Middle Buster Problem

[RickH]

Full Disclosure: I'm a newbie to tractors and attachments so please be patient if my ignorance is showing.
Using Kubota L3830 and trying to plow new garden area with old middle buster donated by neighbor. The plow will start digging a furrow just a few inches deep but rides to top of soil after a few feet. Have tried adjusting angle of plow without success. The soil is not very hard due to recent rains. I have seen videos of similar plows digging into ground 12 or more inches deep in what appears to be same soil type.
This plow is probably 25 years old and is different from middle busters I see on the internet & local dealers. The angle of the plow is adjustable and there is a spring mounted on the rear which I assume is a protective feature which acts as a pressure relief if the plow strikes root or rock.
I'm tempted to buy a new middle buster but first would like to hear any advice on what might be the problem.
Could post a picture later if anyone is interested in seeing this antique.

 

[bullbreaker]

Could post a picture later if anyone is interested in seeing this antique.

Post a pic with it attached.YES we are interested in seeing it. Don't buy anything YET ! :thumbsup:

Boone

 

[RickH]

I will post a picture as soon as I get back to the "farm". Should get to take a picture this weekend.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[psdx]

I am wondering about the angle of the implement - as adjusted by the top link. The pictures will be helpful.

 

[sandman2234]

It would seem that top link adjustment could fix this problem, but the O/P said he already adjusted it. Maybe going about the adjustment wrong, who knows? (or maybe I am not as smart as I think I am, lol)
David from jax

 

[bp fick]

I also wonder about the top link adjustment. But, if this plow is different that what we normally envision. we'll have to have more information.

The 3 pt doesn't have down force, so the angle of the plow is what takes it down, of course.

 

[bp fick]

I uploaded these photos, so as to better show how the toplink "adjusts" the plow angle. If the top link is made longer, the effect is to point the plow toward the sky. To shorten the top link is to effectively point the plow downward, deeper into the earth.

No doubt the plow you were using has a trip spring attached which is pretty nifty in tripping the plow rather than risking breaking the plow or stalling the tractor. That's actually a nice feature. Some middle busters use a sacrificial shear pin for the same reason.

 

[Baby Grand]

You may want to try adding some weight to the plow - say 50 t0 100 lbs - enough to push it deep enough into the soil that it "sucks" itself in the rest of the way. Also, dig a hole about 12" deep with a shovel. Make it wide enough to drop the blade into the hole without hitting any soil - this will tell you if you have the 3pt and the plow adjusted so it can sink deep enough. A picture of the plow on the hitch with the hitch position adjustments (on the transmission side) would be very helpful ...

 

[20 20]

I'm not sure I'd add weight just yet, if working proper it should dig right in, sometimes to much. Picutres would be worth a lot?

 

[acme97]

I agree, hold off on weights for now. Soil is soft, so should be just a matter of getting familiar with tool and adjusting toplink.

 

[RickH]

Many thanks to all for your replies.
I will travel to the farm today and try the suggestions that were offered. Win, lose, or draw I will take some photos and post them tonight.

 

[acme97]

Many thanks to all for your replies.
I will travel to the farm today and try the suggestions that were offered. Win, lose, or draw I will take some photos and post them tonight.

Whatever you do, DON'T ask WIFE to stand on back of attachment! Really tends to make them mad! Don't ask how I know that one.:ashamed:

 

[Baby Grand]

Oh, no, he didn't?!? Acme - you really are living on the thin edge of geting smacked with a skillet.

 

[Baby Grand]

Just to clarify ... my suggestion of throwing some weight on the plow is not meant as a corrective action. It was meant purely as a diagnostic tool to determine if the plow needs more down force. It's fast, cheap, easily done, easily undone, and may point to or eliminate some potential root causes of the OPs problem.

 

[acme97]

Oh, no, he didn't?!? Acme - you really are living on the thin edge of geting smacked with a skillet.

LoL I know! That's why I got the CAB, I'm hoping she will think twice before throwing something at me.

 

[Reg]

I uploaded these photos, so as to better show how the toplink "adjusts" the plow angle. If the top link is made longer, the effect is to point the plow toward the sky. To shorten the top link is to effectively point the plow downward, deeper into the earth.

No doubt the plow you were using has a trip spring attached which is pretty nifty in tripping the plow rather than risking breaking the plow or stalling the tractor. That's actually a nice feature. Some middle busters use a sacrificial shear pin for the same reason.

The side view says to me that by the time that gets down and into the ground it will be riding on the sole and therefore tending to come up and out.
3pt hitch isn't a perfect parallelogram, as you lower it the implement tips back, that is to say the top gets farther from the tractor seat, so by the time that is in the ground it will be leaning back and away from you, i.e. buster point raised.
Shorten the top link maybe 3 turns, if that improves things slightly try another 2.
Once you are close very small changes will make big differences

 

[tripp1023]

Just a thought... Are you using the "position" or "draft" setting on your 3pt control? If using draft, maybe it is set too "light". That is, the tractor is raising the implement at too light of a load.

 

[johnrex62]

LoL I know! That's why I got the CAB, I'm hoping she will think twice before throwing something at me.

She may just realize that flying glass is just icing on the cake when she throws that cast iron skillet at you.

 

[bp fick]

The side view says to me that by the time that gets down and into the ground it will be riding on the sole and therefore tending to come up and out.
3pt hitch isn't a perfect parallelogram, as you lower it the implement tips back, that is to say the top gets farther from the tractor seat, so by the time that is in the ground it will be leaning back and away from you, i.e. buster point raised.
Shorten the top link maybe 3 turns, if that improves things slightly try another 2.
Once you are close very small changes will make big differences

Reg, you realize I just posted my photos to show successful plowing with a middle buster. We've yet to see the OP's photo's and cannot really offer much guidance.

I've had zero issues using the middle buster I displayed. But your point is valid. Extend the toplink and the plow will tend to "ride out" of the dirt. Shorten the toplink too much, and it'll dig so deep as to stop the tractor in it's tracks.

 

[RickH]

OK fellas, I have attached some photos which hopefully will provide a clue as to what may be wrong. The photos illustrate Baby Grand's suggestion of digging a hole to make sure the linkage would allow enough depth. The linkage obviously allows enough depth for the plow. The furrow is still very shallow in relatively soft moist soil. The rain started before there was time to add weight to the plow and observe if the weight would make any difference.
I will try that on next trip.
There is no draft control on this tractor and the position lever was at lowest position when plowing.