25 shear bolts per acre

[PM1]

I tried plowing for the first time yesterday. I had purchased a used 14 inch, two-bottom plow a few months ago, and we finally had enough dry days so the ground wasn't soggy. I plowed one acre with my 45hp 2WD tractor.

The ground I plowed had 1-2" diameter trees growing on it until I bushhogged it 2 and a half years ago. The roots I snagged while plowing were surprisingly large and frustratingly frequent. Twenty-five times I heard the "snap" of a shear bolt and had to stop to remove the broken bolt, reset the plow, and insert a new shear bolt. When I happened to plow for a while without hitting roots, no bolts sheared and the draft control seemed to work appropriately.

I'm assuming this experience isn't normal for plowing, since farmers would have given up plowing and we all would've starved years ago otherwise. Can anyone offer thoughts on why I had so many sheared bolts? Is it just a case of too many roots, or maybe too much tractor for the plow size, or maybe an incorrect plow adjustment? I did confirm the 1/2 diameter grade 2 shear bolt size with the plow manufacturer.

Thanks for any advice.

Parker

 

[Darren]

When a site is cleared for a project, the contractor initially goes through a clearing and grubbing operation. You did the clearing part but not the grubbing to remove roots. Contractors often use a root rake on a dozer. A root rake replaces the regular blade and has rippers that easily gouge out and remove large roots.

The next time you plow that field, you'll have an easier time. The pioneers not only had to remove the trees and roots, they also had to remove the stones. I've still got piles of stones up on the ridge where the settler went through and cleared for corn. Back then shear bolts didn't exist. Of course tractors didn't either.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

Now you know why reset trip beam plows are so popular! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Next time through should be easier, but don't be suprised if you hit one or two more roots big enough to shear your bolt again. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Imagine the horrors of NOT having trip beam plows. When I was a youngster, dad would put me in the smaller fields with our old Massey Ferguson 50 and a set of rigid beam Ferguson plows. I can't tell you how many times i bounced off the steering wheel.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif We had lots of sasafrass trees in the back part of the farm. They smelled good, but if I NEVER know the pain of smacking my chest against the steering wheel because of one of those devil trees /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Without that sheer bolt, a root would stop your tractor like a Navy jet fighter hitting the arrestor cable on an aircraft carrier. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I know you just bought that plow, but if I were you I'd sell it and invest in a trip beam plow. I have a Ford trip beam, I believe model 101, and that thing plows like a dream, and I'm not an expert by any stretch. I'm strictly a hobby farmer, but enjoy immensely being on a tractor turning up dirt. It sure wouldn't be as much fun if I were changing shear pins all the time. Hey, just an opinion, kinda like a'holes, we all have one.

 

[beenthere]

Along the same line, when pulling a plow from a drawbar, we had a break-away trip hitch, that would drop the plow, kick you back in the seat as the tractor moved forward faster, and then the trip rope tied to the seat would jerk the seat down at the same time. Cuss and swear a bit, and go back to hook up the plow, get loose of the root or rock and go on.

But better than when the settlers (that you mentioned) used a team of horses and walk-behind plows. I heard stories of the plow hitting a rock, scaring the horses, flipping the plow out of the ground, having the reins looped over your neck, and getting jerked over the plow and dragged across the field towards the barn behind the scared team. When done, you went back out in the field and started plowing again. They would have been in heaven if they could have your situation, and only have to replace 25 bolts to the acre. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(I know, I wouldn't like that much bolt replacing either).

After a few years those roots will get rotten and plow much easier.

 

[RalphVa]

I plowed some when I was a kid of between 8 and 12. Never had any trouble with roots or stones. We had 2 disc plows, not moldboard type. Think our fields had all been plowed before.

I used my 7 chisel soil ripper in my garden here. Think it ripped out a couple of roots. No rocks of any significance. This is a riparian area.

Ralph

 

[kensfarm]

"Now you know why reset trip beam plows are so popular! "

It does make it nice.. I just backup a few feet to reset.. and away you go. I still go through my share of shear bolts w/ the PHD.. and the Square bailer.

 

[em14]

We used Disc Breaking plows instead of the mould board. I sure was glad of that. Broke a lot of "virgin" ground ... and tho we were clearing the land we didn't use a stump rake on the Dozier.
Leo

 

[LBrown59]

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Have you thought about fertilizing to increase production?