Calling All Plow Experts

Tall T

Well-known Member
A lady just sent me a photo of a plow that was her Father-in-law's and she knows nothing about tractors or plows. I've asked her to send me what's on the tag. Her ad doesn't give a price.

Is it a small plow for Cubs and Pony's . . . even though 3-point?
Somebody went by and just said to her that it wasn't big enough for his needs.
33110.jpg
 
I zoomed in on the tag and I think I see Dearborn in a Diamond.

Were there 2 bottom plows for the Cub and Pony, or just singles?

Thanks,
Terry
 
Dearborn economy plow? they advertise for anywhere from 150 to 325 in these parts depending on condition.
don't know about the cub plows.
a216264.jpg
 
Talkin' to myself here in the wee hours. :)

Yes !
I see "Dearborn Farm Equipment!"
Checked the logo in one of the tractor books that came with the Jube.

Got a feeling I could get it for a song if y'all said I should.
 
What's with the wavy bend in the crossbar?
I see it's adjustable side to side so if it was moved sideways
is the wave so that it rises up a little?

I'll have to look "kismet" up. :)
 
Well,
I won't try to inveigle anyone into thinking
I'm a plow expert. But I think you are
correct that it is a Dearborn tag. It is an
Economy plow.
Looks like general purpose bottoms.
They made those in 12,14 and 16" size and in
1, 2 and 3 bottoms.
The Economy plow had a couple of advantages
over the earlier ones. One is that it was
easier and cheaper to replace the shares.
Economy plows also had the advantage of
replaceable shins which is a heavy wear area
on the front of the moldboard. You can
replace a cheap shin without replacing the
entire expensive moldboard.
One big advantage to the economy plows today
is that shares and shins are still
available. That is not the case with the
early Dearborns. Not sure if you would find
them for a 12" but I know they are available
for 14 and 16".
I'm just guessing here but would date that
plow from about 1955 or so. Ford
discontinued the Dearborn line of implements
about 56 and went to the red Ford
implements. Economy plows were built till
maybe 1960 when they started selling the
Ford 101 plows built by Riton in ND. The 101
plows were built up untill about 1970 and
changed from Red to Blue in 1962 with the
advent of the blue tractors.
That one looks to be in pretty good
condition and might be narrow - like maybe
12". I don't see a shin on that plow so will
speculate that maybe they didn't put shins
on the narrow plows or maybe they didn't add
that till later.
If that plow is as good as it looks from
here I could get most of $400 for it here.
Primarily because it is a good, useable
Dearborn but also because I think it is
narrow and could be pulled by the Ns.
 
I would buy that plow in a instant. It looks like a good sod/clay plow. Also looks like the front coulter has a broken mount but easily replaced or welded. Anything less than $250 is a good price in my book.
 
I think it is a 12". I'm in Texas at the moment. Wonder if it is close by? I'd buy it and store it at my sister's until I could drive down (on vacation) and pick it up. I did that once for a pair of 28" tires.
 
Jerry,

Thanks for the comprehensive!

You wrote:

The Economy plow had a couple of advantages
over the earlier ones. One is that it was
easier and cheaper to replace the shares.

[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]I wondered why I didn't see a dividing line between share and board. . . or is it just that the share is very short (the red tip) compared to my 110. (?) [/color:3fd8862bc7]

Economy plows also had the advantage of
replaceable shins which is a heavy wear area
on the front of the moldboard. You can
replace a cheap shin without replacing the
entire expensive moldboard.

[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]I'm thinking maybe there IS a dividing line between moldboard and shin, that can't be seen because of the glare in the photo.[/color:3fd8862bc7]

One big advantage to the economy plows today
is that shares and shins are still
available. That is not the case with the
early Dearborns. Not sure if you would find
them for a 12" but I know they are available
for 14 and 16".
I'm just guessing here but would date that
plow from about 1955 or so. Ford
discontinued the Dearborn line of implements
about 56 and went to the red Ford
implements.

[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]I thought all the Dearborn implements were red.[/color:3fd8862bc7]

That one looks to be in pretty good
condition and might be narrow - like maybe
12". I don't see a shin on that plow so will
speculate that maybe they didn't put shins
on the narrow plows or maybe they didn't add
that till later.

[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]I've been thinking that maybe because it has that narrow look, that it is a two bottom more easily pulled and so would suit the un-ballasted (for now) Jube.[/color:3fd8862bc7]

If that plow is as good as it looks from
here I could get most of $400 for it here.
Primarily because it is a good, useable
Dearborn but also because I think it is
narrow and could be pulled by the Ns.

[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]Well that answers my last speculation.[/color:3fd8862bc7] :)
[color=blue:3fd8862bc7]She emailed me today and said $350 obo.
So someone has told her or her hubby the ballpark figure they fetch.[/color:3fd8862bc7]

Muchos Gracias,
Terrence
 

Michigan John,

Well now you've got me hot to trot. I kind of got the impression since studying from forum folks, that Dearborn implements are the most sought after as much for their utility as the classic factor.

It looks like that little tail piece is missing on the lead board -- I see a rivet hole there.

Let's see . . . two bargaining chips
possible Coulter repair and missing wing tip. :)

Thanks,
Terry

P.S.
I used to live in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. On a Saturday night when the bars closed on our side, we underaged drinkers would beetle over to the Michigan side for another hour of over indulgence. Now there was real "open borders". :D
 

John,

Great plow site page.
I see in one plow photo that the crossbar has a wave to it as well.

You said, "good clay plow" . . .
Well CLAY, is the operative word for my soil here on the property. I'm constantly seeking out and mining the patches of lighter soil as opposed to straight clay spots and heavy soil/clay blends.

T
 
Yeah, I can't see the seams between the
shin, share and moldboard either. It does
look like it's been painted so maybe that is
hiding the seams.
Yes, all Dearborn implements were red. But
so we're the 1956-61 FORD implements.
The photo shows how to measure a plow -
center to center on the beams
P1010009-3.jpg
 

Perfect, thanks.
You know . . . that might be the makings of a cradle saw (or something) lying behind it. I'm betting there is more fix-em-up stuff languishing there for cheap. I think the lady and her husband inherited the old boy's' farm. She said his father bought the plow new.
 
Upon zoom in examination . . .the piece behind is a 3-point and I'm pretty sure it is a cradle saw with the deck down on the ground and 3-point in the air.
 
It looks like a 10" economy plow with scotch bottoms which were mainly used in Canada, northern NY, northern MI, northern WI and northern MN so it pulled easier in those type of soils, it would just be a good show piece in other parts of the US. Make sure it has a good rear rolling wheel.
 

I see, like my 110, but this Dearborn seems different, like the share is considerably shorter -- but the leading tip is buried behind the coulter. Is the short share and narrower board what makes it a good clay plow?

Ford 110
33115.jpg
 

Hi Scott,

Hmmm . . . didn't know it HAD a rear rolling wheel -- just the two Coulters.

Is that it hiding under the Coulter at the rear?

Good to add to my check list if I go to see it.

Thanks,
T
 
John,

I can't get that plow page to load correctly so I can't view the larger photos above the small frames. Updated web sites are becoming increasingly problematic for older browsers.

I'll have to search for other photos.
 
Our trip to Montana last August would still not be close enough. I have a niece in ND that I can scout some of the upper states and park it at her place. She and her then fianc?e were the ones in Texas who picked up the 28" tires for me that I hauled home later. LOL
 
We(6am McDonalds group)had a discussion about a Jubilee pulling 3 bottom plow in clay. I said n o way and this person claimed his uncle did it all the time. Looking at a narrow plow with that type of share...maybe in a previously plowed field. It would never make it in a long time fallow field or pulling an Economy plow. I have (3) 2 bottom 14" Economy plows. Even in ground that I turned every year for my garden I had to watch moisture content to be able plow using an Economy plow with my Jubilee and loaded tires. Too wet and dirt stuck to clean moldboards, too dry and had hard time getting plow into ground or staying in the ground. Good plow points, good tires, good hydraulics.
Maybe we were both right.
 
