Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor?

   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #1  

charlesw

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Messages
160
Location
The Southern Tier, NY
Tractor
F-NH 3930
So... Yeah... I call out... Doc Bob! I mean, he's got a 70 horse tractor - what's he thinking when he wants to put a 2 bottom plow on it? With a tractor that is more than twice the size needed for that plow - even in the worst case - couldn't he do some SERIOUS damage to the implement without even noticing? I guess that would be my primary concern. Then there's the fact that plowing anything would take twice as long as it should (of course, this is a bit disingenuous of me to say since I've written elsewhere that it wouldn't bother me to have it take a few years to clear my land)...

Thoughts on this?
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #2  
I agree. When I upsized to the TN from a 2120 (43hp), I used soem of the heavy Duty Cat I implements on the TN. It is definately rough on them. You are probably better off with a plow since the only force on it will be what is required to pull it.

Andy
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #3  
charlesw said:
So... Yeah... I call out... Doc Bob! I mean, he's got a 70 horse tractor - what's he thinking when he wants to put a 2 bottom plow on it?

Yep, I agree. Now, let me try to explain (I can smell trouble!!! ).

I just need to be able to do some small plowing. Just an area of about 300 x 300 feet. I need "precision".

I know my tractor can pull probably a 4 bottom. But my soil is tough nasty clay in some areas. I need to turnover 8 inches at a time with about 6-7 inches of rotted wood chips on top. The result would be dirt on the bottom, chips in the middle and dirt on top. Chip sandwich.

My neighbor loaned me his old built like a tank 1 bottom plow (size unknown). I hooked it up and adjusted my draft control and off I went. WOW!!!! That plow turned over the soil and did want I wanted. And with draft control on, no damage to the plow. The sucker just floated up and down as I cut through the hard nasty clay.

Most of my area needs a subtle touch. I looked at some 3 and 4 bottom plows. Those plows are BIG!

But, (there is always a BUT), I am an inexperienced tractor owner. So, I need help, candid opinions and all the TBN advice you and everyone else can give me before I make some big ($$$) mistakes.

So, you guys willing to help me???
Bob
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Doc_Bob said:
I just need to be able to do some small plowing. Just an area of about 300 x 300 feet. I need "precision".

Ok, well, Google says that's still 2 acres. And you're thinking of maybe doing that with a single bottom plow? Hey, more power to you! And, really, if, as you say, it's only clay (no rocks, no trees, no anything else) I'd think you'd be fine. But, wow, if you hit a big tree stump or a big rock, well, the power of -your- tractor would just fold your plow in half. I'd think.

But, hey, that could just be me. I haven't hit a big tree or rock yet 'cause I won't have my plow until next weekend :) And I'm going to start by working on improving my existing roads anyway.

Still, taking a larger view of it all... With too much horsepower you'd constantly be breaking shear pins on a brush hog (unless some, ahem, well-intentioned person went and replaced them with hardened steel pins - like on my last BH! Then the BH just gets thrashed!), you'd fold your rear blade (hmm, done that one, too) and who knows what might happen to a box blade (I haven't had one yet. It, too, should arrive next weekend. I'll let you know how the first pass comes out!).

c
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #5  
There is nothing wrong with putting a 2 bottom plow on a TN. We have a customer that puts a 2 bottom plow on his TM120 and plows a few acres for food plots.
As far a plowing 2 acres with a 2 bottom plow, stop and think, 40 years ago people were plowing 160 acres with a 2 bottom plow and a 135 MF tractor. 60 wears ago it was a 2 bottom plow and a N series Ford. I have personaly plowed 40 acres with a 44 Massey Harris and a 3 bottom plow 30 years ago.:D
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #6  
Bob,
I know exactly what your trying to accomplish ;) . Single bottom plow = more seat time :D .

Bill
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #7  
Now, do I get a trip shank? Shear bolt? Or none of these and just hope draft control saves the plow?

And are trip shanks hard to adjust?
Bob
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #8  
Doc_Bob said:
Now, do I get a trip shank? Shear bolt? Or none of these and just hope draft control saves the plow?

And are trip shanks hard to adjust?
Bob

I'm not sure I understand the big deal??? Just go buy an old 1, 2 or 3 bottom mounted plow for the least amount of money you can spend. You are only going to use it for a couple hours per year. I wouldn't worry about trip shank, shear bolt or whatever, just buy a simple mounted plow. As for your draft control saving the plow, that ain't happening. All the draft control does is maintain as constant of plowing depth as possible under varying conditions. If you hook a stump or big rock with the plow, the draft control will do nothing to shelter the plow from damage. As for the size of your tractor hurting the plow, I've torn a 3 bottom plow in half with an 861 Ford tractor so don't worry about it. :D
 
   / Problems if you get an attachment that's too small for your tractor? #10  
charlesw said:
So... Yeah... I call out... Doc Bob! I mean, he's got a 70 horse tractor - what's he thinking when he wants to put a 2 bottom plow on it? With a tractor that is more than twice the size needed for that plow - even in the worst case - couldn't he do some SERIOUS damage to the implement without even noticing? I guess that would be my primary concern. Then there's the fact that plowing anything would take twice as long as it should (of course, this is a bit disingenuous of me to say since I've written elsewhere that it wouldn't bother me to have it take a few years to clear my land)...

Thoughts on this?

BAck in the day when plows were more common, most of the GOOD mounted plows were available in 1,2,3,4, even 5 bottom versions. In a great many cases, it was just a matter of adding additional bottoms on to the same basic "frame". I've got an old John Deere 415A plow and a Ford 101. The Deere plow came originally as a 2X14". I added a third bottom . Deere sold "kits" (or "bundles" as Deere referred to them) to add additional bottoms to most of their mounted plows. In the case of the Ford 101 I have, it was originally a 4X16". It's now a 2X16". And you couldn't tell the difference between it and one that came off the assembly line as a 2X16" model. Same truss frame, same saftey trip standards, same bottoms, same hitch components, ect.

In the case of the Ford 101, it WAS originally a CAT II hitch. I changed to CAT I. ALL that was required was changing the offset drawbar (where lower links hook) They were the same diameter. Only difference was width and size of the "pins". Same EXACT plow otherwise, even though CAT II is intended for 60 to 100 HP and CAT I is intended for lower HP rigs.

Some older plows had solid beams. They could bend if you hooked something really solid. On a lighter tractor, you would spin out first. Most GOOD plows were either shear bolt protected OR saftey trips. Either way, they would let go before you did any damage.

Draft control does absolutely NOTHING to "protect" a plow. Draft control "only" makes that plow exert the same ammount of "pull" on the tractor by regulating depth (draft) of the bottoms.

With all that taken into consideration, you would actually stand LESS of a chance of damaging the plow with fewer bottoms. (Pulls easier with same hitch components)

Where the trouble starts is when you take light-weight, "economy" implements and hook them to heavier, higher HP tractors.

The "load" or stress on the hitch of a 2-bottom plow is no greater on a 100HP tractor than a 35HP tractor. The bottoms have no more resistance, regardless of what's pulling it.

A small plow on a big tractor can spell trouble IF you attemt to go too fast just because it will go faster. Plows are intended to function at a certain speed. Most work best between 3-1/2 and 5 MPH. Crank up the speed and the potential for damage increases tremendously.

2 acres with a 2x16" plow is less than 2 hours work. (at a normal pace)
 
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