3 bottom plow purchase advice

[Jason25]

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I am looking for a 3 bottom plow for my ford 4610 and wonder if there are any suggestions on model/make that are good.I realize a 3 bottom is a 3 bottom but so far I have only seen a couple of old JD's that seem to be relics.
I figure that there are a lot oldies that may be good, but I just cannot find even a listing of makes/models to try to research. any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ctorbynet.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Carykong]

How many acres are you turning over?

 

[Jason25]

less than 25

 

[JasG]

IH, Oliver, KVERNELAND all made 3 btm plows and all are very good. I don't know models, it's been a long time. My grandfather had a IH 3 btm and it was very good.

Most Oliver, white, and ford plows with spring reset were all the same plow.

Case also had a plow, but I have never seen one up close.

Kongskilde again never seen one, very good from what I have read. Very expensive plows though even used.

 

[Jason25]

JasG,
thanks for your input. I know most 3 bottoms have not been in use probably since the 60's so finding a decent one will be challenging.I know when the 3 point system was first available by Ford(I think) the other tractor manufacturers came up with their own ideas for similar hookups (I have an Allis WD with hydraulic lift arms but no top link.Instead they used the draw bar to control the depth)
So in looking for a plow today for yesterdays farm technology I just did not want to learn by trial and error what to look for or avoid.
Being my first visit to this site I have already picked up a lot of very useful information on plow/tractor adjustments so this has raised my level of basic knowledge.
So I think the plow search then would be based on:
* 3 point hook up
* 3 bottoms 14 - 16 inch
* must have coulters
* parts availability
* some plows have an adjustment(yet to be understood)
* some plows are trip( how do these get reset)
* some plows are trip reset by spring
* plows to avoid(technology that was evolving)
* plows that users have had good experience with overall
I know I have made a complicated exercise out of looking for a plow that has almost NO moving parts but I know there is a vast amount of knowledge out there that could save me the trial and error system.
So thank you again

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have an older McCormick International 309A 3 bottom 14" that I use every year on 30-40 acres. You can still get wear parts for it and it has coulters on it as well. Its a trip bottom so if you trip it you just back up and it resets. Its not as nice as the auto resets but its considerably more affordable.

It is also able to drop to a 2-14 if you decide the 3rd bottom is too much for your tractor. Its just 4 bolts if I recall and the frame and bottom come off in one piece.

Also, Massey Ferguson had some decent plows. I owned a MF 82 that was a 4-14 but could drop to a 3-14. It was 3pt hitch just like my 309A and had coulters. I was able to still get all the parts for it as well but I didn't need it since I had a MF 880 4-16 semi-mount. So I sold that one off.

When your looking don't limit yourself to just 3 bottoms. You can find a 4 bottom that breaks down to a 3 bottom real easy and you have spare parts if ever needed (or if you get a larger tractor). 4 bottom plows tend to be cheaper then 2-3 bottoms just because the large farms don't use that small a plow anymore and the small guys can't use that big where as anyone with a tractor wants a 2 or 3 bottom plow so the demand is still high for them. High demand, higher price.

Also, keep an eye on Ebay. You can usually find a decent deal on there if your patient.

 

[Jason25]

Hi Robert in NY,

Thanks for the information.I had thought about doing just what you suggested about removing a plow from a 4 bottom to make it a 3 but I wondered if there would be any issues with it following the tractor as a 3 bottom would. The plow that would want to be removed I think would be the last one on the left of the tractor.I am thinking you are right about the demand for the 4 bottoms being less.Good point! I appreciate your help..

Jason25

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hi Robert in NY,

Thanks for the information.I had thought about doing just what you suggested about removing a plow from a 4 bottom to make it a 3 but I wondered if there would be any issues with it following the tractor as a 3 bottom would. The plow that would want to be removed I think would be the last one on the left of the tractor.I am thinking you are right about the demand for the 4 bottoms being less.Good point! I appreciate your help..

Jason25

It won't affect the way it pulls at all if you remove the last bottom. As I said, certain plows are designed to be able to add or remove bottoms very easily. My MF 880 was a 4 bottom frame with a 5 bottom added. You could also get that one as a 4+2 or as a 6 bottom main frame with more bottoms added to that. My 309A I bought as a 2 bottom but the guy had the third bottom laying out back and gave it to me. 4 bolts and the frame was reattached and it was a 3 bottom again. Just keep looking for the plows that bolt together as their very easy to add or remove bottoms.

 

[Jason25]

One more question I forgot to ask about.

Is there any pro or con about the issue of full mount(I think that refers to the whole plow assembly being supported only by the 3 point system.)

Verses a semi-mount?? ( I think that is referring to a tire to be raised or lowered for transport of the plow)

Hydraulics would be necessary to operate the tire( again..I think)

thanks again

Jason25

ps.robert in ny I never thought about stupid people before maybe your are on to something!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I like the semi mount because it follows the ground countours better but most semi mount plows are at least 4 bottom 16". The 3pt mounted plows are great for transport because you just pick the entire plow up and you can get out of muddy situations where as the semi mount is a little more difficult. The 3pt plow if you go over uneven ground it will raise and lower and not follow the ground as well. If you go over a hump the plow can come out of the ground before it bites back in. If your on all flat ground it is a moot point though.