WeirdDeere
Member
This past Sunday the April 29, my local engine club had it's plowday, so a bunch of the guys got out their toys, of all colors and horsepower. I got out the DI. Yes, it's painted up nice, but I feel they're not as much fun unless you do some work!
Me on the 1938 John Deere DI, with a 3x14 #55B plow
The ground was still plenty hard even after a sprinkling the day before it was pretty hard plowing. Luckily I was smart enough to mark the levers on the plow when it had been used a few years ago on the same tractor....otherwise who knows how far off I would have been on adjustment!
Had a really good time, with only the usual amount of trouble that I bring on myself! Found out that the tractor wanted to pop out of first gear after nearly getting thrown off with a sudden stop. Might have to investigate this as it's the first time that's ever happened in the time we've been running it. Kept a foot on the lever for the day to avoid trouble. After an experimental round the DI was running OK, but not quite right, it took some tweaking open the load needle a few clicks, actually went a little on the rich side, as I wanted to try running on kerosene (had it in the small tank). I had tried earlier but she tried to stall. After getting it running good, switched over to kerosene and I could smell it as she started burning...unfortunately I could also hear the metallic ping of preignition. I've got the water injector...but a radiator full of antifreeze, so I switched back to gas pretty quick. It still was nice to know that she'll still lug down on kerosene just like the good ole days.
Later on, found out that the dog on the land adjustment lever snapped off, letting the height float around. The host of the plow day quickly donated a bolt and nuts to the cause and got things set again!
Grandpa jumped on the tractor and had some fun when I was trying to look at the other guys toys.
Then I made the mistake of doing "one more round". There was only a narrow strip of unplowed land, that tapered at the other end of the field. Going along great until it got narrow and the land wheel dropped into the plowed land on that side....started getting harder, nearly got stuck at one point. Got it loose and going again, decided to press on as I was getting close to the end...and ended up getting stuck solid. After a long walk back for advice and a chain dropped the pin on the plow and got....no progress. The tractor was actually sitting on the drawbar since it was basically sitting in two furrows on each side and there was no weight on the wheels. Another trip back to get some help from an 820 and a length of chain. Only needed moved a few feet, enough to get weight on the tires and I was good to go again.
Somehow I managed not to get any pictures of the getting stuck. Hmm, must have forgot.... 8)
It was a fun day. I meant to take many more pictures, but was too busy having fun myself instead of being my usual photo nerd self.
I was surprised as there were 3 model Ds in attendance, one unstyled on steel, a styled on rubber, and the DI. Was nice to compare the rigs, and even more fun to compare my plowing speed to the one on steel. I pulled in the furrow behind him and caught up really quickly, I was likely doing twice his speed, and I was in first gear! The road gears in a DI really make it step up and move out!
I DID take video, some on the tractor, some off the tractor, and a little of others too. I'm working on uploading some of them, but my connection isn't quite good enough
Two horsepower
Allis Chalmers CA
John Deere 730 Diesel
John Deere 820
Farmall Super C
You can find the rest of my photos at this address:
http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n8/weirddeere/2012%20LaGrange%20Engine%20Club%20Plow%20Day/
The engine club website is here:
http://www.lagrangeengineclub.com
Brandon
Me on the 1938 John Deere DI, with a 3x14 #55B plow
The ground was still plenty hard even after a sprinkling the day before it was pretty hard plowing. Luckily I was smart enough to mark the levers on the plow when it had been used a few years ago on the same tractor....otherwise who knows how far off I would have been on adjustment!
Had a really good time, with only the usual amount of trouble that I bring on myself! Found out that the tractor wanted to pop out of first gear after nearly getting thrown off with a sudden stop. Might have to investigate this as it's the first time that's ever happened in the time we've been running it. Kept a foot on the lever for the day to avoid trouble. After an experimental round the DI was running OK, but not quite right, it took some tweaking open the load needle a few clicks, actually went a little on the rich side, as I wanted to try running on kerosene (had it in the small tank). I had tried earlier but she tried to stall. After getting it running good, switched over to kerosene and I could smell it as she started burning...unfortunately I could also hear the metallic ping of preignition. I've got the water injector...but a radiator full of antifreeze, so I switched back to gas pretty quick. It still was nice to know that she'll still lug down on kerosene just like the good ole days.
Later on, found out that the dog on the land adjustment lever snapped off, letting the height float around. The host of the plow day quickly donated a bolt and nuts to the cause and got things set again!
Grandpa jumped on the tractor and had some fun when I was trying to look at the other guys toys.
Then I made the mistake of doing "one more round". There was only a narrow strip of unplowed land, that tapered at the other end of the field. Going along great until it got narrow and the land wheel dropped into the plowed land on that side....started getting harder, nearly got stuck at one point. Got it loose and going again, decided to press on as I was getting close to the end...and ended up getting stuck solid. After a long walk back for advice and a chain dropped the pin on the plow and got....no progress. The tractor was actually sitting on the drawbar since it was basically sitting in two furrows on each side and there was no weight on the wheels. Another trip back to get some help from an 820 and a length of chain. Only needed moved a few feet, enough to get weight on the tires and I was good to go again.
Somehow I managed not to get any pictures of the getting stuck. Hmm, must have forgot.... 8)
It was a fun day. I meant to take many more pictures, but was too busy having fun myself instead of being my usual photo nerd self.
I was surprised as there were 3 model Ds in attendance, one unstyled on steel, a styled on rubber, and the DI. Was nice to compare the rigs, and even more fun to compare my plowing speed to the one on steel. I pulled in the furrow behind him and caught up really quickly, I was likely doing twice his speed, and I was in first gear! The road gears in a DI really make it step up and move out!
I DID take video, some on the tractor, some off the tractor, and a little of others too. I'm working on uploading some of them, but my connection isn't quite good enough
Two horsepower
Allis Chalmers CA
John Deere 730 Diesel
John Deere 820
Farmall Super C
You can find the rest of my photos at this address:
http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n8/weirddeere/2012%20LaGrange%20Engine%20Club%20Plow%20Day/
The engine club website is here:
http://www.lagrangeengineclub.com
Brandon
