Plow questions and good match?

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

I'm no plow expert, by any means. The plow you posted a picture of in the last post is NOT a JD 415. It looks to me like a Ferguson AO plow. You can go here Tyler the Plow Guy - Identify Your John Deere Plow to check what a 415 looks like. Or go here NTC Manual Library to see what a Ferguson looks like. If it's a Ferguson, the link is the manuals page. Scroll down to the PDF and follow the set up instructions. Your plow should set level side to side and front to back when it's not hitched to the 3 point. When adjusted correctly, that's how it will plow. Both bottoms will plow the same depth. If it doesn't, the beams or frame have been tweaked. If it's bent, I don't think you'll ever get it to set up and plow correctly. At any rate, read the manual for the Ferguson plow on the link I pasted above. It will make a lot of sense with a few pictures to show you what you're wanting to accomplish, as well as some troubleshooting tips. Might send a picture of the plow, if the shares are worn, it won't ever work like you need.

Years ago, when I bought my first plow, a Ferguson AO-14-28, I had the same issues. After a little trial and error, seat time, and reading the manual, I could plow a pretty straight furrow and turn over sod that looked like a pro. Plowed quite a few acres of food plots and garden patches with that plow behind an 8N. One day I hooked a Cadillac sized rock and broke the tip off one of the shares, instant boat anchor. Parts for the Ferguson plow are scarce. Found a JD 412 in pretty good shape. Found parts for it at the first link posted, and a manual on eBay, it's now in my arsenal of implements in fine working condition. Have since upgraded the 8N for a 1020 JD. All that aside, plowing is an art of sorts. It requires practice and solid fundamentals (for me at least ). Hope this helps. Mark

 

[Mearntain]

Ive seen that on JD identification site before, and that's how I decided what model I had, it's the only one looks similar. The 415 looks almost identical, except mine has the top link attachment on the left side, not on the right side as in the picture. My plow does have John Deere engraved in the frame on the back of the plow in the exact same style and location as in the 415A picture. Looking at the pictures again, mine does have the same type "arms" curving down to the plows as the Ferguson instead of the brackets like the JD has, but like I said, it does say John Deere on mine so I'm not sure.

Is there any adjustments that can be made to level out an individual plow? I looked hard and didn't see anything bent/damaged or out of place earlier.

In regards to the plow sitting to the right:

I've got enough adjustment to move the plow frame about 4 inches or so to the left on the mounting bar until that maxes out. When looking at several similar plows online, it seems all of them have the top link attachment bracket on the front plows side. For whatever reason, mine is on the rear plows side which is why I assume it's wanting to sit to the right.

 

[Mearntain]

Is it just me, or does it really seem like my issues are coming from my top link being on the left side? I'm feeling like I need to move some links around and move it to the right. Any thoughts on this? I still can't get it going right.

 

[farmer2009]

How far out is your top link? Can you post a picture of it. And a side view of the plows picked up. I'm still leaning towards the top link being too short.

 

[Mearntain]

I believe the top link is 20 inches eye to eye when fully collapsed, so I'd guess it's at about 23 inches or so right now. The only problem is that if I extend the top link out much more from where it's at now, the back of the plows hit the ground first. I'll try to get back out there shortly and get some pics

 

[DJ54]

Being the second bottom doesn't set level, I think you mentioned it nosed up, but the front bottom was setting flat, leads me to believe the second beam may be sprung.

Now that you have a picture from the rear, I can see the tail wheel is really bent in. The tail wheel should pretty well be in line with the land side, and ride up against the furrow wall. Could be someone picked it up high with a loader, and it dropped on something pretty solid. If it hit hard enough to bend that tail wheel assembly bracket, it may have sprung the beam, turning it up a bit. Or, could be a PO backed into something pretty solid to, like a big tree, and bent it. Either way, it is badly bent in.

Did you get it from a private individual, or off a dealer..?? If off a dealer, I'd be taking it back. If off an individual, assume the position..., whilst looking for another beam, and tail wheel assy.

 

[jeff9366]

Two more basic questions:

Is your plow set up for a Cat 1 Three Point Hitch?

Is the Three Point Hitch on your Ford 2000 Cat 1 size?

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

How far out is your top link? Can you post a picture of it. And a side view of the plows picked up. I'm still leaning towards the top link being too short.

I agree, post side views of the plow landed flat on the ground as well. Not sure, but I think with the top link on the short side it will angle the shares downward, increasing the suck. The tail wheel bracket in the picture looks to be bent. Should be in line with the left hand frame beam. The coulters look to be adjusted too far forward as well. Hard to tell in the pic. It looks like the right side beam is pointing down farther than the left. The cross shaft appears to be rotated, and IMHO is adjusted too far left. Just for giggles, go to http://www.ntractorclub.com/manuals/implements/plows/1947 Ferguson Moldboard Plow Manual.pdf , service manual, and check some of the things mentioned, particularly pg 14 "Field Checking for Alignment".

 

[Mearntain]

I was out loozing at it earlier and I agree that the wheel is not in line with the landslide on the rear plow. However when looking at the long curved beam that the plows attached to, it doesn't look to be twisted or bent by any means, I think it may just be the wheel thats bent out of line.

In a worst case scenario, in which I hope it's not, that my plows damaged beyond being able to effectively plow with both at the same time, would it be possible to set it up to run good as a single plow engaging only the front plow?

If not, if I just go through and plow it as good as I can, which would probably be 80% of the ground turned well, would running over it with discs afterwards finish up the rest of the ground that I couldn't get with the plow and make it good for planting?

And in regards to you thinking the the cross shaft is too far to the left, that was done because I was battling the plow wanting to ride really far to the left when in the ground to straighten it out behind the tractor. I really feel like my top link bracket is on the wrong side and it needs to be moved to the right side?? And which way do you recommend I rotate the cross shaft? I'm not sure which way to rotate it for my needs

 

[Mearntain]

Yes both are set up for cat 1 as far as I know. Cat 1 bolts are the exact size.

What kinda side pics are yall looking for? The tractor on blocks and the plows set up as close as I can, but sitting on the ground?