Moldboard Plowing with Mitsubishi's

[duwem]

I just picked up a Category1 John Deere 1 bottom plow. Its a 16" moldboard. I would like to use it behind my Mitsubishi S373D (17hp, 4wd) tractor, but I'm afraid its too large.

I did some testing in my little garden and it pulled it as long as I didnt go too deep. When I did it would spin the tires even in 4wd with the diff lock. I will be adding 200 lbs of weight on the front end with a weight bar and suitcase weights, and am considering fluid filling the rear tires or adding cast wheel weights.

What size plows have you guys pulled with these little tractors and what was your experience?

If I have to, I can cut this one down to a 14", but I wont do that until I get a chance to run it in a larger area where I can get it set better.

 

[284 International]

I've got a 12 or 14 inch two bottom plow that I have pulled with my Yanmar 186D, a 4 wheel drive 15 PTO horsepower machine. I have a Satoh ST1440, the Japanese market equivalent of the S373. I haven't pulled the plow with my Satoh, since I know it will be too much load. The Yanmar pulls it, but not well. It lacks the horsepower to pull it fast enough to get a nice turnover action.

It is barely heavy enough with 4 wheel drive in my conditions, and my machine is very heavily ballasted: The bare tractor weighs 1539 lbs, has cast iron wheel weights of at least 175 lbs, water-filled tires front and rear (So about 250 lbs +/-), 250 lbs of cast iron suitcase weights up front, heavy belly cultivators that weigh at least 100 lbs, and me, an elfish 250 lbs. So, my tractor weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 lbs. With a little more power, it would handle my plow adequately. As it is, I use a lighter machine, but with a little more power, that handles the task better, even though the 186D pulls a little harder. (Demonstrated, and discussed briefly, here and afterward.)

I think you might be able to get away with the single 16" plow, especially ballasted, if you can pull it fast enough. I'm interested to hear your review and comparison about the relative plowing ability of the Beaver vs your heavy garden tractors.

 

[duwem]

My weighted down garden tractors probably fall in line with my non weighted Beaver as far as weight goes, and they pull a 12" single bottom no problem. It may just come down to ground speed like you mentioned. I was plowing in first and it didnt matter if I was at idle or full speed, it never lugged the engine, would just break the tires loose, but if I get the plow set and get some traction, plowing in a higher gear may draw down the engine rpm more.

I could see how a 2 bottom 12 or 14 would be quite the load for a small tractor. Some of my garden tractor buddies pull home made 2 bottom plows with 10" bottoms and they work good in the right soil conditions.