Getting a 3pt chisel plow to pull level

BarnyardEngineering · May 4, 2020

I've had an 8-shank Bush Hog 3pt chisel plow for a couple of years now, and I'm struggling to get it to pull level.

The plow digs deep on the front tines and barely scratches the surface with the rear times. All points are fresh and new.

I've tried adjusting the top link. It makes no difference. Longer or shorter. Raise or lower the rear of the plow. It will not dig in.

It has gauge wheels on the front. Adjusting them makes no difference. It goes down to the gauge wheel depth up front, and the back barely scratches the surface.

Adirondack case guy · May 4, 2020

Maybe you don't have the proper top link for your tractor, or you have the top link
mounted to the tractor in the wrong hole. Common sense says you need to legthen the
top link a bunch more. If we knew what tractor you are using and a pic. of how you
have it hooked up. we could offer more help. Many tractors have high medium and low
holes to mount top link, and you may have it hooked in the wrong hole so the 3pt.
geometry is not correct.-----------------Loren

BarnyardEngineering · May 4, 2020

It's an International 1086, factory top link.

It's in the upper hole on the tractor. The quick hitch goes up and down and stays pretty parallel.

Common sense says the top link needs to be lengthened a lot more, agreed, but I can't. The back of the chisel plow is already dragging on the ground with the 3pt raised fully.

Adirondack case guy · May 4, 2020

Try the lower hole. The top link should be close to horizontal when in operating
position, not angled down from the tractor.

Moonlite37 · May 4, 2020

In the third paragraph you said that you are using a quick hitch. Did you mean to say "Quick Hitch?"

Case Nutty 1660 · May 4, 2020

Bottom hole on the tractor side top link mounting hole, top one on the implement for that app you will need to have a pressure applied to the tool on the rear points when lowered but not on the ground, how deep you go will determine how much you need,, it should be operated "floating" and not being held by the 3pt where you have gauge wheels but still the top link will have to hold the rear of the tool at the proper depth

Janicholson · May 4, 2020

Going on your description of the rear tines being raised when in the soil, and the rear dragging Or
near dragging when raised to travel, there is drastic lost motion somewhere. I would have someone
lift and lower while you watch. It could be a telescopic strut on the plow itself. Jim

NY 986 · May 4, 2020

The quick hitch may need to come off to properly set the top link. Anything broken on the chisel plow? Broken bolt? Stripped bolt? Picture of the setup?

SVcummins · May 4, 2020

Put it in the lowest hole possible .ran into this with an Agco
tractor on a 5 bottom switch plow

David G · May 4, 2020

Can you raise the tractor, or back the chisel over a drop off and see with it looks like completely lowered?

Adirondack case guy · May 4, 2020

Think about the arc that the implement end of top link travels. He said the top link was in upper hole of the tractor, which is the wrong hole. It should be mounted in the bottom hole of the tractor. When he lowers hitch with top link where it is now, the top link is angled down to the implement tower from tractor and the arc of the top link brings the implement tower closer to the back of tractor and the tail of the implement raises. When the hitch arms are raised the implement end of top link gets closer to level with the tractor end. (max distance from Tractor) and the tail of the implement is lowered. Basic geometry and the relationship between the arc of the hitch arms and the arc of the top link from transport to working position.------------Loren

Janicholson · May 4, 2020

True, I think looking at it raising and lowering should tell the story. The top link implement end should (reasonably) follow the arc path of the lower links to minimize radical pitch change. Jim

jon f mn · May 4, 2020

The third link should be in the bottom hole on the tractor and
and which ever fits your quick hitch on the impliment. That will
make the rear raise faster and further than the front too.
Lowering the top link to the bottom hole should fix your
issues.

RGMartin · May 4, 2020

Bush Hog had 3 lower link positions to choose from also. Which are you using?

BarnyardEngineering · May 5, 2020

(quoted from post at 16:06:10 05/04/20) Can you raise the tractor, or back the chisel over a drop off and see with it looks like completely lowered?

I did, and the back of the chisel plow is a full foot lower than the front when lowered over the edge of a dropoff.

BarnyardEngineering · May 5, 2020

(quoted from post at 15:47:31 05/04/20) The quick hitch may need to come off to properly set the top link. Anything broken on the chisel plow? Broken bolt? Stripped bolt? Picture of the setup?

The quick hitch is non-negotiable. Dad needs to be able to hitch and unhitch this thing to pull the disc or cultimulcher when I'm not there, and it would be an all-day fight getting the thing on and off the tractor without the quick hitch.

It either works with the quick hitch or we live with it pulling stupid.

Chisel plow is in perfect condition. Like new really, other than paint from setting outside.

Case Nutty 1660 · May 5, 2020

Forgot you are using a quick hitch,, no problem there the top link has to be in the lowest hole on the tractor though regardless,, we sold lots of 3pt tools and I have plenty of them here mine all work as they should maybe a few pics of your quick hitch and unit so we can see what is causing the problem,, I have a couple quick hitches you can set to CAT II or CAT II you can have them bolted together wrong and that will cause problems at times, no clue if yours is adjustable though,, no reason it wont work correctly just something amiss,, pics will do wonders I bet to diagnoses what is wrong,, heck maybe the tool its self was assembled wrong and that is why it has not been used much seen that plenty of times also

Case Nutty 1660 · May 5, 2020

like I said pics will help you have something totally wrong I have setup up hundred's of 3pt tools never could not set one right,, never once in 50 years did i need to back up to a drop off to check one like I said before top link length has to be set according to the working depth of the tool what you describe happening comes from some part of your 3pt hitch system being wrong,, quick hitch, implement hitch ect without seeing it we are in the dark, the implement will not be level all the way through its raising and lowering arc they are not a parallel lift system,, I do wish you good luck with finding the issue,,

Fordy20 · May 5, 2020

Put a hydraulic top link on that quick hitch. Also makes it a lot easier to hook up. Either Dalton Hydraulics or Prince have them. The one in the photo is a Prince.

Traditional Farmer · May 5, 2020

If the top link end on the plow goes below the top link end on the tractor when the plow goes down then the top link will be pushing down on the front of the plow thus it will allow the rear of the plow to come up.Called going over center.

Getting a 3pt chisel plow to pull level

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