Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Discussion Forum
:

50,60,70 plow sizes.....

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Tye

11-19-2002 05:22:38




Report to Moderator

I bought a John Deere book, "Ultimate John Deere" and I turned to a page that had a picture of an old brochure of the 50,60,70. The brochure advertised the 50 as a 2-3 plow tractor, 60 as a 3-4 plow tractor and the 70 as a 4-5 plow tractor. I am not sure about the 60 and 70 but I have a 50 and in my manual it doesn't state anything about being able to pull a three bottom plow, only two 14 inch bottoms. Can someone help explain how I should be interpreting all this? Thank you.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Rodney A. Johnson

11-20-2002 06:00:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
I agree with everyone regarding soil type being the biggest factor. However, other factors are tire size, transmission speeds (some JD 2cyls had "creeper gears"), weight of the machine, and even the type and brand of tire.

If you are spinning out, obviously you have a traction problem and not necessarily a lack of power. My 3010D cranks out around 50-52 HP (pump is turned down) and had trouble holding 2nd gear (don't remember ground speed) with an oliver 565 3-16" semimount plow. I was plowing an alfalfa field that contains various soil types including red clay.

Traction wasn't a problem. Tractor is 6000# dry, and had 3 sets of weights (140# per weight). I had just put on new 15.5x38 GoodYear Dyna Torq II bias tires about a year before. Could have used some weight in the front, as it would rise up some times. Ended up dropping to 1st gear once I got to the clay. With some weight in the front and the pump turned up to stock 59hp, I think it would have held 2nd (i'm guessing 2nd was around 2-3mph).

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ken B

11-19-2002 21:06:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
Dad used to pull 2-16s with the old 60 when I was a kid,in central Iowa.It did fine most of the time,but in alfalfa it worked the old girl.Thought we had the world by the tail when he got the 4010 and 4-16s.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
PeteNy

11-19-2002 16:42:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
Here in Upstate, NY, our 70 is a 3 plow tractor in most of the places we plow, our A will handle the 3 usually. but the 70 is most comfortable with 'em. Like everyone else said, soil makes the difference, my buddy once used our '50 B to pull his 4 bottom disc plow doing some sandy headlands.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dw

11-19-2002 12:48:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
My dad worked for a John Deere dealer, when the 420's were new. He planned to plow, one Saturday, and the dealer told him to take one of the 420's, and a three bottom plow, as that was what it was supposed to pull. The plow was new, so Dad had to spend some time removing the factory coating from the plow lays. As I recall, he had to make at least one trip to town, for material to remove the coating. Anyway, after all this, he took the tractor and plow to the field. The tractor spun out before the rear bottom got into the ground. He was not a happy camper.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Steve - IN

11-19-2002 10:42:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
Hyperbole? From John Deere in the 50's? Naaah... Surely you've been up to the plow test site at the Indiana Dunes. Three, 4 bottom plows cut right through that sand. No problem.

Removing tongue from cheek - My Grand Dad bought a 60 because his Farmall H strained to pull 2 bottoms in Hendricks county Indiana clay. His 60 strained to pull a 3 bottom. My 60 is passably happy with a 2 bottom in Hamilton cty Ind. clay.

The soil is the big variable, Tye. There probably is somewhere on this green earth where a 50 will pull a 3 bottom -- but you probably don't live there. As they say, you mileage may vary, not FDIC insured.

Steve

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JD70Jim

11-19-2002 07:32:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
You know, I've never been able to find a listing, for ANY plow, on the number of pounds of pull that it will take to pull that plow. This is because that number varies with each and every different soil type. Thus, a 3x14 plow which might be pulled eaily by a 60 in one soil type, might be too much for even a 70 in a different soil type. The 2-3 or 3-4 bottom "ratings" is really only a comparative "claim", not a real indicator of how much it takes to pull it. You find that out yourself, by hitching up and trying it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
John T

11-19-2002 05:42:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to Tye, 11-19-2002 05:22:38  
To put it simply, interpret it as HYPERBOLE and SALES PITCH. If you're plowing in dry sandy soils not too deep, sure they can pull more bottoms, but put them in wet heavier clay at 8 inches or so depth, and they do well to pull the minumum rating. I have used a 60 with 3-14 and it did okay, but my 70 did much better. I cant imagine a 70 Gas hooked to 5 in this southern Indiana clay, however. A 4020 will pull 5, but a 70 ??? John T

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Clark

11-19-2002 19:45:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50,60,70 plow sizes..... in reply to John T, 11-19-2002 05:42:14  
At one time the Ag engineering department at Purdue published how many pounds of drawbar pull were required to pull 14 & 16 plow bottoms x inches deep and at various speeds. Of course it varied with the type of bottom. Oliver was a big fan of a 4.5 mph plow speed, this was considered High speed in the 50's. In the 60's and 70's most plow manufacturers developed extra high speed bottoms for speeds up to 5.5 mph. I don't recall specifics but I remember something like the increase from 4.5 to 5.5 mph nearly doubled pounds of draft. I know that in east central Indiana we pulled 3-14's with a 49 A with power block, a Cockshutt 40 handled it just a little better. Then the 630 handled 3-14's with ease, 4-14's when we went to a close coupled semi-mounted Ford plow( Oliver bottoms). We had a 49 G with all the options, over sized, hi altitude heads, etc, it would pull 3-14's way to fast to do a good job. We pulled 5-16's with a 4010 that had some adjusting done to the pump. We did have a few heavy bottoms that were tough going but in general we got by. We never tried to set any speed records.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy