Snow Blade Turning plow won't track properly

   / Turning plow won't track properly #1  

tree grower

Silver Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2007
Messages
208
Location
Cuttingsville, VT
Tractor
Ford 1210, Bobcat 742B, John Deere 1050
I started plowing (40 yrs ago) with an 860 using Dearborn 2-bottoms, and the results were perfect. I now have a Dearborn 1-16 I used behind an 850, and now behind a JD 1050, and I can't plow worth a d__m. The plow main beam has been broken, but repaired to the point that the original geometry appears to be retained. I have the Ford Plow Book for N models, but that isn't much good for trouble-shooting. My biggest problem is that the plow makes a furrow too wide, ie the distance between the furrows is more than 16"--more like 20-24". I have set the beam as far to the right as it will fit on the cross-shaft, and adjusted the stay chains on the bottom links to move the whole unit as far to the right as possible, rotated the cross-shaft so the point doesn't pull to the left, and adjusted the top link to generate the proper 'suck', and I still get wide furrows. That said, every so often the parameters align just right, and the furrows are beautiful for about 20 ft . To complicate matters, 90% of the terrain I plow is sidehill and rocky. I would really like the design specs for setting up a plow from scratch. The Plow Book tells how to adjust it, but it is based on the assumption you have a Ford N tractor, and plows set at the factory. I want (I think) the specs for assembling the plow if it came as a kit.

I am fairly confident that most of the trouble is operator error. Any suggestions ?? All feedback welcome.
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #2  
I never was worth a toot at setting up a plow. When your plow is at its max depth say 8 inches or so. The plow needs to be running basically level. Is the plow pulling hard??? A plow that is not set up right usually wants to pull hard. If it is set up right they don't pull to bad. There is a noticeable difference. There is a pitch factor that plays into it. One side of you 3 pt arms should be adjustable so that arm can be higher or lower than the other arm. This creates that "pitch factor". Might play with that to see if that helps. I have always got someone to set my plow up and then left it be. Like I say, I'm not worth a toot setting up a plow, just watch guys do it. When it's right, it plows nice and really doesn't pull too hard. Good luck.
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #3  
I started plowing (40 yrs ago) with an 860 using Dearborn 2-bottoms, and the results were perfect. I now have a Dearborn 1-16 I used behind an 850, and now behind a JD 1050, and I can't plow worth a d__m. The plow main beam has been broken, but repaired to the point that the original geometry appears to be retained. I have the Ford Plow Book for N models, but that isn't much good for trouble-shooting. My biggest problem is that the plow makes a furrow too wide, ie the distance between the furrows is more than 16"--more like 20-24". I have set the beam as far to the right as it will fit on the cross-shaft, and adjusted the stay chains on the bottom links to move the whole unit as far to the right as possible, rotated the cross-shaft so the point doesn't pull to the left, and adjusted the top link to generate the proper 'suck', and I still get wide furrows. That said, every so often the parameters align just right, and the furrows are beautiful for about 20 ft . To complicate matters, 90% of the terrain I plow is sidehill and rocky. I would really like the design specs for setting up a plow from scratch. The Plow Book tells how to adjust it, but it is based on the assumption you have a Ford N tractor, and plows set at the factory. I want (I think) the specs for assembling the plow if it came as a kit.

I am fairly confident that most of the trouble is operator error. Any suggestions ?? All feedback welcome.

I had the trouble you are experiencing and it took me awhile to realize it was because on my Kubota Tractor, I had inverted the rear wheels to get a wider stance. This put my rear tires a little wider than my front...great for stability, but it was making my tractor "crab" going down the furrow.

In my case anyway, the front wheel was kept in the furrow by slightly steering the wheel so the four wheel drive tractor "pulled" the front end against the furrow constantly. The back wheel was against the furrow too, but it was a constant fight with the tractor. The different tire tracking from the front wheel to the back put the plow a bit wider even though it was side shifted on its mount making it cut a wider than normal furrow. Like you, I would get the occasional proper tracking, but it was because I was turning my front wheel outward a bit in a correction. As it did, the rear wheel tracked a bit outward of the furrow and made for a nice furrow...but only for a short period of time. In short order I needed to turn the front wheel back into the furrow to keep both the front and rear wheel in the furrow.

This may or may not be your issue as I do not know if you have inverted rear tires or tire spacers on your tractor.

How did I come to this conclusion? When you are plowing 10 acres with a single bottom plow, you have a lot of time to analogize just about every aspect of plowing. (LOL)

Incidentally I was using (and still do) a 2 bottom Dearborn Plow with a huge rock converting it to a single bottom plow. You can kind of see it on this picture, just in your case...keep the rubber side down! (LOL)
 

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   / Turning plow won't track properly #4  
Pulling to the side and not tracking right is one thing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that's another story. Broken Track you better caaalllllll somebody! :ambulance:
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #5  
I suspect the tractor width on rear wheels is the issue also (compare to the size tractor the single plow was made for). No idea on that plow but you are not missing a wheel (sorry do not remember what the side wear plate was called when no wheel) that prevents the plow from pulling to the felt too far are you? Do an internet search for pictures on that.
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #6  
Somewhere on TBN, Farmwithjunk left a huge resource of knowledge on how to set up a turning plow the right way.
Do a search for Farmwithjunk and be prepared for a lot of knowledge on plows.
hugs, Brandi
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #7  
You should have two adjustable pins on the plow that the lower three point arms attach to. Rotate them so the plow beam is parallel to the tractor.
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #9  
You should have two adjustable pins on the plow that the lower three point arms attach to. Rotate them so the plow beam is parallel to the tractor.
Not all 3-pt plows have pins or crossarm that can be rotated. A lot of Dearborn plows all you can do is slide the crossarm left/right.
 
   / Turning plow won't track properly #10  
No idea on that plow but you are not missing a wheel (sorry do not remember what the side wear plate was called when no wheel) that prevents the plow from pulling to the felt too far are you? Do an internet search for pictures on that.

Isn't that called the "land slide"???
 
 
 
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