Bottom plow width vs rear tire width

[peter_vii]

Hi there,

I'm a plowing newbie. So be gentle...

I'm thinking about buying 3 pt 3x16" plow for my JD 5083E with
18.9x30 rear tires.

My question is: Does the cut width need be bigger than the rear tire
width? Do I need narrower tires or wider bottoms?

Since the rear tires are wider and will be going in the previous furrow,
should they be narrower than the furrow width?

Any comments from people who actually plowed with 16" bottoms and wider
tires would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Farmwithjunk]

You're fine with the tires you have. A 16" plow cuts a 16" swath, but moves it over 18" to 20". So the open furrow is wider than 16". I plowed for years with 14" (3X14") plows behind a tractor with 16.9X30's NEver an issue.....

 

[peter_vii]

Thank you very much. I'm going to buy that 16" bottom plow.

 

[art]

I've seen 20.8-38 tires in a 16" furrow before and can only second Farm with Junks recommendation.

 

[alltoys]

Hope I can add a couple more questions about plowing.

How is the plow measured?

I find with my 2 bottom plow I can't move the arms over far enough to get an even cut. At most the inside plow will cut 4-5 inches where as the second cuts a full width. I also welded in plow shears in front of the plow to help cut the sod I find it works better than the colter that was on it.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hope I can add a couple more questions about plowing.

How is the plow measured?

I find with my 2 bottom plow I can't move the arms over far enough to get an even cut. At most the inside plow will cut 4-5 inches where as the second cuts a full width. I also welded in plow shears in front of the plow to help cut the sod I find it works better than the colter that was on it.

Done CORRECTLY, you DON'T adjust the plow to fit the tractor so much as you adjust the tractor to fit the plow. If the lead bottom is tucked in behind the rear wheel, you need to set the track width of the tractor out to a wider position. The top link should trail almost straight behind the tractor in line with direction of travel. If you're shifting the plow to one side, you're NOT lined up on the DRAFT LINE of the plow, causing uneven pull to one side.

Also sounds as if possibly your coulters weren't adjusted correctly and/or were worn beyond servicable limits.

Plows are measured in width of cut (per each bottom) The easiest way to measure one is to throw a tape measure across the frame. Measure from identical points on the beams. (ie inside to inside)

 

[peter_vii]

I plowed 8 acres this weekend, went too deep in few spots but
3 bottom 16" plow was all my JD5083E (65 HP) could handle, in some moist
spots I had to lift it up a bit.

Tire tracks on my tractor are 6.5' outside to outside, about 5'
inside. The plow covered the tracks nicely leaving no tracks.

I dropped the left side of the plow 6" with the link adjustment
on the 3pt by lifting the right side. When in the furrow, the plow was
more less horizontal.

When I went to about 5" deep, the soil was rolling over perfectly
at 3.5 mph and 1500 RPM. Deeper than that I had to increase the RPMs...

 

[Duffster]

I plowed 8 acres this weekend, went too deep in few spots but
3 bottom 16" plow was all my JD5083E (65 HP) could handle, in some moist
spots I had to lift it up a bit.

Tire tracks on my tractor are 6.5' outside to outside, about 5'
inside. The plow covered the tracks nicely leaving no tracks.

I dropped the left side of the plow 6" with the link adjustment
on the 3pt by lifting the right side. When in the furrow, the plow was
more less horizontal.

When I went to about 5" deep, the soil was rolling over perfectly
at 3.5 mph and 1500 RPM. Deeper than that I had to increase the RPMs...

Why would you only plow at 1500 rpm's?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Why would you only plow at 1500 rpm's?

That's where I plow with my MF150. No need to run WFO. Peak torque is right about there. I adjust ground speed with gearing. (4-1/2 to 5 mph) The engine doesn't even labor at that rpm. Why blast the engine at rpms way beyond what is needed? I can plow an acre on 3/4 gallon of fuel. Wide open, fuel economy drops off by a BUNCH.

 

[peter_vii]

Why would you only plow at 1500 rpm's?

To go at 3.5 mph. Why? What RPMs, speed are you using?

I had few big boulders I did out in the process, going faster did not
help turning of soil and going at 3.5mph things were more controllable.