Getting a field cultivator to go deeper

[dkizerian]

Hi,
I just picked up an old used 5 shank field cultivator similar to pictured below (Only $250!). I used it in the plowed area of my yard and it digs in DEEP, and did wonders. I've now tried to drag it across my field and it just doesn't go in very deep, only 3-4 inches at best. The field is overgrown with Alfalfa and seems to be very hard packed. Would weight help at all? I'm also thinking that the ground might have just been a little too dry, so I'm going to try it a day or two after this next storm.

I'm using it, a subsoiler and a chain harrow to break up the surface, thin the alfalfa a bit, and then I'm going to broadcast spread a mix of seeds that have been recommended for goats (Alfalfa alone isn't good apparently).

Thanks
Dave K

 

[bp fick]

I have a similar unit. Love it for working the dirt.

I cannot imagine, however, that it would have much ability to penetrate soil that hasn't first been ripped deep by either plow or chisel.

 

[brin]

You might want to first go over the field with a bush hog to scalp the growth, then go over it with the subsoiler and finally add some heavy weight on top of the cultivator and you should have the result you are after.

 

[koamfps]

Not sure what region you are in but id hit that field with an herbicide and get a good burn down let the roots root a bit along with a good soaking rain you may get her to go. But as someone else has already mentioned. a good rippen with a chisel plow would do wonders.

 

[flusher]

With that little B7300, your best bet is your subsoiler/middlebuster. I used one of these with my Kubota B7510HST when I put in my lawn a few years ago at my new house.



I rototilled to smooth out the plowed ground.




Good luck

 

[Looking4new]

Hi,
I just picked up an old used 5 shank field cultivator similar to pictured below (Only $250!). I used it in the plowed area of my yard and it digs in DEEP, and did wonders. I've now tried to drag it across my field and it just doesn't go in very deep, only 3-4 inches at best. The field is overgrown with Alfalfa and seems to be very hard packed. Would weight help at all? I'm also thinking that the ground might have just been a little too dry, so I'm going to try it a day or two after this next storm.

I'm using it, a subsoiler and a chain harrow to break up the surface, thin the alfalfa a bit, and then I'm going to broadcast spread a mix of seeds that have been recommended for goats (Alfalfa alone isn't good apparently).

Thanks
Dave K

If you've got a set of disks, disk it first then run the cultivator over it and you should achieve what you want.

 

[Egon]

Add weight and try that. If that does not work try to adjust the top linkage so that the tines have a more aggressive bite.

You may have to remove some outside tines if it goes deeper.

 

[SandburRanch]

Wait for the right moisture, add weight, remove 2 shanks, cultivate round D roundy once, cultivate on the bias twice in opposite directions, add those 2 shanks back and cultivate until you're happy.

Or bale the alfalfa. Considered one of the best goat hays there is.

 

[Gary Fowler]

That looks to me like what we called a chisel plow in Louisiana rather than a field cultivatorand they usually have no trouble digging in. Check your draft control. A chisel plow requires about 10 hp per shank to pull when you are up to center of the curve and in hardpan soil. It should be flat when it lowers so all tines are digging in at the same depth. Try adjusting the top link in or out and see how that works. You may have to go a bit slower also. All the chisel plows I ever used also had gauge wheels on them to keep them from going TOO deep as they pretty much dug in till either the hydraulics stopped them or the gauge wheels held them up our the tractor stalled.

 

[dkizerian]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I'm expecting to need to take 2-3 of the shanks off once it really starts to dig in.

I dug a few test holes in my ground last night, and it is dry and very well compacted for 6-10 inches along the top. I'm going to get the subsoiler out and see if I can break it up tonight in it's dry state, if not, we're expecting rain tomorrow-saturday, so sunday or mornday the ground should be a little more damp and receptive.

 

[dkizerian]

So I gave it a shot, and I couldn't even get my subsoiler to dig in more than 4 inches in most places.

Not sure what my next move should even be...

Ideas?

 

[Sterff]

So I gave it a shot, and I couldn't even get my subsoiler to dig in more than 4 inches in most places.

Not sure what my next move should even be...

Ideas?

So have you tried making multiple passes over the same row? Are you sure your 3ph will allow it to go deeper?

 

[dkizerian]

So have you tried making multiple passes over the same row? Are you sure your 3ph will allow it to go deeper?

Haven't tried multiple passes with the subsoiler - Have with the cultivator and it doesn't really do much the 2nd or 3rd times.

3pt will let it drop about 8 inches more. I unhooked the top link and swiveled the subsoiler out of the wy to verify that it wasn't bottoming out the 3pt.

 

[RickB]

A field cultivator is a secondary tillage tool. 6 inches or less.
A chisel plow is a primary tillage tool. 12 inches or less.
A subsoiler is a deep tillage tool. 24 inches or less, depending on what it actually is.
You aren't going to substantially change those facts.

 

[cattrack]

Make sure the shovels are in good shape & not worn out. I had bought a seven shank cultivator-Deere. It had worn shovels. I could pull it about 5 mph in dry hard ground doing food plots. With more moisture, I would have to slow down to 3 mph, but it was no load for my 40 hp tractor. I had even thought about adding a couple of shanks. Last spring I put on new shovels, headed to the field, expecting to see how deep it would go at 3 mph. I dropped the 3 pt lever all the way down & came to a sudden halt. I had to use the lever stops to keep it from going too deep. By the time I got done tilling up 7 food plots, I was pulling up tree roots from when the fields were cleared 25 yrs ago & farmed each year until 15 years ago. No way could I add any more shanks now. On soil that has not been tilled for over 20 years I could let the control all the way down, but the second trip over it, I had to use the depth stops even with extra weight in the loader bucket-4wd.

 

[flusher]

So I gave it a shot, and I couldn't even get my subsoiler to dig in more than 4 inches in most places.

Not sure what my next move should even be...

Ideas?

You know the answer--you don't have the right equipment for what you want to do (need more hp for sure). So I'd either rent the right equipment or find someone who does have the tractor/implement to do your job and hire the work done. Once your field has been properly subsoiled, then your smaller equipment will have a much better chance of working the way you want it to work.

Good luck.

 

[dkizerian]

You know the answer--you don't have the right equipment for what you want to do (need more hp for sure). So I'd either rent the right equipment or find someone who does have the tractor/implement to do your job and hire the work done. Once your field has been properly subsoiled, then your smaller equipment will have a much better chance of working the way you want it to work.

Good luck.

I thought the subsoiler was the right equipment, and the tractor pulls it just fine, it just won't pull itself down. The couple of times it did suck down, I had no problem pulling it.

People have recommended a chisel plow, how deep do these go? I know a guy around here that will come and chisel plow my yard, would that help me get the subsoiler to work?

Thanks to everyone for the advise

 

[dougg]

Sometimes you just have to wait for rain. It's happened to me with a 100 hp tractor. Soil was so dry the subsoiler just slid on the surface.
That picture posted with the middle buster on the Kubota: You can replace the plow end with a single tooth for opening up the soil. I bought a new one for $125 with the middle buster and the tooth came with it.

 

[dkizerian]

Make sure the shovels are in good shape & not worn out.

Cattrack wins! I made it back ou tonight and looked at the points, and they were nonexistent. I turned each around, went back out and as soon as I lowered the 3pt it went straight down and stopped the tractor. In a single pass, stopping the 3pt right before it stopped the tractor I was getting about 6-8 inches. On the second pass it'd got to about 8-10 inches.

Now I'm going to try some sort of better point on the subsoiler, as the one I have doesn't look great, and might be why it won't go down.

Thanks all

 

[rambler]

The subsoiler is a single point, and is basicly a 1 point chisel plow.

New point or near new on it, then you have it angled right with the top link keeping it nice & straight, and then if it doesn't suck in you have dry clay that is packed hard and you need to wait for moisture that soaks in as deep as you want to go.

--->Paul