Plowing new ground.

[Farmwithjunk]

Funny.....I get up every weekday at 4 AM. I almost always want to stay in bed and sleep a few minutes longer. Weekend arrives, I can sleep in, and guess what? I'm wide awake and moving around AT 2AM.........

Oh well.

Headed out to the shop in a few. All the old parts are cleaned and ready for primer. All the small parts are hanging from the rafters (wire) ready for spraying. I'll do that today. MAYBE tomorrow ( IF the primer dries) I'll shoot the first coat of red. (Final coat after everything is assembled)

Landslides are in the system at UPS. (Valu-Bilt) SHould be here monday (tues at latest) Shares are on their way from North Carolina. (Agri-Supply) They need a coat of red before assembly. (I paint the back-sides to prevent rust) All the bolts are here. Most of the "plow bolts" came from TSC. A few other bolts came from an industrial supply shop I buy from at work. (Try finding a "grade 8, fine thread, 3/4"X4-1/2" carriage bolt at Home Depot ) I'm hoping to get started putting things together about wed.

Decals are in at the Massey dealer. (What good is a fancy new suit without a nice tie to go with it? Got to have ALL the small details covered)

Once upon a time, you could have walked into ANY Tractor Supply, or ANY Massey Ferguson dealer and bought all the hard parts for this plow straight off the shelf. Now it's become a scavenger hunt to put one together. I'd HIGHLY recommend to anyone with aspirations of owning a fresh plow to get busy. Parts are getting scarce for even the most common models. Parts that are available are already expensive. I've already spent more to replace worn parts on this plow than I did on an entire NEW 4-bottom plow I bought in 1974.

After I'm done with my plows, I've got a set of Ford model 101's to re-do for my son. (He "lets" me do some of his wrenching.) He's trying to keep dads mind occupied and off of the good looking SINGLE (and "well endowed") 25 year old blond that just bought the house across the road from us. He doesn't understand that once us old-timers hit 50, we become invisable to women that age. We just go to our shop and beat on old plows...........

 

[BobG_in_VA]

"Once upon a time, you could have walked into ANY Tractor Supply, or ANY Massey Ferguson dealer and bought all the hard parts for this plow straight off the shelf. Now it's become a scavenger hunt to put one together. I'd HIGHLY recommend to anyone with aspirations of owning a fresh plow to get busy. Parts are getting scarce for even the most common models. Parts that are available are already expensive. I've already spent more to replace worn parts on this plow than I did on an entire NEW 4-bottom plow I bought in 1974."

Boy that's the truth...I found and redid a Dearborn 10-8 (for the uninititated thats a 2 bottom, 12" from the late 40's..) a few months ago and hunted all over "****'s half-acre" to find the plow points for the front as it had been broken off just below the frog. As some of you know the front and rear points/shears are different. I actually found a place that asked me if I needed the front or rear. They had steel for $150 ea or cast iron for $65. Since the rear was near brand new, I ordered 2 cast fronts. Around here, if you don't use the clay points you don't pull far or fast. I had an old single bottom Dearborn (with slotted moldboard) with a tailwheel/furrowwheel, that had the landslide broken. I got the right bolts from the local NH dealer and put that tailwheel on the 10-8. Repainted and it looks like brand new. Used it to plow a friends garden a month or so ago. Good luck on the plow! BobG in VA

 

[BobG_in_VA]

By the way, if anyone has a Ford/Ferguson/Dearborn implement that they need help with, this site is a font of knowlege and was where I found the outfit that had the plowpoints for the 10-8. Good bunch of folks! BobG in VA


Implements Forum

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Primer is DONE! I'm not wanting to branch off into a painting discussion at this point. So.... I'm just saying the primer was shot almost immediately after I finished sandblasting to get any bare metal covered. It's an enamel primer made by a VERY well known maker of, among other things, industrial coatings. This is a primer we use on structural steel and re-bar where I work. It's tough stuff. It's made for priming rust-proned metal. I've used it quite a bit with great success. End of commentary.

Pic#1 is the back-side of the moldboards in prime.

Pic#2 and 4 are the frame. First time I've used an engine hoist as a paint "hanger". Works like a charm.

If the primer is dry enough, I'm planning on shooting the red paint tomorrow afternoon.

It's ALMOST time to start re-assembly.

 

[scott_vt]

He's trying to keep dads mind occupied and off of the good looking SINGLE (and "well endowed") 25 year old blond that just bought the house across the road from us. He doesn't understand that once us old-timers hit 50, we become invisable to women that age. We just go to our shop and beat on old plows...........

Hey Farm,
Darn, Im supposed to be learnin about plows here and Im gettin a vision of somethin else !

BTW, could it be Ellie May ?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hey Farm,
Darn, Im supposed to be learnin about plows here and Im gettin a vision of somethin else !

BTW, could it be Ellie May ?

I'm gonna be real careful here. There's about 500 replies that would get us BOTH banned forever from Mr. Gores internet

Not Ellie. More the "career gold-digger" type, if you know what I mean.

I've got 3 kids older than she is. In the past 3 days, she's been over here 4 times. My Mrs. thinks the young lady has plans for me. I'm (1) stroking my own ego, (2) letting my wife THINK she's going to have to protect what's hers,(Has her REAL fired up!!!) and (3) being the good neighbor that I am.

Sorry about any possible traumatic visuals this may have created.

 

[dapper]

Evening Farm,
Interesting post (as always). Looking forward to your progress. I purchased a set of MF 3 14’s in December. Didn’t look like they had been in the ground. Weathered paint was all that needed fixing. I won’t tell you what I paid for them, but it was twice what JerryG did and still less than what you will have in the replacement parts for 1 bottom. Surprised that they are that high in your area. Around hear not much demand for something that small so easier to pick up bargain.
I also have a set of MF 2 14’s that I am keeping in my barn for my neighbor while he is looking for a set of Ford 2 bottoms. Not exactly like yours, no adjustment on them, but pretty close to what you’re working on. Can't tell for sure from pic, but are your's break back, or trips? Trip's are the main reason for my new set. Lots of rocks hear.
Also have Dad’s set of Dearborn 2 12’s that have been in the “family” for longer than I have been around. (Read “longtime”) I have been saying that I would get a new set of shears for it for the last 20 yr anyway. Plowed many an acre with an old 8n, and those 2 12’s.
Maybe I should check out your dealers for the shears for the Dearborn now. Thanks for the heads up. All parts for this old equipment is becoming harder, and harder to find so any source is greatly appreciated.
Like Flusher, one of my fondest memories is going with my grandfather down to the blacksmith shop. To have his plow shears re sharpened, or to have some other broken piece welded or repaired. Amazing what that old man could do with a hammer, forge, and anvil. I got to pull the forge bellows….
Keep us posted

 

[john_bud]

After I'm done with my plows, I've got a set of Ford model 101's to re-do for my son. (He "lets" me do some of his wrenching.) He's trying to keep dads mind occupied and off of the good looking SINGLE (and "well endowed") 25 year old blond that just bought the house across the road from us. He doesn't understand that once us old-timers hit 50, we become invisable to women that age. We just go to our shop and beat on old plows...........

Yeah, everybody knows that good looking 25 year old single well endowed blonds get all hot and bothered by paunchy balding married middle aged men! Especially when they are all grimy, greasy and smelly from working on antique tractor parts.

Or at least we can hope....

jb

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I purchased a set of MF 3 14’s in December. Didn’t look like they had been in the ground. Weathered paint was all that needed fixing. I won’t tell you what I paid for them, but it was twice what JerryG did and still less than what you will have in the replacement parts for 1 bottom. Surprised that they are that high in your area. Around hear not much demand for something that small so easier to pick up bargain.
I also have a set of MF 2 14’s that I am keeping in my barn for my neighbor while he is looking for a set of Ford 2 bottoms. Not exactly like yours, no adjustment on them, but pretty close to what you’re working on.

I can't get a read on the 3-bottom, as to them being CAT I or CAT II hitch. If it's a CAT I, that's a model 43 plow. Much better trash clearance. (Corn stalks.....ect) The 2-bottom is a #66 (like mine) only WITHOUT the landing crank. Also, the #66 is missing its tail wheel.

That "adjustment" or landing crank on mine is the reason why I paid so much for this blasted thing. In a later post, I'll go in to more detail on WHY they're needed.

Location might be THE WORD in real estate, but it doesn't help much for buying plow parts. 90% of the parts have to come from Valu-Bilt (Indianola Iowa) or Agri-Supply stores scattered throughout their chain. (They're selling off their plow parts inventory, not to be re-stocked. When all the stores run out, that's it.....) Between steel prices and transportation cost, parts for these old things are just about to price themselves out of business.



And just let EVERYBODY smack me right between the eyes with your tales of cheap plows. Since starting this thread, I've heard about over a dozen folks who bought what I have (or better) and paid less than I now have invested IN PAINT AND DECALS for my project.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Or at least we can hope....

jb

In a matter of a week, I've figured out just exactly what it takes to get this one worked up.......


That would be a simple touch of my credit card or check book. Not my type.

 

[elalexander]

Morning Farmin, Great job on the restoration and thanks for sharing it with us. Just out of curiosity what kind of horsepower are we talking about to pull those plows? Don't need or have any of them but sometime I have been driving through some of our Amish country and a few of the older Amishmen will be plowing with horses. I always was to busy or in to big of a hurry to stop and watch but the next time I will. Same with the big draft horses pulling logs.
I'm sure a day of plowin or skidding would keep you on your side of the bed no matter what "Ellie May" looks like. So how did those Ole farmers have 10 - 12 kids

EL

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Morning Farmin, Great job on the restoration and thanks for sharing it with us. Just out of curiosity what kind of horsepower are we talking about to pull those plows? Don't need or have any of them but sometime I have been driving through some of our Amish country and a few of the older Amishmen will be plowing with horses. I always was to busy or in to big of a hurry to stop and watch but the next time I will. Same with the big draft horses pulling logs.
I'm sure a day of plowin or skidding would keep you on your side of the bed no matter what "Ellie May" looks like. So how did those Ole farmers have 10 - 12 kids

