plowing advice

Older tractors were built more for plowing, you could adjust the tread width of the tractor and such. The problem with the tractor pulling to one side is that the plow draft is to one side. I think on the newer tractors like you have wheel tread adjustment is not recommended, but lining things up so the plow is pulling closer to center on the tractor (but you still need the plow to follow correctly so the tire of the tractor goes in the furrow) the more naturally it plows.

Can we assume this is a 3-point plow? Are you letting the 3-point arms sway side-to-side? It's better to _not_ use sway bars or chains with a plow. Then set up the plow so it pulls about in the middle, not slid all the way to one side or the other.

Perhaps your landsides are worn out. Or you need to adjust the angle of your plow - not up/down, or tilt, but left/right angle.

When set up right, without sway bars the plow will foolow the middle of the tractor, and everything lines up about straight - most of the time.

You have your plow clean & shiny by now? A rusty/ dirty molboard will be impossible to set up, get it shiny.

--->Paul

Thanks for response. This is a 3pt disk plow (Dearborn -was made for the old Fords).

I do keep the sway bars rigid, otherwise they will rub against the tires with any lateral movement in the implement (plow or anything else). Will try to get them to one side though see if that helps. Will also try leaving the sway bars loose, but can't do that unless the plow does center - otherwise the tires would be gone fast. The front tread can't be adjusted (is 4wd) and the tractor is 35pto HP so there should be enough "juice" for this. Hadn't thought about polishing the disks (yes, they are a bit rusty but not bad) - will do. Don't really see any way to adjust the angle of attack (angle between the disks and the centerline of tractor). Just bought plow today - but it sure doesn't look like it could be adjusted that way short of heating and twisting the iron bars on which the disks are mounted.

Don't know the term "landside"??? so don't know if they're worn out or not. Everything seems well greased and the disks turn easily enough.

In rereading your comments a couple times I guess you are saying it's probably just the way I have it set up and that a slight out of correct allignment can cause the pulling. Will fiddle with it per your suggestions.

Appreciate your response very much. Have had the tractor since late Jan and have about 150 hrs on it. Been mostly using with backhoe & loader stuff. Was "fun" to do the plow. There's so many useful things you can do with a tractor. Although I liked my old Farmall SC, this new one, which is actually about the same size (engine cid & weight), is much more flexible (especially having a backhoe) in what it can do.

Thanks again.

le libertine

Landsides on a regular plow are the longer vertical plates that slide along the furrows - behind each molboard. They keep the plow from pushing to the left, which your plow seems to be doing. I'd imagine a disk plow has them as well? The few disk plows I've seen seem to have a very large, very heavy angled tail wheel which can be set for different 'pressures' against the side of the furrow.

Some plows let you slide the plow left or right somewhere on the frame. This allows you to make the plow follow the furrow properly, and also lets you center the plow somewhat - becomes difficult to make both work when you can't move the tractor wheels.

Is your tractor 4wd? You can change the dish or some other adjustment on most tractor rims, but like my NH1720 it's most likely not recommended & would void your warrenty, so not the thing to do.

--->Paul

No lateral frame adjustment. Yes its 4wd, the rears can be moved in/out and the fronts dished. But its not like a regular 2wd. In any event, played with it some today, adjusting pin connections on the hitch, etc. Also, tried your suggestion re no anti swing (so lower links move laterally). That solves the problem, but as I suspected it does rub the tires some.

Jimmie King:

Yes do have a "large tail wheel" (I'll leave that one alone!) and will try adjusting it to see if that will allow use of anti sway bars and still pull true.

Larry: Thanks for your response, in fact thanks to you all. I think its a matter of playing with it until get it lined up and pulling true. Your suggestions most helpful and have a glimming of how to get it going right.

les libertine