Plowing new ground.

[Farmwithjunk]

Here we go! Today is the first day of my plow rebuild. It's a worn down and worn out Massey Ferguson model #66, 2X14", saftey trip beam plow. They were built starting in the mid 1950's, and continued in production until the early 70's. Tons of them sold with 35's and 135's.

I'm going to update the thread every few days. I've stripped the plow down to an almost bare frame. Tomorrow a few more parts come off. Then the sandblaster. Primer and one good coat of red paint later, we'll put 'er back together, using all new wear parts. As I install each, I'll identify each part by name. After the plow is back together, one last shot of red paint, then new decals. Then the REAL fun starts. We'll go through the process of "set-up" and final adjustments. If we get weather like last year, the new plow might even see some dirt in mid Feb.

OK, Pic #1 is the plow as I bought it. Don't let the paint fool you. This thing is slap WORN OUT. Landslides have holes all the way through. Shins are worn so bad there's some wear on the frog. Moldboards are worn to razor edges in a couple places. I'd guess it plowed 75 or 100 acres AFTER it was worn out.

Pic #2 is the semi-stripped frame. I'm pulling the frogs tomorrow before sandblasting. (Frog is the rusty part at the end of the trip shanks. Frogs hold everything together. They're the backbone of a plow bottom.

pic # 3 and #4 are all the small parts that need hours of cleaning, painting, assembley, and adjustment.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd apply some rust converter stuff just after sand blasting. Rust Oleum makes one called Rust Reformer. NAPA has one called Rust Reformer. These convert any iron oxide (rust) to black iron sulfide. MUCH more reliable to keep rust from happening again than any primer. Put the primer on AFTER using the rust converter.

I cleaned up my old Gravely rotary plow and used a rust converter on it. Never rusted. Same with the Gravely snow plow. No rust ever again.

Ralph

 

[Oleozz]

This should be a real learning experience for those of us who still use and enjoy the types of implements that were common place 50 years ago. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress that you make and hopefully can pick up some plowing tips as you put your reconditioned plow to use in the spring.(or sooner).

 

[Glowplug]

Is this the thread that you promised us a while back that you'd show us how to "set-up" a plow? I am really looking forward to following this thread. I'd like to get a 2x14 or 2x16 plow soon. But I am a total novice. Looking at that plow from a distance it looks pretty good to me. I could see me looking at photos of that plow on ebay or the like and thinking it was a good deal, then buying it and trying to plow with it. Heck, I wouldn't even know it was completely worn out when looking at it up close and in person. I hope to learn a thing or two about plows from this thread so I can make an informed intelligent decision when I buy a plow and maybe even know how to set it up for plowing!

I hope I haven't volunteered you to be our teacher FarmWithJunk.

 

[GreenMtns]

Hi Farm
Thanks for starting this thread. I think there is a lot of interest in the rebuild and setup.
Are you going to take the parts out to be sandblasted or will you be doing it yourself? If you are going to do it would you explain a little about that process as you go?

Al

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hi Farm
Thanks for starting this thread. I think there is a lot of interest in the rebuild and setup.
Are you going to take the parts out to be sandblasted or will you be doing it yourself? If you are going to do it would you explain a little about that process as you go?

Al

I bought a cheap/small sandblasting outfit last summer. This will be the first time I've used this one. There's not a lot to be cleaned. A great deal of the plow will actually be replaced with new parts.

Weather guessers calling for 2 days of rain starting tomorrow. That could slow me down. Sandblasting has to take place outside.

First parts arrived today. Well, let me correct that. First BOX arrived today. Ups brought a box with one side ripped out and no "product" inside. Fortunately, Agri-Supply was sympathetic. They'll send me another part and they'll deal with Ups.

Some parts from Agri-Supply. SOme from Valu-Bilt. A few from AGCO. Bolts by way of TSC. It looks like cost to replace all wear parts will exceed $225 per bottom.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Not much to report on. Sandblasting in the rain doesn't sound fun enough to try, so that plan bit the dust. I started scraping dirt and loose paint off the frame. In less than 10 minutes, had a chunk of rust in the right eye. Wife's a nurse. I'm cured now. No plans to do any more tonight.

UPS dropped off 4 boxes of parts. Moldboards from Valu-Bilt. Shares from Agri-Supply. Bolts from a local vendor I buy from at work. Decals and coulter bearings from AGCO dealer. Still missing 2 landslides, just ordered yesterday. Valu-Bilt again.

Note the fact that "wear parts" are coming from 2 sources. Reason why, no one supplier has ALL the parts. And 14" Massey plow shares are almost a thing of he past. (Fortunately, the "frog" on a Massey plow is the same, be it 12", 14", or 16". Shares all bolt up the same. I'm cutting down a pair of 16" shares) Point is, even with a fairly popular plow like ANY Massey Ferguson 3-point plow, parts are getting "iffy".

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hey there FWJ, These plows are fun to work with aren't they :-( I have a MF 82 4-14 that needs a lot of TLC. I am going to drop it down to a 3 bottom so that will save me a few dollars but as you know it is still going to cost a few dollars. I also have a MF 880 4-16 that needs some of the wear parts replaced.

If I ever get the time I will take some pics of an old International/McCormick plow I have. It is a 3-14 but needs a lot of work. I am not positive of the model so it is hard to find parts for it when you don't know what you are looking for. Hopefully someone on here will be able to help identify it as it was made before my time. Have fun on this project.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hey there FWJ, These plows are fun to work with aren't they :-( I have a MF 82 4-14 that needs a lot of TLC. I am going to drop it down to a 3 bottom so that will save me a few dollars but as you know it is still going to cost a few dollars. I also have a MF 880 4-16 that needs some of the wear parts replaced.

If I ever get the time I will take some pics of an old International/McCormick plow I have. It is a 3-14 but needs a lot of work. I am not positive of the model so it is hard to find parts for it when you don't know what you are looking for. Hopefully someone on here will be able to help identify it as it was made before my time. Have fun on this project.

When you go to buy shares for the Massey 14", all you'll find are what Massey called "clipped wing" shares...... A 12" share on a 14" bottom. It works apparently, but not quite to my liking. 16" shares are still easy to get. Same bolt pattern. Cut 2-1/4" off "back end" and you have a standard 14" share.

Where things get tricky is when you start trying to replace landslides. Not much available. What is available isn't quite the same as what came on the plows originally. Aftermarket companies make it "CHEAP". The original "front" landslides aren't available at all. But there's still plenty rear landslides to be had. (longer to accomodate a tail wheel) They can be cut down also.

Your model #82's are borderline, but the 880 should still have parts availability through AGCO.

On cost, all I can do is add everything and divide by 2 on this project. Looking like $280 to $300 per bottom by the time I'm done. Shipping is a healthy part of the total.

 

[RobS]

This looks like it's going to be a fun project for us "spectators". Thanks for taking the time Farm!

Hey, when you're done with this you're going to have to change your screenname! Farmwithproperlyrestoredvintageequipment?