2 Wheel Tractors - Buying & Using

[Libertine]

And this is a row of older 2 wheel tractors in various states of repair.

[Libertine]

And this is a really old one (from the 1920s) on steel wheels with chain drive. Saw a Gravely (from the 1940s) on steel a few months ago.

[Libertine]

Here, gentlemen, is the "ultimate" in 2 wheelers. In fact its so large it has a sulky permanently attached (would hate to try and handle that one with handle bars!). I think it was made in the teens. The sulky is pinned to the tractor - you can see the swivel attachment in the pic. Two cylinder engine.

JEH

[ZJ_HR]

Thank you, man, for these pictures.
Sometimes I'm jealous to possibilities there [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[JRobyn]

I finally finished rebuilding my sickle mower for my Gravely. Pics attached.

[Libertine]

JRobyn:

Nice. Thanks for posting it. Clip, clip, clip. How is it working? Also, where is the "accessory" you showed in a prior post???

JEH

[ZJ_HR]

Fresh colour? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Anyway, looks good [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Just a question: is it hard to steer Gravely with those duals?
Does it have differential and separate brakes?

[RalphVa]

I've a 5665 with a 12 hp Kohler engine. It was difficult to steer with and without the duals. What it needed, and now has, is steering brakes. The one shown in the picture has no brake bar. It could be the 8 hp, which would be a little lighter in weight.

Attached is a picture of mine before the duals but with the brake bar over the left side handlebar.

Ralph

[julichris]

I also have the Rotary Plow from Earth Tools and have used it to plow up about an acre of alfalfa in the past year (along with my 12 HP BCS 850). It makes a good seedbed in one pass and generally the alfalfa does not come back. It works best in softer soil. When it soil is hard it makes handlebars vibrate and the plow does dig deeply.

The main disadvantages for me are:
1) Slow - when plowing up alfalfa I need to go in first gear and the plow takes at most a 12" cut with each pass. It takes about 2.5 hours to plow an area 16'X150'.
2) It leaves a furrow. It may not be clear from the pictures which have been posted that the plow works by cutting into the soil on the left and throwing it to the right. You work the plow by running the right wheel of the tractor in the furrow from the previous pass, and the left wheel of the tractor on the unplowed ground.
The height of the hood over the plow can be adjusted, and a shield can be installed on the left side of the plow to reduce the dirt-throw. However, I have not found a configuration which will make the plow not leave a furrow at all. The furrow can be a nusiance to deal with subsequently. It's an anklebreaker.
3) My biggest problem with the plow is that it is very difficult to use across a slope. (My slope is 5-10%). When I make a pass across the slope with the downslope on the left, the plow works wonderfully. However, on the return pass, with the upslope on my left, the plow is very difficult to use. The weight of the plow attachment drags it down slope, and away from the untilled ground which it should be augering into. As a result, the plow only takes a 2" or so cut into the untilled ground unless you constantly muscle it into the unplowed ground. This is a constant problem for me. If anyone else has used the plow on a slope I would be very interested in hearing their experiences.

I agree with all the praise given to Joel from Earth Tools in Kentucky. A wonderful guy.

[Libertine]

julichris:

Nice post. I've not used either the Berta plow (on the BCS) or my old Gravely plow on a slope so havn't run into that problem. Guess I'd have to always keep the downslope on the port side which, as you point out, would take even more time. I'll have to try the plow on a slope and see if I have the same problem. Have you tried adding weight to the front (or wheel weights-Joel's "bar bell" system works well and is inexpensive)?? Re the furrow, I've turned dirt with a moldboard and a disk plow. You always get a furrow. Guess the only solution if its a problem would be a quick run over it with a tiller to fill it in. Maybe ZJ_HR can give some advice on plowing on hillsides-from his posts he is in a hilly area?

You're right about the time for a first plow with the rotary plow. On the other hand, it produces a really good seed-bed so you save discing, etc. At worst a quick pass with a rake.

Also, of course, the 2 wheelers aren't designed to handle a huge area, although unless you're plowing dry high clay/silt soil seems like it ought to do better than 2000-2500 sq ft in 2.5 hrs.

Anyway, how long have you had your 850? I've only had mine for a short while, but it's sure better designed than the old Gravelies and nearly as solidly built.

JEH

PS RalphVa: is your 5665 bigger than the old Ls? My old 6.6L was never a problem to turn even with duals. The only problem turning the thing was with the rotary plow or the tiller at the end of a row-those old iron wheels sticking out front were a big pain to try doing a 180. But with mowers etc maneuvered real good.