Slowing down at the end of the row

mkirsch · Mar 22, 2011

When I watch people run at plow days, they all idle down about 10' from the end of the row.

The tractor happily lugs down and grunts through until the plow is raised.

What's the trick to that? It never works for me.

If I let off even one bit until the plow is coming out of the ground, I run out of power and stall the tractor. Doesn't matter what tractor... 160HP 1066 pulling 5-16's, stout 400 pulling 3-14's...

The problem is that when that plow pops out of the ground, you're suddenly barreling headlong into the woods at the end of the field at full throttle.

I guess I need one of them foot decelerator thingys.

Janicholson · Mar 22, 2011

TA. Jim

cshess · Mar 22, 2011

Change to Case !!!! Than you can do that.no kidding

rustred · Mar 22, 2011

well i think its coordination, as those tractors should handle those plows with ease.need to listen what the tractor is telling you. plowed lots and dont have that problem.probably idling down too much.i slow down just before ready to raise plow.then once straight in next row deepen plow and give her throttle.

VADAVE · Mar 22, 2011

I do mostly no-till these as it saves passes over the field; i.e. time and fuel.
However back when I did plow I would into low range then raise the plow and then throttle down if necessary. Generally low range is enough.
Course you need an Oliver to do that.

fixerupper · Mar 22, 2011

Like Jim said, that's what the TA is for. Most of the guys out there on a plow day are in the fastest gear the tractor will pull it, and maybe a little more. There's no room for horsepower loss at the end of the field in a higher gear. Downshifting is the only the tractor will pull at a slower RPM. Maybe some of those guys have more tractor than plow. There are some variables that come into play.

Back in the day when we used to plow regularly day after day with those old tractors, in a gear lower than 'plow day speed' we never slowed down on the ends. We weren't going that fast in the first place. Jim

jbp · Mar 22, 2011

Sounds like your tractor is one gear too high and overloaded. Slow down a little and it will be better on your tractor and less stress on you too. Joe

ncpapaul · Mar 22, 2011

Ya gotta throttle down some, raise the plow in the last 2 feet and be already turning in the next few feet, all in one smooth motion. Paul

Bob Bancroft · Mar 22, 2011

It's all relative. Back in the day with 40 some horsepower, 3 forward field gears usable, and 3x14"s, I hated crawling along the headland. Sometimes I would throw it up into third if the land got big.
Now with 200 some HP MFWD, AC/heat, stereo, power everything, air ride seat, etc. etc. I have to slow down at the turn to keep from slamming things around!

Dick L · Mar 22, 2011

Might help your thinking if you would have learned to plow with horses. I never plowed with horses but remember my dad and grandpa farming with them.
We have stony ground and if dad would catch us plowing fast we got reminded that plowing in (third) gear would cost him more in broken plow points. Second gear was a bunch faster than a team of horses.(Oliver 77 & 66) (Farmall M)
Dad knew what gear we were plowing in with one quick look. The furrows would not have the nice hump in the center. They tend to throw up onto the next furrow which was a no no back then. I think it is called pride in a persons work much like a craftsman wood worker.

It kinda proved out over my lifetime as well at 73.

rrlund · Mar 22, 2011

Slow down and raise the plow at the same time before you loose momentum.

4 bottem · Mar 22, 2011

Many times with older tractors the fuel usage would be better in a lower gear and higher rpm

showcrop · Mar 22, 2011

I was reading you post trying to relate to what you were saying, but not really getting it, until I read cshess' reply. I realized then that when I had a Case I just pulled back a gear or two on the powershift, and more recently with my Ford, I just push the down shift button once or twice to reduce speed but maintain RPMs.

teddy52food · Mar 22, 2011

Kinda like walking & chewing gum at the same time!

rustyfarmall · Mar 22, 2011

(quoted from post at 08:23:20 03/22/11) Sounds like your tractor is one gear too high and overloaded. Slow down a little and it will be better on your tractor and less stress on you too. Joe

Exactly. You're using too high of gear. Drop back a gear or two and give the poor tractor half a chance.

CLTX · Mar 22, 2011

I've plowed thousands of acres and never touched the throttle when lifting the plow and turning, generally 90 degree left turns. Of course, the old Ds and Rs didn't have a TA either. I've seen videos of plowing and many times, they start at reduced throttle. I just never did it that way. To each his own.
C. L.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 22, 2011

yah, Case put the torque in the engine and not on the end of a lever and will out lug about anything including a 2 banger.

mkirsch · Mar 22, 2011

TA/powershift and a hydraulic plow... That's cheating.

How about an old Farmall H or M with a trip lift plow? Those are the guys I'm talking about.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 22, 2011

I just pull the trip rope at the same time that I am pulling back of the throttle. Seems to work just fine, and I can steer with my knees for that split second. It just takes practice.

thurlow · Mar 22, 2011

I'm with you; never been to a 'plow day', but I've plowed untold thousands of acres.......starting with an "H" Farmall w/2-bottom pull type, through numerous M-F models with 3-bottom 3-point hitch, 4-bottom 3-point hitch on a 3010D and lastly 5 and 6 bottom semis on 4020, 4620, 4430 and 1066. Certainly under the right circumstances, would have to throttle down as the plow came up, but I've plowed many an hour without touching the clutch or throttle. Nature didn't call as often when I was younger..........

heavyhaulertoo · Mar 22, 2011

I've only been to one plowday, i took my f30 narrow with 2/16 jd plow. the only trouble I had was the other tractors were going to slow!! I WAS ONLY in 2nd gear, I could only run about half open. No problem with power. You run one of those tractors it takes some armstrong ha. I grew up on that plow and a 52 H.

greenmachineman · Mar 22, 2011

Haha which case will out-lug which two-banger?

olgentdc · Mar 22, 2011

Yeah ,, Its Like a Dance ,,. or putting the Right moves on your fine Lady to get some real action .. when all worx slick with no complaints or foulups, it is sweet !....ever wonder why so many Wives think their man cares more about thedamtractor than them ?...

Janicholson · Mar 22, 2011

Well the plowing and turning was just fine to do wide open with an M or SH. The trailer plow was tripped just 1/2 second after the furrow wheel came up out of the furrow end. Right to almost full lock, even in third in the sand there was not a problem. Turn in, rear wheel in the furrow, watch rear furrow wheel into furrow trip as it entered.
Our headlands were 18feet or narrower.
The hard cornering was the use of a two row cultivator and making 180s into the next pair without making 3 or four feet of young plants into a salad. Good brakes, aluminum ball bearing spinner, and timing. Jim

Bruce from Can. · Mar 22, 2011

And when nature calls, she don"t leave a message and don"t like to have to call back.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 22, 2011

90 degree laft turns? HUH

cshess · Mar 22, 2011

Might be a draw against 2 banger but Case will be smoother!!! No jumping!! As for the 1066 i know a 1070 case will out lug them at low rpm any day.

Harold Hubbard · Mar 23, 2011

Cultivating, Dad taught me to skip as many rows as necessary to make an easy turn, then catch them coming back the other way.

Janicholson · Mar 23, 2011

My dad said it runs over too many plants! Jim

Slowing down at the end of the row

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads