We need to know the SPECIFIC model of Ford plow. Earlier models were 10-XX, Later model is a 101 (NOT 100) The 101 is as good as any mounted plow ever built. Earlier 10- series are adaquate, but not quite the plow the 101 is. Long story short, there are a bunch of newer plows out there that are better than those earliest Ford models. Now, about those Leinbach/TSC plows. They use the same DESIGN and shaped bottom as the Ford 101. Supposedly parts will interchange. They're using wear parts that don't fit and align quite as well as original Ford parts. The frames are bulky and heavy but not in the sense they're any stronger (or AS STRONG) The Leinbach plows have coulters available as an option, but as of yet I've never seen one equipped with coulters (which I consider a "must have" on a plow) Another complaint I have with the Leinbach plow is, the only available trip mechanism is a shearbolt. I prefer saftey reset trip beams where you don't have to be constantly jumping off the tractor when plowing around roots, rocks, ect. The Ford 101 was available with both types of trip beams.
Ok. About how they actually work. A few years ago, I had a nice set of Massey Ferguson #66 2X12" plows. A neighbor bought a set of Leinbach 2X14"'s for a Ferguson TO20 he owned. In the soil around here, 2X14"'s were just too much for his tractor. We worked out a deal where we swapped plows and a little cash. I also owned a set of Ford 101's, 3X14". I hooked the Leinbach 2X14"'s to a 60 hp Deere I own. I started plowing my acre of garden. After a few passes, I decided the Leinback plow was a dud. It was adjusted properly, set at an acceptable depth, ect. It just flat pulled like a boat anchor. I dropped it and hooked op the Ford 101 3-bottom plow and finished the garden. Without a doubt the THREE bottom plow pulled EASIER than the TWO bottom Leinbach plow.
About plowing depth. It's always been a rule of thumb that plows are intended to operate at a depth of 1/2 their width. (ie 12" @ 6" deep, 14" @ 7" deep, 16" @ 8" deep) SOME brands offered deep draft bottoms on larger plows. (ie John Deere had deep draft bottoms on 145H semi-mount plows) They were so that a typical 16" plow could work to depths near 10". That rule of thumb can be "fudged" a bit. MAYBE an inch or two, BUT, it wouldn't be unusual to see the furrow slice not roll completely over "green side down" if you're plowing too deep.
Deep tillage is subsoiler/chisel plow/vee ripper territory.
