3520 and two bottom ford plow

[beagleboy]

My question is, will a 3520 pull a two bottom plow ok without being weighted down or will I have to put fluid in the tires.

 

[wolc123]

That should be plenty of tractor for a Ford 2-bottom (12-14") depending on how it is equiped. That plow was probably developed for a 2700 lb, 2-wheel drive tractor of around 24 drawbar hp (9n/2n/8n). Of course the n's usually had loaded R1 tires which would add around 1000 lbs to the tractor weight. If the 3520 has a front loader, the total tractor weight would nearly equal that of the n with loaded tires. I assume you will have R4 tires (75% or more CUT's have them) and that will cost you a lot of traction while plowing compared to R1's. But you do have 4-wheel drive and a 4wd with R4's develops about the same traction while plowing as a 2wd of equal weight with R1's. If you will also use the tractor on the lawn then unloaded R4 tires are the way to go but you would need the additional weight of a front loader to make it the equal of a Ford n with loaded R1's. A Ford n would plow 1 acre/hr in average conditions.

 

[Fredex]

I'll play contrarian with a cautionary note. Using a loader as ballast may indeed give you the necessary extra traction. However, the loader also biases the weight onto the front axle causing the fronts to do most of the work. I would be concerned doing that for very long because I don't think the front driveline is designed to work as hard as the rear driveline. Might be OK for a small patch. Check temperature of front differential and outboard final drives frequently. My choice would be to at least try it with the loader dismounted. Loaded tires are good unless used on the lawn. For SAFETY, I think all tractors with loaders should have loaded rears or ALWAYS carry heavy ballast on the 3-pt. Of course this is all a moot point if you don't have a loader.

 

[radman1]

I agree with wolc123. The tractor should do ok and the power is certainly there. Like he said the traction may be an issue but with 4wd you should be fine. Even the old fords weren't that heavy in the rear end. I would probably take the bucket off the FEL, to shift the weight more toward the rear. Try it without fluid in the rears first.

 

[wolc123]

If you will do a lot of plowing and the conditions are such that getting stuck will not be an issue, then it would not be a bad idea to remove the bucket to lighten the load on the front. If however, you have to contend with the occasional mud hole, then that bucket may come in handy to push or pull you out when you get stuck. For limited amounts of plowing (10 acres or less), the additional load on the front drive train is not very significant.

 

[jcmseven]

I am surprised to hear that there might be any doubt about the 3520's ability to pull a two-bottom plow of this size. My parents' next door neighbor has an old Ford 8N. It is a nice antique tractor, but there is no way his machine would come close to pulling a plow like the one mentioned as well as a mid frame JD with four wheel drive. I do agree the R1 tires are a better choice for plowing, but the R4 tires are not shabby, just wider. To me, our original poster will have no problem pulling this plow unballasted, and with three wheels if he wishes. I personally still recommend ballast because it keeps the rear of the tractor settled when pulling, but it is by no means a necessity. Am I reading correctly that a four wheel drive machine with R4's pulls the same as an equivalent size machine with R1's and two wheel drive? I am by no means an expert, but that seems to be an understatement. My 3720 will run absolute circles around my neighbor's old Massey, which is 50ish hp and two wheel drive and a larger machine. It pulls better on the flats, handles hills better, moves snow better and plows better in the whopping one instance I have done it on his property. It does this with R4 tires and he has R1 tires, although they are worn some. My vote is definitely "yes" for pulling the plow, but I would still get the tires loaded. Why not???

John M

 

[JPJUDGE]

I pull a two bottom ford plow (12") with my New Holland 1925 cut, it has R4 tread and is 4wd. It all depends on you soil type, I am in Ky, we have heavy soil here with some clay spots. I can pull it fine till I get into some clay then it's over I have to raise up the plows a few inchs to get moving again. I do not have any extra weight or filled tires. I think the 3520 weighs more then my NH so you should be able to pull them better than I can. I am looking at trading for a JD 3720 so let me know how it works out for you.