Year 2, more plow setup issues

[sweettractors]

As some may remember, I played **** last year trying to get my Double bottom setup on my Ford 2000 and pretty much ended up having to wing it in the long run to have a decent seed bed. Well, this is the 2nd year I've had it now and can't get it set up for the life of me and am getting nowhere and I can't figure out if it's me or the equipment.

When trying to set it up tonight on concrete for the first pass (with both plows level), I noticed after I picked it up and set it back down to verify it's alignment, it was slightly different than I thought I had set it up.

I then noticed that my leveling arm has a little bit of play when lifting up on it before the lift arm "engages" and begins to lift at the same rate. (This is being done with no attachment attached at this point) Is this normal for that to be the case or do I have an issue? If it is an issue, could that be why I can't set this thing up to save my life?

Get in the field and plow 2 rounds. Start the tractor in the 3rd furrow. Stop with the plow in the ground. Get off the tractor and take a picture of the plow from one side and 1 more standing directly behind the plow looking forward. Post those 2 pics here and I can tell you what to tweak to zero it in. Ken Sweet

 

[Egon]

Get in the field and plow 2 rounds. Start the tractor in the 3rd furrow. Stop with the plow in the ground. Get off the tractor and take a picture of the plow from one side and 1 more standing directly behind the plow looking forward. Post those 2 pics here and I can tell you what to tweak to zero it in. Ken Sweet

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I'm thinking the top link may need adjustment. Do it in the field. Go too far in one direction and then come back till you are happy. Are your shares scoured?

 

[Mearntain]

I wish I could get 2 furrows, so not gonna get it to the third one for a picture. I can occasionally get one furrow with a real uneven bottom, then I go back around and drop the wheels in there, and then absolutely nothing more times than not. Occasionally I can get it to go down some and then it either stays around 2 inches deep or it will dive to around 7 and pop both back out the ground. (This is without making any adjustments between the 2 extremes)

The plow seems to be in excellent condition, it was practically brand new when I got it. I do hear a pop sometimes coming from somewhere on the plow when I stop and pull it out the ground but can't trace it to where it comes from.

When I had the tractor on blocks, I had the plow completely unattached on the ground, and then adjusted the lift arms and top link to it to attach it. Is doing that going to make my measurements be that far off to work at all?

Here are some pictures. First one is with the plow in the air, second on the ground. Of the 2 pictures showing the quality of the cut, the one with me off the tractor makes the ground look alot better than it really is. The one taken from the tractor does it justice to show how horrible it really is. I'll add too that it still is pulling to left all the way, but my chains stopping it from going further, but the front plow is staying in correct position with where the furrow wall should be.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Were are the side pics?

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Not to hijack,

Never seen a plow with slotted (finned) moldboards before? Whats the purpose?

They're called "slats".. the plows with slats were called "high speed" plows and were used in heavy clay soils..the idea is/was that the slats would not create as much 'drag' as a whole moldboard. I've got 2 of these...one on a C20 IH Fast Hitch and a single bottom Dearborn....BobG in VA

 

[Egon]

Thanks for the pictures. As shown the plow share points seem to be acting as rippers.

Looking from the back; try extending the top link and also extending right three point adjustment. No quarantees as I've of the mind the cross member also needs some adjustment but should work as is. To me the right lift arm could be longer.

Do the adjustments in the field and keep at it till you're satisfied. Don't get hung up on flat, level and blocked adjustments.

 

[M5farms]

Not sure we're you came up with that at?

come on down to the Florida panhandle and jump on a field of Bermuda grass with a 2 bottom plow . Ive been plowing since I was about 12yrs old and turned 1000's of acres over these yrs. Cutting the top 3 to 4 inches allows the organic matter to turned over into the furrow more evenly .

 

[Mearntain]

Were are the side pics?

I'll try to get some tonight weather permitting.

Thanks for the pictures. As shown the plow share points seem to be acting as rippers.

Looking from the back; try extending the top link and also extending right three point adjustment. No quarantees as I've of the mind the cross member also needs some adjustment but should work as is. To me the right lift arm could be longer.

Do the adjustments in the field and keep at it till you're satisfied. Don't get hung up on flat, level and blocked adjustments.

I'll give it a shot and see where that gets me. Hopefully this evening if the rain holds off.

 

[countrybumpkin]

come on down to the Florida panhandle and jump on a field of Bermuda grass with a 2 bottom plow . Ive been plowing since I was about 12yrs old and turned 1000's of acres over these yrs. Cutting the top 3 to 4 inches allows the organic matter to turned over into the furrow more evenly .

well glad it works for you, but here we have no issue turning Bermuda, and yeah I've been turn fields for years too.

 

[Egon]

I'll try to get some tonight weather permitting.



I'll give it a shot and see where that gets me. Hopefully this evening if the rain holds off.

The main thing is too make adjustments in the field so you can see what's happening as you do it and then go from there.