Mole Plow... yes you read that right

[Dadnatron]

OK... All you Kiwi, Aussie, and Brit folk...

Why is it that you (your country) tend to use a 'mole plow/plough' rather than lay drainage tile? And... how does it work?

For you 'other' worlders...

I need to drain some pasture areas, and had basically decided I needed to buck up and put in some drainage tile. In my efforts to learn more about it, I kept seeing the term 'mole plough' tossed around. I thought this was simply an odd term for a subsoiler... but I found out I was completely wrong.

Apparently, the term is specifically related to an implement which is very similar in appearance to a single or double shank subsoiler, however, the use of it and its function are very different. Whereas a subsoiler is designed to break up hard pan to allow water and root infiltration, MOLE PLOUGHS are designed to break up the soil a little, but to a GREATER DEGREE, they are designed to create a 'dirt pipe' through which water will 'run'. (This is my understanding of the basis... so "you in the know" tell me if I am wrong.

Basically, you have a thin, sharp and long shank onto which is welded a 'torpedo' shaped end rather than lifting tooth. Behind which, a larger 'bullet/expander' is attached which slides through the hole, EXPANDING and SLICKING the sides, in an effort to create an underground waterway. Basically mimicking Drainage tile, without the pipe.

I don't see ANY in the US, but they are everywhere (at least internet wise) in the UK, Australia and especially New Zealand.

I'm interested in them because I need to drain pasture, and grass is notorious for growing roots into tile and thereby plugging it up. Also.... tile is more expensive and difficult to install.

So... Mole Ploughers... let me know what is up with this technology please! How well does it work? How long does it last? Is this done once a year, once a month, or ???

Mole Plough Explanation AU

 

[bcp]

The ones I've seen were a bullet-shaped piece pulled behind a subsoiler-style shank.



Bruce

 

[Dadnatron]

I wonder whether I could just attach some sort of 'expander' to the back of my single shank subsoiler? I wonder how big I would need given the ripper shank causes a lot more disruption than the straight shank/torpedo type I've seen on the standard mole plows.

I would think the shank itself would disrupt the soil to the point that the expander couldn't form a true 'mole hole'.

 

[bigtiller]

You can buy a new one from JD for about a 1000 bucks. That includes the ripper and mole ball.

Tillage | 22B Integral Ripper | John Deere US

 

[CADplans]

I pulled one behind a JD 4630, in 1973,, it was a trailer type, not 3 point hitch.

The mole was about 5" diameter, and was pulled 36" deep.

The 4630 used EVERY one of its horsepower to pull that thing in low gear,,,
later we found out that the tractor was not to be used for pulling in gears under 3rd,, too much torque for the axles.

 

[Dadnatron]

How did the drainage work? How long did it last? Is is something worth looking into to a greater degree?

 

[CADplans]

How did the drainage work? How long did it last? Is is something worth looking into to a greater degree?

We did not do it for drainage, we did it so the corn roots could access more moisture.
It worked!!, I only made a single mole run every 12-16 feet,,
you could see the corn that was over the mole run was significantly taller,,,

I guess there was some drainage, we just did not have an issue with that,,,

 

[CADplans]

Is is something worth looking into to a greater degree?

We were trying to break the hardpan layer, I think it was a success,,
There was little data, except for my BIL's memory,,,
he was ecstatic with the results,, :thumbsup: :cool2:

 

[Highchaparral]

This is old I know but I just gotta say, we've, people in N.C that I know,always have called them mole plows. Imy talking several generations.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

OK... All you Kiwi, Aussie, and Brit folk...

Why is it that you (your country) tend to use a 'mole plow/plough' rather than lay drainage tile? And... how does it work?
+ + + +

To my understanding... Using a mole plow goes along with having drain tile, pipe in place.. The mole plow tunnels move water to the drain pipe that moves the water to the ditch or canal..
- - - - -
I plan to build a "homemade" mole plow shank this summer.. In our ground I routinely use a sub soil shank to make places for as much water as possible to accumulate near our fruit trees and bushes..

I have a Heavy Hitch type sub soil shank and receiver hitch adaptor, and plan to build a similar shank with a mole made from 2" square tube to use with the existing shank adaptor..

If this works well I have plans for a stand alone 3pt mole plow attachment.. I keep the plans in my "good idea" note book..

 

[kneedeep]

Any pictures of homebuilt moles?
thinking of a 5" pipe with orange peel nose connected via chain/swivel to subsoiler??
I need to drain wet areas on field edges.

 

[Doxon1]

Any pictures of homebuilt moles?
thinking of a 5" pipe with orange peel nose connected via chain/swivel to subsoiler??
I need to drain wet areas on field edges.

Any pictures ? Im planning on doing something similar like buying a subsoiler and welding a chain to connect a bigger chain or steel ball or some sort

 

[DJ54]

Popular enough back in the 60's up through the early 70's, that Sears listed the mole in their Suburban catalog.

 

[Alien]

My dad used one on our farm in NZ many years ago. We had some wet paddocks and a creek that ran through the middle of the property.
He put the plow in at the creek and drove up the paddock. He did that every 20 feet or so. We used to watch the water flowing out the bottom at the creek so they did work well. The mole on the end also had a pinned link that could flex and it widened the hole slightly more.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

More detail.....

From some more study, and what Alien said, a popular system seems to start at the ditch, pull a ground opener like a modified middle buster at the nose.. Behind that is a open ended V shape trough kept full of washed gravel.. This leaves a kind of vertical gravel wall for water to drain..

Then a mole plow is used cross ways to the gravel drains to move water to the gravel..

Apparently when this fills with silt, or is not useable, another system just like it can be put in next to the old system..

Evidently.... The gravel used up and abandon must not be an issue to crops...

My 5 cents of knowledge on this...

 

[Cedar Lane]

OK... All you Kiwi, Aussie, and Brit folk...

Why is it that you (your country) tend to use a 'mole plow/plough' rather than lay drainage tile? And... how does it work?
+ + + +

To my understanding... Using a mole plow goes along with having drain tile, pipe in place.. The mole plow tunnels move water to the drain pipe that moves the water to the ditch or canal..
- - - - -
I plan to build a "homemade" mole plow shank this summer.. In our ground I routinely use a sub soil shank to make places for as much water as possible to accumulate near our fruit trees and bushes..

I have a Heavy Hitch type sub soil shank and receiver hitch adaptor, and plan to build a similar shank with a mole made from 2" square tube to use with the existing shank adaptor..

If this works well I have plans for a stand alone 3pt mole plow attachment.. I keep the plans in my "good idea" note book..

 

[Cedar Lane]

More detail.....

From some more study, and what Alien said, a popular system seems to start at the ditch, pull a ground opener like a modified middle buster at the nose.. Behind that is a open ended V shape trough kept full of washed gravel.. This leaves a kind of vertical gravel wall for water to drain..

Then a mole plow is used cross ways to the gravel drains to move water to the gravel..

Apparently when this fills with silt, or is not useable, another system just like it can be put in next to the old system..

Evidently.... The gravel used up and abandon must not be an issue to crops...

My 5 cents of knowledge on this...

 

[Cedar Lane]

Do you have any pics of your homemade subsoiler. Thanks

 

[m1garand762]

Watch the rest of the story on YouTube Travis has one and just did a few videos with it