EL

My father was from a family of 14. Kids WERE farm equipment back then. An 8 hour shift on a tractor pulling a plow will calm you right on down too. I can't imagine doing it with real HORSEpower

25 or 30 hp would pull those plows. 45 hp can pull them fast. (5+ mph) Plows developed and sold in the late 50's/early 60's were already "high speed bottoms" at least. They do a better job @ higher speeds. The tractor I'll use these on is RATED @ 38 pto hp. It's been "turned up" (fuel screw on injector pump) to where it dynos @ 47. It has the power to pull 3 bottoms in SOME conditions, but runs short on weight for any serious plowing with 3 bottoms. In the end, I can pull 2X14"'s @ 5 MPH all day long (8 hours) on 1/2 tank of fuel, and not even work the tractor hard.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

OK, the plow is now officially RED! I bailed out of the shop just as soon as I got the gun washed out. Maybe later I'll grab a picture or 2. (Gotta back the tractor in the same shop before dark.)

Have I ever mentioned how I DON'T like to paint?

Anyway, it's POURING down rain right now, so let's talk about FROGS!

The frog is the least visable part of an assembled plow. All the wear parts bolt to it, and nearly completely cover it. Here's 3 pictures (yesterday after primer) of the frog. First is looking straight at it from the front. You can see how the shape of the bottom is formed. Pic #2 is from the side. (Land side) Pic #3 is the frog attached to the "shank" portion of the beam.

As we start to re-assemble, you'll see where each part fastens to the frog.

 

[dapper]

FWJ
Not my intent to rub it in, just comparing prices in different area's. If your like me, no mater what I paid, someone always just gave one away, or sold one for half of what I paid. I am pretty sure that you knew what you were in for before you stated though. I have not seen one like yours with the furrow adjuster on a 3 point. Will look forward to your post describing use. What is your intended use of the plow?

Your correct the 3 bottom is a model 43 CAT I. It is hi clearance with spring beam trip. No furrow adjuster. No tail wheel on the 66. I have used the 66, and it will plow, but without the furrow wheel, leaves something to be desired and seems like lots more horses to get it done. Time to buy points for the Dearborn.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

FWJ
Not my intent to rub it in, just comparing prices in different area's. If your like me, no mater what I paid, someone always just gave one away, or sold one for half of what I paid. I am pretty sure that you knew what you were in for before you stated though. I have not seen one like yours with the furrow adjuster on a 3 point. Will look forward to your post describing use. What is your intended use of the plow?

Your correct the 3 bottom is a model 43 CAT I. It is hi clearance with spring beam trip. No furrow adjuster. No tail wheel on the 66. I have used the 66, and it will plow, but without the furrow wheel, leaves something to be desired and seems like lots more horses to get it done. Time to buy points for the Dearborn.

I'm ramping up my campaign for Prez next election. With math and economic skills like mine, I'm a shoe-in.

This plow is one of those "whatever it takes" sort of projects. Mercifully, the bleeding is about stopped. All the parts are accounted for now.

All the plowing I do anymore is the 8 acre plot where our church does a corn maze every year. Oh, and my gardens. That totals MAYBE an acre. I figure a re-newed plow should last my the rest of my days. With parts becoming harder to find with each passing season, it looked like the time to do this.


Here's a few pictures of todays fun.

#1 is moldboards and cover boards.

#2 is shins and various bolts.

#3 is coulter arms, tailwheel, and landing crank.

#4 is the frame. and a tractor that chompin' at the bit to hook on to the plow!

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Great progress, and thank you for the breakdown of the plow and the explanations and especially for the pictures.

Cliff

 

[elalexander]

Great idea with the engine hoist. I just hang stuff from the barn beam then have to walk around it.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Bill,
Thanks for the pics ! I think Im growing a fondness for your newly refurbed plow ! Good thing your not closer, I might be inclined to take a closer look if you know what I mean

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Mornin Bill,
Thanks for the pics ! I think Im growing a fondness for your newly refurbed plow ! Good thing your not closer, I might be inclined to take a closer look if you know what I mean

Howdy Scotty!

Well,...... I noticed the wife is closing the gate at the end of our driveway now. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with our new neighbor. (I'm thinking it does)

Gotta clean out the shop this afternoon. Then we start putting this thing back together! There's 8 "stages" of assembly I'll cover, identifying parts mostly, then we start to adjust and do "set-up". I'll explain the ramifications of each step of set-up. The REAL fun is about to begin.......as soon as all my parts get here!

(There'll be 4 parts more needing paint when they arrive. That'll slow me down some too)

Maybe one of the major TV networks will pick this up as a series next season!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Shop's clean! And some of the plow is assembled.

First picture is the SHIN. That's the vertical leading edge of the bottom.

Second picture has the MOLDBOARD added.

Third shows a COVER BOARD (aka trash board) They're not on all plows. They assist in burying surface residue (like corn stalks)

More tomorrow if UPS shows up.