(quoted from post at 15:54:59 02/20/16) I just double clicked on the picture that I wanted to enlarge and it came up in a new window. Closing the window took me back to the original picture. hth

I got the picture a little larger by choosing Image --> Extra Large
but the dub-click new window only loads the top 10% of the image.

What is the teardrop shaped piece called and is it just a scraper to keep the Coulter clean?

There seems to be conflicting opinion.
You said that it's hard to get the plow to dig into dry compacted soil but Tractorguy says it is a breaking plow for hard sod.

FWIW
My first plowing experience was with my Ford 110 in very wet clay blend soil. Other than the fact that I made the classic stupid mistake of starting at the wrong side of the plot, plowing in the wrong direction and having to try and correct that mistake, the plow did well.

It took me a while to hose the lug level deep clay soil out from between the lugs and it filled my 3 rib fronts too.

I should post a photo of the mess, but it is embarrassing.
I plan to level it and do it over the right way.

The Dearborn woman says someone is coming to look at it Monday and that if I want to see it Tomorrow I should phone her.

So once again . . . I'm in a quandary.
Is my 110 all I need or will I eventually regret passing this 2-bottom up?

I'd like to go over if only to ask about the rusty piece behind it and to see what else is lying around at her place.

Thanks John and Tractorguy,
Terry
 
Ah what the hey!

I'll risk it and post my rank amateur inaugural plowing mess ala the Ford 110. :D
33119.jpg
 
As others have stated it's a 10" plow with scotch bottoms. I believe the scotch bottom moldboard would be a one piece
moldboard with no shin. Using the same frame you could change out a couple of things and add either a 12 or 14"
bottoms although it's unlikely you will find a bent up frame with still good bottoms on it.
Considerations to look for (kind of hard to tell from photo) is the wear where the front of the moldboard meets the
frog and the wear on the point of the shares which are buried in the dirt and the tail wheel which I can not see.
condition of the bottoms, broken coulter rod, missing moldboard extension could be used to bargain with should you
decide to buy it.
I think the shares are cast steel and the scotch bottom was only on the 10" plow. I never see those bottoms around
here so I would think it would be hard to get moldboard/shares parts for, even good used parts. It could be different
in your area.

Kirk
 
(quoted from post at 02:46:26 02/21/16) Is your plow adjusted right? Correct wheel spacing?

Kirk,

Well I was feeling my way along adjustment-wise, based on many YouTubes and this Forum's know-how, and If I hadn't screwed up the plowing process so badly, I could have focused more on fine tuning.

Here's the mistake (one of them) that I made.
I thought I should start on the right side of the photo (east side of that plot) going along the creek and working my way west. but I realized I couldn't plow travelling north
along the creek because the ground dropped off and I wouldn't be able to turn around on back out at the North headland.

So stupid me, I stick to the same game plan of starting on the creek side of the plot (east side) but plow heading southward
(to foreground of photo).
So of course after two or three passes I finally clue in that I'm pushing my first furrow's soil over land I have yet to plow and plowing through loose dirt on top of it, plugging up the plow.

So realizing my blunder, I moved over to the extreme west side of the plot (left side photo) and began plowing Southward towards the foreground of the photo which is where and how I should have started in the first place.

If I had started correctly, I could have way better assessed the action of the plow on new turf after the first pass, and made better adjustments.
So i'm going to use my blade or that old drag I concocted or my landscape rake, to try and level the plot out some so I can start fresh with a re-plowing.

Lots to learn, I know.
I had that wide depth gauge wheel set for an 8" depth of the share. (?)

I sure didn't post this photo cause I was proud of my handiwork! Man oh man! :oops:

The ground was so wet there were long pools forming in the furrows immediately . . . patches of pure clay too.

Thanks,
Terry
 
Kirk,

You wrote:
As others have stated it's a 10" plow with scotch bottoms. I believe the scotch bottom moldboard would be a one piece moldboard with no shin.

[color=darkblue:cb9adfc739]Ahha! Been wondering about that.[/color:cb9adfc739]

Using the same frame you could change out a couple of things and add either a 12 or 14" bottoms although it's unlikely you will find a bent up frame with still good bottoms on it.

