John Bud's Tractor with "new" plow

[MJB]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

I think those scoops are called "Fresno scrapers". They used them, along with many other tools, to dig the Erie Canal for several hundred miles across upstate New York. If I recall correctly the original specifications for the canal was that it would be 30' wide at the surface, 20' wide at the bottom, with a water level of about 6' deep. Doing the math that figures out to......a lot of dirt./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

All generalizations are false.

 

[jinman]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Okay....this is getting interesting here. I wonder where the name "Fresno" came from? Surely not Fresno, CA when they were digging the Erie Canal. Hmmmm, I wonder if anyone still has one around anywhere? That would make a great collecter's item and even better with a picture of someone using it. Thanks for the added info, MJB.

JimI

 

[Bird]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Best I can remember, you're about right on the size, JimI, and if you've never used one, you don't know what you've missed. There was one on the little farm my dad bought when I was 11 years old and we used it a bit for moving some dirt, sand, and gravel - or I should say dad used it a bit. With my size, weight, and skill level at the time, it would either dig in too deep, flip forward and dump, or else it would just skim across the surface. Of course, it was a 2 person operation for us because we pulled it with the old John Deere or the pickup since we didn't have a team of mules.

Bird

 

[jinman]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Hey Bird, your age is showing /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. I never expected to hear anyone say they had actually used one...even without the team of mules. I'm constantly amazed at how much easier we have it today (I said easier, not necessarily better). I have been watching some huge John Deere tractors pull scrapers larger than those big earthmovers. I'll try to get a picture before much longer. They are really awesome.

JimI

 

[ronjhall]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with "new" plow

JimI:
I don't think age has anything to do with it. I'm sure I'm not as old as Bird./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif But I do have a drag scoop./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Even have some experience with using it. Oldest son and I used it to remove dirt from a Michigan basement we dug under our house around 1978. Used a Farmal Cub and a 30' chain to drag all the dirt out. I remember it well because the front edge got caught on a stone. Whipped the handles sideways and knocked me flat on my back./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif Took a couple of weeks to get back into shape to continue project./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
My dad used one with a Model A Ford to dig the basement in a house he built in the late 40's.
If you are ever inclined to use one./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Please contact me./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I can arrange some free lessons at my place./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Oh yes, I do have a picture attached./w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Yeah, Ron, that's the implement. They got the job done, but as you learned, you sure have to hang on tight and I guess it helps if you're big, heavy, and strong.

Bird

 

[jinman]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

WOW!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif.....just wow! It even has new handles, and it looks like some fresh dirt in it./w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif Thanks for the photo. My uncle used to use a mule to plow his sugarcane field (he grew and made syrup for a hobby). He said he used the mule because the rows were so close and the cane so high that any tractor would have knocked down the plants. The mule fitted nicely between the rows./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I bet there are some jobs that that scoop does better than anything new and fancy. Thanks again for the "lesson."

JimI

 

[john_bud]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Well, I finally got my photos transfered from film to electrons. Here is the Proto-pond after a rain storm. There are views from the front of the pond as well as the back. It has been 2 1/2 weeks and the water level is still at about 2 to 3 feet deep! It really makes a mockery of my digging schedule!

John Bud

 

[Harv]

Re: John Bud\'s Tractor with \"new\" plow

Looks like a seriously fun tractor project, John! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I am starting to become envious of those of you with relatively flat, open spaces to tinker with on your tractors.

On the other hand, there is virtually nowhere on my property where I can't chain onto a good-sized tree to winch myself out of a mudhole. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif