3 Bottom rollover plow (IH140 plow) questions

[Big Barn]

I just found these plow setup instructions from Ken Sweet.


The Instructions From a JD plow owners manual, the tire settings on the tractor are the major determining factor in how much the front plow cuts (1-2-3-4 bottom plow all the same) and keeping it centered with the tractor.

From the inside of the right rear tire rubber to the center of the drawbar you need:
23 inches for 12" bottom plow
25 inches for 14 inch bottom plow
27 inches for 16 inch bottom plow

We have used these initial setttings for decades and they works on all brands plows and all tractors--We have found that this in the single most important initial setting when mounting a plow.

Sweet Farm Equipment - New & Used Farming Tools & Equipment | Tractor Equipment, Implements


---Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Canmer and Munfordville, Ky*

I don't know where he posted them.

Those measurements are for one way plows not rollover I believe, but may still apply.

 

[micdelbo]

Yes, wheel spacing is the cause of his problem.

For all those posting remember the OP has a 316 rollover plow.

This is one HEAVY plow. Without the stabilizers it wil most certainly swing side to side pretty intensely and probably catch a tire. That has been my experience.

Mike

 

[Big Barn]

Yes, wheel spacing is the cause of his problem.

For all those posting remember the OP has a 316 rollover plow.

This is one HEAVY plow. Without the stabilizers it wil most certainly swing side to side pretty intensely and probably catch a tire. That has been my experience.

Mike

In which case stabilizers should be set so the implement has free movement WITHOUT hitting the tires.

 

[woolyAcres]

THEPARTYHOUND- I believe, on this machine only 2 of 3 top-link positions will work with draft. One of those positions is for heavy load (the middle hole) and one is for normal load (lower hole). I wonder if one or the other of these top-link locations might help automatically maintain plow depth better. Just a thought.

 

[LouNY]

In which case stabilizers should be set so the implement has free movement WITHOUT hitting the tires.

The tractors that I mouldboard plowed with did not have stabilizers to loosen unless you removed the sway blocks which we never did.
When the spacing is set the plow needs to run evenly not be allowed to walk around.
Our 4 bottom were IH fast hitch which are quite a bit different but the plow was not allowed to swing free side to side.
Also ran a 4 bottom turn over on a 1206 it was setup with as minimal swing as possible.
Our 5 bottoms where semi-mounted with a side hill hitch (adjustable) and a linkage turned rear furrow wheel.
None of these where allowed to swing fre.

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

I did check, if the stabilizers were not used, the plow could swing into the rear tires. micdelbo is right, this plow is HEAVY! Somewhere close to 2500 lbs according to the scales at the truck stop. The stabilizers have an oval hole to allow some movement without allowing the tool to swing the lower arms into the tires, which is what I have been using and it seems to be working pretty good. I suspect that the plow is following inline pretty good, but maybe once it's in the ground I could remove the stabilizer to see if that changes the way it tracks. I would not want to drive around the hills, ditches, bumps, etc without the stabilizers and the plow in the air. I'm sure it would violently bang from one tire to the other!

Wooly, I did read up on that. I have been running it on the lower of the two pins. I guess it would be worth a try to see what it does on the middle pin, but I was assuming the lower pin would give me the most sensitivity which kinda seems like a good thing. It does seem to be holding it's depth well, except when I run into one of the few rocky areas that I have in the field. Then it seems that it works best to just lower the draft control and let it sink in till I start slipping tires, then give it a little more draft control to put some weight back on the tires. Once it bites into the rocky soil, it keeps it's depth pretty well.

 

[woolyAcres]

THEPARTYHOUND, any luck widening your tires?

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

No Wooly, I still didn't get that done. I just went ahead and finished plowing with it set up the way it was. I never have as much time in the evenings as I'd like to have. It may end up being a weekend project.

 

[woolyAcres]

No Wooly, I still didn't get that done. I just went ahead and finished plowing with it set up the way it was. I never have as much time in the evenings as I'd like to have. It may end up being a weekend project.

I understand. Glad you're making progress on the field. Just be careful swapping those tires. If you think of it, post back if/when you get them swapped. I'm curious to know if that will allow you to get to full, 3 plow use. And I'd like to know how this tractor handles all 3 plows in the ground. Best of luck.

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

FWIW, it has pulled all 3 plows in the first row. It really didn't seem to be any different than just the 2 of them. The hills I'm plowing on give me the most trouble in terms of both traction and power. In hindsight, it may have made sense to set up so that I was plowing across the side of the hill with my tires in the empty furrow on the uphill side.
All told, however, this tractor handles this plow well. In 4th gear, low range you will never run out of power. It is only a matter of keeping traction. I have done 98% of my plowing in Med range 1st gear (which can lose power occasionally) and even a very little bit in 2nd. I'm plowing uphill in soft sandy soil and only once did I lose traction to the point that I had dug 4 holes and then had to back up and pull the plow out and reposition. I'm running 20 psi in the back tires. They came from the dealership with single digit pressures, which I didn't notice till I mounted the 2500 lb. plow and the tractor felt like it was going to tip over on uneven ground! At 20 psi, the tires handle the weight well and provide oodles of traction. In fact, it surprises me how much traction I get with this setup at times!