[color=darkblue:cb9adfc739]Interesting.[/color:cb9adfc739]

Considerations to look for (kind of hard to tell from photo) is the wear where the front of the moldboard meets the
frog and the wear on the point of the shares which are buried in the dirt and the tail wheel which I can not see.

[color=darkblue:cb9adfc739]Right. Is the frog just behind the shin, or where the shin would be it it had them? Is the Frog a mounting point for board, Share and Shin?[/color:cb9adfc739]

Condition of the bottoms, broken coulter rod, missing moldboard extension could be used to bargain with should you
decide to buy it.

I think the shares are cast steel and the scotch bottom was only on the 10" plow. I never see those bottoms around
here so I would think it would be hard to get moldboard/shares parts for, even good used parts. It could be different
in your area.

[color=darkblue:cb9adfc739]Someone on this thread said they were common in Canada because suited to Canadian soil conditions. Only on the 10" . . . that explains why the first prospective buyer she saw said it was too small for him.[/color:cb9adfc739]

[color=darkblue:cb9adfc739]I'm thinking that I don't want to be jumping to collect pieces because they are Dearborn, or to collecting tractors, so since I'm a rookie plow jockey, I should for the time focus on taking advantage of my tried, true and popular Ford 110.

But we'll see, if the other fella doesn't buy it on Monday, who knows.

Meanwhile, I phoned and talked with the man of the house. He has a Case crawler. That 3-pt piece behind the red plow is a back blade, but i've already got a nice one that I've fixed up.

I asked him what other 3-point stuff he might have.
BINGO!
He says he'll part with his post hole digger with its 10" auger.
I've been hoping one would show up.[/color:cb9adfc739]

Thanks,
Terry
 
Might be worth going over there and seeing
what else he has. Make a package deal. Sell
off what you don't need/want.
As for your plowing mess ;) you should go
over to the other little N tractor board
(can't post a link to it) and DL the
original Ferguson plow book. It has a lot of
good info on setting up the plow, opening up
a field - or garden - plus other interesting
stuff. Your one bottom will defiantly do
what you want and maybe do better if you
don't want to ballast your tractor.
 
Terry.
Just takes some practice. You'll get the hang of it. Even though I can set my plow up in the driveway when I get to the
field and make a pass or two still have to tweek it. Replowing your piece might turn up the old top vegetation which is
what you what turned into the soil.
As UD said check on the other N tractor channel in the manual section for set up and plowing instructions. IMO wheel
spacing is also important cause if not properly spaced the plow would have to be properly adjusted to compensate for
it.

Kirk
 
Tall-
Yep, it is a FORD/Dearborn Economy Plow. The model number on the tag will tell you what size it is. Model 10-151 = 10", 2-bottom plow; model 10-152 = 12", 2-bottom plow; and 10-156 = 14", 2-bottom plow. Without a rolling landside (tail wheel) the plow will ride up out of the ground as shown in your pictures. Dull points too will cause that. Your Ford 101 Plow has no tail wheel and like I said, will not plow worth a hill of beans without one. I may have one to sell...email is open. You can also get FREE downloads of many original Ford and Dearborn tractors and implements on the other Ford tractor site...

Tim PloughNman Daley
 
Jerry,

You wrote:
Might be worth going over there and seeing
what else he has. Make a package deal. Sell
off what you don't need/want.

[color=darkblue:350d76b921]That's a good plan and i had that intention, but last night on the phone he said he'd cruise his 3-pt stuff to see just what he has that he isn't using much, if at all. As we speak he is coming up with a price for me on the Post Hole Digger and said he wouldn't mention it to anyone els[/color:350d76b921]e.

As for your plowing mess ;) you should go
over to the other little N tractor board
(can't post a link to it) and DL the
original Ferguson plow book.
It has a lot of good info on setting up the plow, opening up
a field - or garden - plus other interesting
stuff.

