Anybody use a turning /moldboard plow?

[LD1]

50HP = Plow 2 acres in a little less that two hours, (1-1.25ac/hr.)
30-40HP = Plow 2 acres in a little more than 2 hours (3/4ac./hr)?

So....for 2 acres, maybe the total time difference is 30-40 minutes?
I am retired, so I really don't see much difference.
For 100 acres it WOULD make a big difference.

Yea, not much difference.

But I didnt specifically jump to a MX from my L3400 just to plow two acres faster.

The most recent conversation in this thread is Darmstadter wanting to buy a MX to plow 4 acres.

With a MX, and a 3-bottom that would be a ~3.5-4 hour job
With a 30-40hp and 2-bottom that would be a 6 hour job.

Significant to him??? Maybe? Is it worth the extra cost and more compaction? MAybe? Only he can answer that. I'm just laying out the facts

 

[ovrszd]

As a kid we farmed with Ford tractors, starting with an 8N, 2 bottom plow. Later got a 641 that would pull a 3 bottom plow. Later got an 861 that would pull a 3 bottom plow much faster. We plowed 75 acres each fall. Each of those upgrades were huge!!!!

 

[jeff9366]

HP is important for speed while plowing. But if you are considering a HST tractor that may be a moot point.

I plow with a 3-14 plow and a MX5100.

Medium range just doesnt have the power. Must stay in low which limits to ~3.5 MPH.

The 3-14 is a good match, traction wise, with loaded ag tires.

The OP needs to know that a 14" plow has about 20% more draft resistance (resistance to being pulled through the ground) relative to 12" plow(s).

A 16" plow has about 50% more draft resistance relative to 12" plow(s).

This is due to wider, higher plow contact with a wider plow, sunk deeper, moving a greater volume of dirt.

For breaking sandy Florida soil for a food plot a 12" plow of two or three bottoms should be ample. I recommend a two bottom plow to a plow neophyte. In north Florida most only plow once every ten years.

 

[LD1]

As a kid we farmed with Ford tractors, starting with an 8N, 2 bottom plow. Later got a 641 that would pull a 3 bottom plow. Later got an 861 that would pull a 3 bottom plow much faster. We plowed 75 acres each fall. Each of those upgrades were huge!!!!

641 vs 841......thats what power does. Not so much emphasis on weight/traction.

If something "can" pull it.....it can pull it FASTER with more power

 

[ovrszd]

641 vs 841......thats what power does. Not so much emphasis on weight/traction.

If something "can" pull it.....it can pull it FASTER with more power

Yep .

 

[BrokenTrack]

I plowed up a 10 acre field a few years ago with a single bottom 1952 Dearborne Plow. It took three days, but once it was done, it was done, and I could regrade it, and get it seeded down with oats and grass. It came out really great.

It took a little extra fuel granted, but it was a lot cheaper to just buy 15 extra gallons of fuel, than it was to pay someone else to do it with a bigger tractor.

 

[ovrszd]

Great tractor seat time!!!!

 

[LouNY]

Well for what it's worth;
a Farmall H was rated for a 2 bottom 12" plow
a Farmall 400 was rated as 3 bottom 14" (we used a 4 bottom)
the Farmall 560 handled a 4 bottom 16" quite well
I don't know that a Ford 8000 was rated as we used a 5 bottom 18"

All of our plowing with those tractor was on very stony ground you could not plow fast.
Plus the early trip plows you had to back up to reset the bottom that tripped.
In 68 we got the "big" Ford with the 5 bottom that had spring reset bottoms so much nicer.

If you are going to try and plow your ground properly your plow bottom should be as wide as your tire,
if the tire is much wider you will be running up on your turned over ground and packing it back down.

 

[LD1]

Well for what it's worth;
a Farmall H was rated for a 2 bottom 12" plow
a Farmall 400 was rated as 3 bottom 14" (we used a 4 bottom)
the Farmall 560 handled a 4 bottom 16" quite well
I don't know that a Ford 8000 was rated as we used a 5 bottom 18"

All of our plowing with those tractor was on very stony ground you could not plow fast.
Plus the early trip plows you had to back up to reset the bottom that tripped.
In 68 we got the "big" Ford with the 5 bottom that had spring reset bottoms so much nicer.

If you are going to try and plow your ground properly your plow bottom should be as wide as your tire,
if the tire is much wider you will be running up on your turned over ground and packing it back down.

Great point there at the end.

Don't know if ag tires are an absolute. But r4's would make things more difficult. Wider and less traction.

I will add that my 14" bottoms work fine with the 14.9 tires on the mx. Not sure 12" bottoms would work as well

 

[jeff9366]

I will add that my 14" bottoms work fine with the 14.9 tires on the mx. Not sure 12" bottoms would work as well

Good point. As my smaller R4s fit in the furrow of my 12" plow, I really have not focused on this. In my brain now.