Draft, Float, Position, settings

[hotchkiss]

I have a TN series tractor and think I know the answer to my question, but will go ahead and utilize the combined knowledge and experience of the fine folks that read this forum. I am looking for an explanation of when and how you use the various settings on the three point hitch. I do not have the manual in front of me, but I know they have a position setting, float setting, draft setting and a mixed setting between position and draft.

Please give me an explanation of when you use each. Thanks.

 

[Soundguy]

Draft setting is for when you are using ground engaging implements.. like moldboard plows.

Position control merely allows you to set the lift at a certain height, move it, and return it to that height, assuming you move the lever back to the same position. ? float? Most 3pts with no down pressure will automatically float up. Float is also a term use dby the aux hyd spools, if they have a detent flaot position.. in that position, both ports are connected to tank, so the implement can rise/ fall to , for instance, follow contour of the land.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Matt in TN]

I'd be curious to see some discussion of this as well. I have read my manual and from what it says the draft position works by self-adjusting to keep a consistant pressure (tension or compression?) on the links - in theory keeping your implement at a constant depth regardless of the ups and downs of the land. Only problem I can see with this is the varying consistancy of the soil - ie: what if you hit a root/rock, or move from clay to sand, etc.? Also - is the draft position really sophisticated enough to work well, or do most people just use the position setting and manually adjust?

I'd also be curious to hear some discussion of the various placements and lengths of the top link while using different implements. My manual gave me a recommended length for the top link (I want to say 26 1/2" - but I'm guessing without it in front of me), but I would have though it would be different for every implement you use......

Of course, I'm a newby to tractoring so I'm probably showing my ignorance with these kinds of questions.

 

[hotchkiss]

My understanding is identical to Soundguy's. Nevertheless, if you read the manual for the new TN series tractors, you would think that it is far more complicated, and that the tractor does a lot more. This is especially true with the use of the quick return button for the three point hitch, which is something I really like on my new tractor. I was planting corn a few days ago and pushing a button that lowered the planter to the exact hight each time was very convenient.

I don't know, but it seems to me as though NH could do a better job of drafting the language in the manual.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd be curious to see some discussion of this as well. I have read my manual and from what it says the draft position works by self-adjusting to keep a consistant pressure (tension or compression?) on the links - in theory keeping your implement at a constant depth regardless of the ups and downs of the land.

NO.. it does not maintain a constant depth.. it maintains a level of pull (draft) that the machine will experience.. if the soil thickens, the draft goes up, and the implement will be lifted till draft goes down tot he threshold you set it.. if the soil gets real loose, the implement will experience less draft, and the implement will drop and be allowed to go deeper...

Soundguy

 

[WTA]

I love the draft control on mine. It works great when I am using the big mouldboard or the 6 bottom middlebuster. Even when I go from a moist piece of soil to hardpan it maintains the right depth. Picking up the implement at the end of the row so I can turn couldn't be easier either with that fast raise switch.

Something I just discovered on my tractor that the dealer didn't even know about is that one of my set of remotes can be switched from single acting to double acting. Both remote levers have kickouts on top and bottom and float settings. My dealer must not have any experience at all using these tractors. Just selling them.

I got to digging through the owners manual and just looking at my valves on the back the other day though because I just bought a 16 foot swather that has a pair of single acting lift cylinders on it. There is a screw on the bottom of one of th espools to switch if from double acting operation to single acting. All I had to do was open the screw all the way for single.

There are a lot of features to these tractors that either aren't explained very well in the manual or aren't even known by the dealers.

 

[sunspot]

NO.. it does not maintain a constant depth.. it maintains a level of pull (draft) that the machine will experience.. if the soil thickens, the draft goes up, and the implement will be lifted till draft goes down tot he threshold you set it.. if the soil gets real loose, the implement will experience less draft, and the implement will drop and be allowed to go deeper...

Soundguy

Thank you. That is the best explanation I have read on draft control.

 

[Matt in TN]

That makes sense, Soundguy - thanks! Now for the followup new guy question - why would you want to use the draft setting? I can see how it would allow you to keep travelling at a pretty consistant speed, but aren't you interested in keeping a consistant depth of cut? Why would you want a shallower cut when the ground is hard, and a deeper cut when the ground is soft?

Now being "smart" - just trying to understand......

 

[Soundguy]

Plowing with a moldboard plow is more of an art than a science. If you don't have the right speed or the plow setup right.. you don't lay the dirt over... if you ar bogging down in thick dirt, you are loosing speed and or spinning tires or vering off in the direction of the heavy pull. About the best advice I can give you.. if you want to get into plowing, is get a copy of a ford owners manual from a 50's era tractor, and read the section in the manual on setting up your plow... good info. Other tractor manuals may cover this.. maybe not... ?? I'm mostly a ford guy.. i know the 8n, and 00 series manuals cover this.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Matt in TN]

OK - so this is mostly used for plowing? For tilling, box blading, grader blading, and cultivating (a spring cultivator, for example) I'd stick with the position setting?