I need your help again with plow questions

The two bottom Dearborn plows around there are selling for $75 to $125 less than a two bottom Ford 101. The major differences I can see between the implements is that the Ford plows have a shear pin and are constructed of straight stock and bolted plates. The Dearborn stuff seems to be made with a curve cast into the main plow frame members with no shear pin. It looks like the Ford 101 plows will be inherently stronger.

On all the plows I looked at the coulters and land slides seem to be in good shape and rotate freely. The moldboards and plow points seem to be either new or show little wear. So the plows seem to be in equally good condition.

So, now my question. Why would I want to spend an extra $75 to $125 for a Ford 101? Is the shear pin there for equipment safety, (keeps from ruining the plow parts if I hit a rock or root) or is it there for my safety in that it will break away and keep the tractor from tipping back over on me if I hit the same immovable rock or root? I don�t want to foolishly save $125 and put my self in a significantly more hazardous situation.

I very much need some advice and help on making this decision.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Dale-SWMI

Dale-SWMI

While I didn't acutaully purchase any parts I checked three places with a "What if I had this plow could I get parts?" question.

I checked at the local New Holland dealer. I gave him the model off of a a Dearborn plow I was looking at. He has some parts. He didn't have moldboards or points. We looked at several other plows both Dearborns and early Fords with much the same story.

I then went to a small Kubota dealer (HFS Tractor) in Baroda, MI near me and asked the guy behind the counter if he could get me plow parts. He pulled out a book and showed me several listings for Dearborn and Ford plows including (I think) boldboards and points.

Finally I filled up the gas tank and drove up to Stamm Equipment in Wayland Michigan. The guy I talked to said he can get parts for old plows. They can get them slavage off of equipment being parted out, or new stuff made by who knows. Stamm seems to have an extensive bone yard.

Second is parts availability. The Ford 101 is about the easiest plow on the market to get parts for (shares, shins, landslides, moldboards, coulters, ect) Some of the others, old Dearborns included are getting tough to find replacement parts for.

One more reason too.....Those 101 Ford plows pull easy. There"s a huge difference in plows. Not all of them are "light draft". The Ford 101 was one of the best mounted plows ever on the market.