middle buster use

[bp fick]

I also have the same yellow middlebuster, and it has worked fine in my NH soil. I'm assuming you don't have something going on with the tractor like draft control? Are you sure that you aren't at the downward limit of your 3pt? ( I have to use a different set of holes in the lift links on mine to get as deep as I want) How about the "flow control valve" under the front of the seat, is it open enough that the middlebuster can pull the 3pt down? I also agree that vertical, or a slightly shorter top link should pull it in the best.

Chuck, I think perhaps you've described it the best. The plow isn't the issue. It is far too simple a device. Either that soil, 4" down, is some kind of hard or rocky, or, as you say, there is an issue with the 3 pt. in some way.

 

[teach]

Well...anyone interested in a brand new middle buster, cheap?
I give up. I spent two hours this morning trying to apply everyone's advice to no avail.
The lower 3 pt arms will drop to within 2" of touching the ground and it floats (I also changed the pin holes as suggested), I played with different angles again, the soil has no ledge, it is not "concrete" hard or hard pan even. The point just won't stay down for more than a few feet. It keeps riding back to the surface and once it does that it won't dig in again unless I go back to the same rut I started in. I even tried different locations in different fields.
Oh well, thanks for your tips everyone just the same.
Teach

 

[Robert F.]

Teach,

Any possibility of you posting a picture of your setup? Is this the MB that you have? CountyLine Middle Buster - 2128228 | Tractor Supply Company

If this is the what you have, I would have to think there is an issue with your tractor raising the 3PT hitch. With your 3pt arms 2 inches from the ground like you said, the plow blade would be 18" in the ground. Is the plow blade attached to the implement the same as the photo from TSC? The angle of the plow blade automatically pulls it deeper into the ground. The only way to get it to come out of the ground is to raise it with the 3pt hitch.

I have to think there is something very simple here that we are all missing since this potato plow is a very simple implement. Not too many ways of adjusting it.
In my opinion, if the plow blade is attached to the MB frame like in the TSC picture and there is nothing hard such as ledge or large rocks or anything like that angling up to the surface, and your plow blade comes up and out of the ground by itself, then some is up with the tractor because the geometry of the blade is such that it buries itself deeper and deeper as you move forward unless you stop it from further digging with the 3pt control.
This little plow which is the same one that I use all the time works really really well so don't give up.
A few side view pictures of the tractor with the MB attached in the fully raised position and then still attached but with the MB blade on the ground so the we can see the angle of the blade relative to the ground and the height of the 3pt arms above the ground would go a LONG LONG way in helping you with this issue.

 

[teach]

Robert,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. It will take a few days to some pics up, as the tractor is not here at my house. And YES, this is the exact same implement that posted the link to. Finally, I'm quite sure the 3pt isn't lifting the plow up. But I'll try to get some pics up in the next couple of days.
Thanks again.
Teach

 

[crusty 1]

Robert,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. It will take a few days to some pics up, as the tractor is not here at my house. And YES, this is the exact same implement that posted the link to. Finally, I'm quite sure the 3pt isn't lifting the plow up. But I'll try to get some pics up in the next couple of days.
Thanks again.
Teach

don,t get too discouaged yet,the middle buster is one great tool!I,v used them to dig water channels for drainage,plow in electric cable and just to bust up hard ground:thumbsupave

 

[gpflepsen]

Just one suggestion, check the geometry you are working with in the top link angle. Just as an implement will rotate "up" as you raise it high, or can be set to raise in a more level fashion, you could be rotating the leading edge point up as it digs deeper. The lift arms should be level with the top link angled up to some extent.

 

[radioman]

one silly question- once the middle buster touches the ground, do you still lean on the lowering the 3 pt until it starts to dig? did you open the flow all the way?

 

[ChuckinNH]

One other possibility is a defective middlebuster, one that has the wrong shape, is mounted, or welded wrong. Perhaps it would be worth taking yours back to TSC, and comparing it with another one they have in stock.

 

[Robert F.]

Teach,
If you have not already done so, go to the Everything Attachments post at the top of the attachments category. Click on their web site link on the first post. Once there, look on the left side of the page, there is a column with all kinds of attachments for skid steers and tractors. Below that, there is a box, I think it is yellow in color, there you will find "Video Library" (fourth button from the bottom). On the next window, go to the first column sixth row down, Potato plow demo. This is a Middle buster. Watch the video and see how this plow just wants to bury itself if left to do what it wants to do.

 

[bullbreaker]

Teach,
If you have not already done so, go to the Everything Attachments post at the top of the attachments category. Click on their web site link on the first post. Once there, look on the left side of the page, there is a column with all kinds of attachments for skid steers and tractors. Below that, there is a box, I think it is yellow in color, there you will find "Video Library" (fourth button from the bottom). On the next window, go to the first column sixth row down, Potato plow demo. This is a Middle buster. Watch the video and see how this plow just wants to bury itself if left to do what it wants to do.

Potato Plow Video - Everything Attachments.com

Boone