even width. The means of adjustment for making sure that all three furrows are cutting the same depth is in your lift-arm on the three point hitch. Depth of cut is very important also. On a 14" plow, the depth of cut should be 7". If you are cutting deeper than this, turning the sod over enough to keep it from rolling back is difficult in sod. In previously worked ground you can plow a little deeper if you desire. You are right in your assessment that the plow is worn. It is totally worn out and the mouldboards, shins, and points should be replaced. For the amount of land that you are plowing, I wouldn't be too concerned because of the extreme coost involved. The top link of your 3-point hitch should be adjusted so that when you drop the plow to the ground when moving, the plow penetrates the ground and arrives at the correct plowing depth within 10 feet or so. If the top link is too short the plow will constantly be trying to dig deeper and use a lot of power. If it is too short, the plow will never penetrate the ground. Plowing is a pleasure to do if the equipment is properly adjusted and sized to the tractor and ground conditions.

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P in OH

09-25-2003 04:14:11

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

Plowing hills is not easy but I personally feel plowing to turn the furrow uphill worked the best for me. Downhill tends to "terrace". Instead, I just plowed all one direction on the severe slopes and turned sod uphill the best I could. In additon, the "lever" you have should be adjusted so the back of the plow points closer to the hillside. It shortens the furrow width and makes it easier to chop or break down later. All of the answers are good ones and hillside plowing is difficult but on a few acres you will get by. By spring it will mellow some.

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Stan TN

09-25-2003 23:23:59

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Re: Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to P in OH, 09-25-2003 04:14:11

I terrace my sidehills on purpose. ;-)

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Scott

09-24-2003 20:24:56

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

I'm no 'expert' at this, but I know a fair thing or tow about it. The lever on the right side of the plow is to adjust the ammount of ground being plowed. You use it to adjust if you are not plowing all the way to your last furrow. If not, move the lever toward the tractor, and it'll 'turn' the plow.

The adjustment you need to make are on the top link and the lift arms. Once you take your first pass, sink the plow again, and stop to check the plow settings. It should be setting perfectly level to the ground. You already have trash boards and roll over boards, so you should be having no problem. I'd check again if your plow is level, and maby push the lever back a notch or two so the plow doesn't take as full of a bite. Just as long as you reach the old furrow you'll have no problem. You should have all boards turning over the same, and a furrow about 6 or 7" deep.

Brian, the leaf springs would be mounted where the roll over boards are.....at the tip of the mold boards. Helps roll over the dirt as it leaves the boards.

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treeboy

09-24-2003 18:39:11

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

you have coverboards but where are the colters that cut the sod prior to the moleboard trying to turn it over? we dismanaled a 3 bottom plow years ago & shortened it to a 2 bottom, worked fine & we got it cheap , everybody wanted a 2 bottom..find an oldtimer & get him to tell ya what your doing..

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Tim

09-24-2003 18:44:10

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Re: Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to treeboy, 09-24-2003 18:39:11

The first coulter is missing but the other two are there. Hard to see in that photo however.

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Tim

09-24-2003 18:17:35

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

Thanks for the responses so far. Some good advice there. Here is a picture of the plow in question. Can anyone help identify it? You can see the adjustable lower link pins for the hitch. Is this strictly to adjust the level after the first pass? Some of the parts seem quite worn and I wonder how much that is affecting the rollover too.
Thanks again
Tim

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Hugh MacKay

09-24-2003 17:28:29

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

Tim: Paul and Dan have given you some good advice. I will add to this by saying 45-50 year old sod is awfully hard to plow. Its kind of like a stubborn old man who hasn't changed his ways in 50 years. You say this involves a couple of acres. I would have a strong temptation to plow it all down hill, and one way. I know it means extra running with plow up. Consider what you have against you. Your new to plowing, plow is probably rusty.

One other item I would suggest is searching out a plow day where guys get together with their tractors and plows, usually have a crew of old guys showing people new to plowing the way to adjust plow, giving advice, etc. The moldboard plow is far more complicated than most people think. These are a great social event, around here they usually have a meal or barbeque.

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Dan

09-24-2003 12:51:34

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

The adjustment you are talking about may be the one to change angle of the plow on the first pass. After the first pass the tractor wheel runs in the open furrow so the plow angle is different. Don't know what plow you have, if you need more speed you might be able to drop off one bottom. Also discing ground prior to plowing helps a lot.

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paul

09-24-2003 08:51:04

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Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to Tim, 09-24-2003 07:53:04

Going faster would help - obviously, you have a good sized plow for your tractor so not an option.

There are little molboard toppers, cover boards I think they are called, that help turn trash under.

Dad bolted a section of car leaf spring on the trailing edge of the plow bottom & it sure helped keep the rolling motion going.

Changing the depth of cut can make a difference. I would not toy with angles of the plow, that only messes up how the plow will trail behind you.....

--->Paul

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brian

09-24-2003 18:24:59

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Re: Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to paul, 09-24-2003 08:51:04

Can someone post a photo of how the old car springs are attached exactly? Thanks

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paul

09-25-2003 09:22:13

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Re: Re: Re: Newbie plowing questions. in reply to brian, 09-24-2003 18:24:59

Scroll up a couple messages, maybe 5, to "Plow Lingo" and you will see a _great_ picture of all those plow parts! :)

I call the 'shares' 'lays' but either is correct 'locally'. :)

--->Paul

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