[color=darkblue:350d76b921]That sounds like the cat's meow!
My lawyer/gentleman sheep farmer neighbor three driveways down bicycles by every day and enjoys inventorying my stuff -- he's an aficionado of all things classic too. He has a smallish Kubota and said he has a great plowing tutorial spirited away and is searching for it. It could very well be said Ferguson book.[/color:350d76b921]

Your one bottom will defiantly do
what you want and maybe do better if you
don't want to ballast your tractor.

My sediments presactly. :)

Cheers,
Tall (for short)
 
Hi Kirk,

You wrote:

Replowing your piece might turn up the old top vegetation which is what you what turned into the soil.

[color=darkblue:53f3e30bcf]I have been picturing that and wondering if a re-plow would be counter productive. Thanks for that![/color:53f3e30bcf]

As UD said check on the other N tractor channel in the manual section for set up and plowing instructions. IMO wheel
spacing is also important cause if not properly spaced the plow would have to be properly adjusted to compensate for
it.

[color=darkblue:53f3e30bcf]You mean, the [i:53f3e30bcf]tractors[/i:53f3e30bcf] rear wheels right?
Mine tires are those big honkin" 13.6's even though they are Hat Box rims (somebody had them professionally widened) and are inward as far as they go -- or so I thought.[/color:53f3e30bcf]

Thanks,
Terry
 
Hi Tim,

You wrote:
Yep, it is a FORD/Dearborn Economy Plow. The model number on the tag will tell you what size it is. Model 10-151 = 10", 2-bottom plow; model 10-152 = 12", 2-bottom plow; and 10-156 = 14", 2-bottom plow.

[color=darkblue:33ea8cb673]I asked the woman to tell me everything on the tag but she hasn't yet. Her husband said he'd get her to take more photo views of it. [/color:33ea8cb673]

Without a rolling landside (tail wheel) the plow will ride up out of the ground as shown in your pictures.

[color=darkblue:33ea8cb673]When I was plowing properly (not through what I had pushed into the path of the next pass) the plow didn't seem to want to climb up, in fact I had to it a few times to clear it when my wheels spun. I'm probably wrong though and will defer to your judgement. I didn't use Draft mode because I was unfamiliar with it and I was the gauge wheel would cover for my inexperience.[/color:33ea8cb673]

Dull points too will cause that. Your Ford 101 Plow has no tail wheel and like I said, will not plow worth a hill of beans without one.

[color=darkblue:33ea8cb673]Well I'll be sawed in half with a blackberry vine!! :D
I had no idea the 110 needed a tail wheel![/color:33ea8cb673]

I may have one to sell...email is open. You can also get FREE downloads of many original Ford and Dearborn tractors and implements on the other Ford tractor site...

Great, I'll email.

Thanks,
Terry
 
Tim,

I checked your Profile in Modern View and no email.

I checked in Classic view and is shows [no email]


So I'm not sure what you mean by "my email is open".

Thanks,
Terry
 
Kirk,

I just figured out something else and it is maybe what you meant. On that Dearborn Economy, the wavy 3-point crossbar is horizontally adjustable and so moving it changes the plows orientation to the tractors 3-point, hence the plows position relative to the tires also.

Is that what you meant by "wheel spacing'?

Terry
 

Bingo!
Also front wheel spacing. Adjust the plow or the wheels your choice.
I don't believe your 110 plow has or needs a tailwheel
 
(quoted from post at 16:55:43 02/21/16)
Bingo!
Also front wheel spacing. Adjust the plow or the wheels your choice.
I don't believe your 110 plow has or needs a tailwheel

Kirk,

I was burning with curiosity as to why when I posted photos of my first plow, the 110, nobody mentioned the need for a tail wheel. Maybe Tim had another plow in mind. (?)

Here's the long (compared to that Dearborn) landside on my plow. I'm thinking that the length of the landside, serves the same purpose as the tail wheel to "anchor" the plow and keep it from riding up.

Thanks,
T
33138.jpg
 
These alternate views of the Dearborn just arrived:

33139.jpg
33140.jpg


And possibly my new Post Hole Digger :)
33141.jpg
 
Call me cynical, but that plow has supposedly sat since when?
No rust? Reflections in the paint? On the back of the moldboards?
And on the rolling landside?
I would have to see that in person and lay my hands on it.

Looks like the coulters are on the ground, but the bars that
attached the original are still mounted to the plow. Is that right?
Were the original cut off or broke off or something?
Or am I just not seeing it right in the picture?
That's always a good possibility. LOL
 
If you read Tim's post he's talking about the 101 plow which would have had the tailwheel.Your plow has a longer
landslide and a heel. Once you set up the plow to the tractor you'll do better. Polish The moldboard and share before
you plow and it might help along with a moldboard extension might help keep what ever you have plowed from flopping
back into the furrow. I am far from an expert but I do enjoy my seat time pulling the plow. It beat pushing the snow
with a plow any day of the week.
Maybe some one in your area (an old timer) who has done a lot of plowing can help you out. In Sept At our local show,
which was a ford feature, I was asked by a couple of people about plowing with the old fords and plow set ups. I talk
with a couple of the ford guys in the club and this year at our show we are trying to put together a plowing event
with how to set up your plow and plowing demonstration. I realize you are not in my area but anyone who is can bring
there old ford tractor and plow and we'll get them dirty and have some fun plowing.

Kirk
 
Hi Royse,

You writ:

Call me cynical, but that plow has supposedly sat since when?
No rust? Reflections in the paint? On the back of the moldboards?
And on the rolling landside?
I would have to see that in person and lay my hands on it.

[color=darkblue:4f236b7230]Not sure what you mean but I think someone repainted it at some point judging by the paint on the Dearborn tag.
I think it was maybe spruced up (silver and the wrong red) so as to serve as yard art alongside the driveway after the old boy stopped using it.[/color:4f236b7230]

Looks like the coulters are on the ground, but the bars that
attached the original are still mounted to the plow. Is that right? Were the original cut off or broke off or something?
Or am I just not seeing it right in the picture?


[color=darkblue:4f236b7230]No you're right but only the front one broke at its post and the better part of the post is still clamped to the frame. The additional photos make it clearer.[/color:4f236b7230]

Thanks,
Terry
 
Kirk,

I had this all responded to and accidently deleted it. Grrr

You wrote:
If you read Tim's post he's talking about the 101 plow which would have had the tailwheel.Your plow has a longer
landslide and a heel.

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]You're right. I figured he must have had another plow in mind but I also totally missed that he said "101" and I read it as 110[/color:59ee816324].

Once you set up the plow to the tractor you'll do better. Polish The moldboard and share before you plow and it might help along with a moldboard extension might help keep what ever you have plowed from flopping back into the furrow.

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]What I did do to the board was use a big cup brush on my large grinder then I painted it with glossy black Valspar. I figured it would rub off and sho'nuff,the part that was buried in plowing did. If you know of a better way to polish it let me know. Maybe fine sandpaper to remove surface porosity. (?)[/color:59ee816324]

I am far from an expert but I do enjoy my seat time pulling the plow. It beat pushing the snow with a plow any day of the week.

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]I can see that. Instead of being out in the cold just getting rid of something undesirable, in plowing you are prepping the soil for rewarding productivity. [/color:59ee816324]

Maybe some one in your area (an old timer) who has done a lot of plowing can help you out. In Sept At our local show,
which was a ford feature, I was asked by a couple of people about plowing with the old fords and plow set ups.

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]I plan to take the tractor to our Fall Fair this year, so no doubt I'll have the opportunity to learn more from farmers with tractors there and with farmers passing by. There were only five tractors there last year and lots of assorted Hit 'N Miss machinery.
Northwest Washington has very large meets and plowing demos and so I can hop on the Amtrak and go down . . . or take my '51 Van which I plan to resurrect this spring.[/color:59ee816324]

PugetSoundTractorMeet

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]The narrator of that Puget meet seems to be inflicted with IHC tunnel vision; same symptoms as a case of Green obsession. He comes to an obvious Case and says, "I don't know what this yellow thing is . . ." Even a novice like me knows a nice Case when he sees one. :D [/color:59ee816324]

[color=darkblue:59ee816324]I've watched countless YouTube plowing get-togethers. [/color:59ee816324]

Thanks,
Terry
 

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